Disclaimer: Your standard Harry goes to a dimension where his parents are still alive story line.
The Meaning of Fear
"I'm sure you're all wondering why I called you here." Dumbledore looked over the faces of The Order, no of His Order. "But first, I'd like to start off by thanking, Sirius Black for the use of his home for our meetings."
"No problem," Sirius said with his trademark 'Devil may Care' grin, "all you had to do was ask."
"I see that we still have two members missing," the Headmaster continued. "With your permission, I would like to wait until they arrive." They didn't have to wait long.
"Is it true Albus," James demanded, as he walked into the Order meeting with his wife. "Is He really back?"
"I am afraid so," Albus said sadly, "please take your seats and I'll explain everything." Lily gasped at the thought that the monster that had killed her baby had returned. "It's not clear how, but Voldemort has somehow managed to regain his body through some dark ritual. That, I'm afraid is not the worst part."
"What could be worse than that," Lily asked in a shaky voice.
"There is a Prophecy concerning Voldemort," Albus replied. "The basics of the Prophecy are that a child was born with the power to defeat the Dark Lord," Albus said gravely.
"Who," One of the members demanded.
"Two children seemed to fit the prophecy," Albus replied, "and after a bit of work we narrowed it down to one."
"For god's sake, who?"
"Harry Potter," Albus said, with a glance at the stricken mother.
"He would have been in his fifth year now," Lily said faintly. Tears were streaming down the woman's face. "If only we hadn't had Peter watch him." She burrowed into James's arms.
"What are we going to do," One of the more insensitive members demanded. "The boy died defeating him the last time, it's not like we have a spare."
"No," Albus agreed, "it's not. That's why we're going to have to do something risky. There is a ritual that would allow us to bring another Harry Potter from a world where Voldemort has already been defeated." Left unsaid was the fact that the boy may be annoyed to be pulled away from everyone and everything he ever knew, but Albus was sure that he could convince the boy that it was for the greater good and had to be done.
"You mean I could get my son back," James asked hopefully.
"Yes," Albus said with a smile, "I mean exactly that."
The Order descended into a chaotic mess as everyone tried to talk at once.
IIIIIIIIII
It took weeks to perfect the ritual to breach the barriers that separated Harry's world with their own and the sacrifice of several dark artifacts that Sirius had lying around Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, but their hard work was eventually rewarded with a light show reminiscent of that seen in the world's northern climes and a lot of smoke. When the smoke cleared, they saw a dark figure standing in the middle of their ritual circle.
"Harry," Lily sobbed. She threw her arms around the stranger. "My poor baby, I missed you so much."
"Do I know you," Harry asked, with an annoyed expression on his face.
"I'm your mother," Lily explained, "or at least the version of your mother native to this reality."
"I see," Harry replied, "how did I get here?"
"We brought you," Dumbledore said with a grandfatherly smile, "I know you must have questions but . . ."
"Why in the bloody hell did you do that, you pack of bastards," Harry demanded.
"Huh?"
"Are you deaf as well as stupid," Harry asked. "What in the hell is wrong with you lot, that you think it's okay to drag me out of my home and drag me to another bloody reality? And why the hell am I younger?"
"We had to," one of the Order members tried to explain, "you're the only one that can defeat 'you-know-who.'"
"Who?" Harry asked with a smirk.
"Uh . . ." the Order member stammered trying to avoid saying the name.
"Voldemort," Dumbledore sighed.
"That answers the first question," Harry said calmly, "what about the second?"
"You're not this age normally," Dumbledore asked.
"I'm about twenty years older than this," Harry replied, "at a guess."
Harry really wasn't all that pleased with being in his mid teens again. Puberty was bad enough the first time without adding on an encore.
"Wonderful," Dumbledore said with a smile, "I must admit that I had reservations with the idea of sending a child into battle."
"Wow," Harry said with a grin, "you're just as big a bastard as your counterpart, aren't you?"
"Harry you must . . ."
"Send me back," Harry interrupted.
"I'm afraid that I cannot do that," Dumbledore said with a look of regret. "Cannot, not will not," he said quickly, "alas I do not know how or even if such a feat is possible."
"Are you willing to swear an oath on your magic to that effect," Harry asked, having expected that response and curious as to whether the old bastard was screwing him over on purpose or accident.
"Of course," Dumbledore agreed. The Headmaster complied with Harry's demand and regarded him with a look of expectation. "I trust that you are satisfied?"
"Not even a little," Harry replied, "and as for this idea of yours that I'm going to fight Voldemort."
"Yes?"
"Not on your bloody life," Harry said with a wave, "I don't have a reason to get my hands dirty here and as far as I'm concerned he can have this godforsaken island. Where's the exit?"
"You'd really let him do whatever he wants," Lily asked in shock. This wasn't really her son was it?
"Why should I care," Harry asked. "I don't have any reason to fight him, he may be a bastard but he's never done anything to me or mine. If there's anyone in the world that I've got a grudge against it's the people in this room, you lot kidnapped me and now you expect me to fight your war for you? What cheek."
"How can we convince you to stay and help us," Dumbledore asked quickly, hoping to persuade the stranger.
"What's in it for me?"
"What," Dumbledore asked in shock.
"I said what's in it for me," Harry said patiently, "you've already explained what you get out of this. I want to know why I should deal with your little Dark Lord problem."
"Voldemort is an evil man," Dumbledore explained, "one who can not be allowed to . . ."
"Blah, blah, blah," Harry groaned. "Don't care and I don't see why I should."
"You'd really let innocent people die," Dumbledore said in shock, time for the emotional blackmail. "What will your parents . . ."
"Yes I would," Harry interrupted, "and don't care."
"What do you want?"
"What do you got," Harry countered with a devilish smile. It took hours, but Harry was eventually able to get the Order to bend to his demands, he did have them over a barrel after all.
"It may take me a couple weeks to gather all the gold and items together," Dumbledore said as they signed the contract.
"You can have three," Harry said magnanimously, "but I'm going to want the Sword of Gryffindor right away." It was the perfect thing to decorate an umbrella stand and Harry did not want his new house to be without one for long. "By the time you get my house ready would be nice."
"I'll see what I can do," Dumbledore agreed, glad that the boy was eager to get into the fight.
"Now if you will excuse me," Harry said, "I'd like to spend some time in the library . . . unless Sirius objects of course."
"Get right to it," Sirius said with a wave, "the dangerous books should all be locked up, they're also marked with a yellow dot on the ends."
"Thanks," Harry said. He knew what he was going to pull down first. They all waited until the young man was out of the room and out of earshot before continuing with their meeting.
"So he was just bluffing?" Molly asked hesitantly. "He just wanted to make sure that we'd give him the tools he needed to win?"
"So it seems," Dumbledore agreed. He was more than a bit disturbed by some of the things Harry had demanded and more than a bit confused by some of the others. Why in god's name did the boy want him to fill the Great Hall with cottage cheese anyway? Was it just that he took after his father and couldn't resist the idea of getting the Headmaster to pull a prank for him? And where in the hell was he supposed to find a two ton wheel of cheddar cheese? He pulled his thoughts back to the matter at hand, "I think we need someone to watch this young man," Dumbledore said to the assembled Order, "to stay with him and to hopefully bring him back to the light." And to put him firmly on our side, Dumbledore added mentally. They stared back at him for a few moments. "Anybody?"
"I'll do it," Lily offered, eager for a chance to get to know her son.
"Wonderful," Dumbledore said with a smile, "I believe that you can find him in the library."
"You sure about this, Lily," James asked in a low voice.
"You don't have to worry about our son stealing me away from you," Lily said with a coy smile, "I'm not one of your purebloods."
"That's not what I meant," he said with a grin.
"I'm sure I'll be fine," Lily responded. She walked up the stairs and found Harry perusing what appeared to be a book on the Dark arts. "You really shouldn't be reading that," Lily said as she flopped down beside him, "it'll rot your brain."
"I removed that curse before I opened it," Harry said absently, "something I can do for you?"
"It really would have rotted your brain," Lily asked in shock. "I thought Sirius was joking."
"The author figured that anyone that didn't know how to get around the curse didn't have sufficient knowledge of the Dark Arts to read his book," Harry explained.
"Oh." Lily took a few moments to absorb that tidbit of knowledge. "Then how were you able to read it?"
"I have more than a passing familiarity with the Dark Arts," Harry replied, "why do you ask?"
"It's not good to have dealings with that sort of magic," Lily said righteously.
"Really," Harry asked with a condescending smile. "What am I suppose to use in the fight you lot hired me for then?"
"There are more than enough light spells to win any duel," Lily preached, "I'd be happy to teach you some charms if you like."
"I didn't ask about a duel." Harry's smile deepened. "I asked about the fight."
"I . . ." Lilly trailed off as the reality of the situation began to sink in, her son(?) wasn't going to be dueling the Death Eaters, he was going to be battling them enmass.
"Do you wanna know how I beat Voldemort," Harry asked the woman in a low voice, green eyes sparking coldly.
"How," Lily asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
"His own followers brought him to me," Harry said in an amused voice, "they brought him to me and begged me to kill him."
"He must have been terrible to them," Lily gasped, "for them to betray him like that."
"Not him." Harry's smile deepened. "Me."
"What?"
"They feared me more then they feared him," Harry's voice lowered and she had to lean forward to hear it, "they killed one of mine and I wiped out their entire family. I killed women, children, everything that lived within the walls of their house. I extinguished entire family lines and invented new tortures and they came to me on their knees, they gave me Voldemort and they begged me to take him, promised me anything if only I would leave them alone." Harry leaned back. "That's the secret of war, there can be no civility without the fear of reprisal. The Death Eaters fight the way they do, act the way they do, because they know that no matter how bad they get there is nothing you will do to them. What's the worst they could suffer? A trip to Azkaban? I taught them different, I taught them to fear."
"You what," Lily was horrified, what had happened in the other world to shape her little boy into this monster. "You . . . you really killed innocent people?"
"Not a one," Harry said, "I wiped out people who had the bad sense to be born into the wrong family though, because they are the ones who keep the cycle going, raised to believe in their parents' ideals. Death Eaters need to learn that actions have consequences. I think my first order of business will be a trip to Hogwarts to organize a cull."
"Please no," Lily begged, "please show mercy."
"Why," Harry asked frankly. "Would the other side show mercy to us or will letting them live just insure another go around of killings and maiming in another twenty years? Mercy to the guilty is treason to the innocent."
"If you do it then you're no better than they are," Lily tried to explain, "you're sinking down to their level."
"No I'm not," Harry said calmly, "I didn't start this. The blame for what happens in them falls on them. There is a big moral difference between torturing a child to death and torturing an adult to death who is trying to torture a child to death. Frankly I'm a bit disturbed that you don't see it."
"What can I do to convince you not to do this," Lily asked.
"Tell Dumbledore that he had better start scraping together gold again," Harry replied, "if he can gather enough then I'll agree to keep the Hogwarts grounds neutral."
"Thank you," Lily said in relief.
"Until they violate that neutrality that is," Harry said coldly, "then the gloves come off." Lily gave a short shaky nod then fled the room to make her report. The others had to know what they'd unleashed on the world.
IIIIIIIIII
"I will not fight with one hand tied behind my back," Harry said reasonably, "and I will not follow rules that the other side refuses to. If you want this to be a clean war then all you have to do is get the Death Eaters to follow the same rules that you're trying to push on me."
"You know I can't do that Harry," Dumbledore said calmly, "be reasonable."
"I am being reasonable," Harry replied, "if you don't like it then fire me. I'll go find a tropical island and you can clean up this bloody mess yourself." Harry's grin deepened, he really loved the clause in his contract that specified that he got paid off if Dumbledore's side terminated the contract, they hadn't objected to it at the time and he was betting that they were starting to regret it now. "Well?"
"That won't be necessary," Dumbledore said reluctantly.
"Pity," Harry said with a shrug, "that's all, you may leave now."
"About Hogwarts' neutrality," Dumbledore said hesitantly.
"Yes?"
"How much?"
"Another million Galleons and access to all of the school's facilities," Harry said calmly, "with the understanding that if any party violates the school's neutrality then I will no longer consider my hands bound."
"Agreed," Dumbledore said sourly.
"Pleasure doing business with you Albus," Harry said as he turned back to his book. He wouldn't say anything the next time the Order brought their wounded to the school's infirmary, he'd save the surprise for when it would do him the most good.
"It was all a bluff then," Lily asked in relief after the Headmaster had left the room. "You wouldn't really . . ."
"It was no bluff," Harry said, "I wouldn't have enjoyed it to be sure. The thing is . . . the thing is that when it comes down to it, I'm willing to do things that a well adjusted person would never so much as consider. There's just something broken inside me, could be a result of the way I was raised or it could just be the way I was born. Anything else?"
"I . . . no," Lily said sickly, "nothing else."
"Great." He turned back to his book. "Feel free to stay if you like." She may not have been his real mother but it was still nice to have her around, let him fill in a few more details when wondering at what could have been.
Lily stayed with Harry for a few hours that night until the meeting ended and she went home with her husband. "Just say it James," she snapped. He'd been shooting her odd looks all night and she was tired of it.
"He didn't . . . he didn't hurt you did he," James asked hesitantly.
"What?"
"Dumbledore told us what he was like," James explained, "I had monitoring charms up and Sirius was keeping an eye on the wards but you've been so quiet that . . . I'm sorry Lils, I was worried."
"Oh," Lily sighed. "I thought you were jealous that I was spending time with another man."
"He's our son, Lily."
"And you're a pureblood," Lily said primly.
"I never should have told you about great aunt Sara and cousin Ken," James said with a grin, "but everyone has black sheep in their family."
"I can't think of any in mine," Lily replied with an upraised chin.
"Vern . . ."
"Don't finish that sentence," Lily said quickly.
"Why not?"
"Because it may prove your point and that isn't allowed in this argument," Lily explained.
"Why not?"
"Because then I won't win," Lily said slowly, as if to a particularly slow child, "and we wouldn't want that now would we?"
"I don't know," James said, "I think I would."
"Then why don't we take a vote," Lily suggested, "I'll even let you take the victory if we don't have a clear majority."
"Great," James enthused, "I vote that I win."
"I vote that you don't," Lily said imperiously, "Scarlet and Violet agree."
"They're not even here," James protested.
"They gave me their proxy before they left," Lily said with a grin, "that's three to one. We win."
"I demand a recount," James said quickly, "and I dispute your proxies."
"We can take a vote on if we should accept proxies if you like," Lily allowed, "but I have a feeling that I'll win that one too."
"We need more children," James said with a pout, "children that will give me their proxy . . . how about five boys? I'm sure they'd back up their old man."
"And I'm sure that they wouldn't," Lily sniffed.
"So what had you so down anyway," James asked suddenly.
"It was horrible," Lily whimpered, "the things he had to do, the things he saw."
"It's okay Lils," James said as he pulled his wife into his arms, "everything is going to be okay."
"I don't know James," Lily sobbed, "I don't think anything is ever going to be okay ever again."
IIIIIIIIII
Back at the top secret Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, Harry was having a conversation with the Order's fixer and all around scum bag.
"You want me to get you a leather blacksmith apron," Dung asked in confusion. "Why?"
"Because one must not forget the element of theater," Harry replied with a smile, "one must provide the proper environment if things are to flourish."
"Uh?"
"Plants need soil," Harry explained, "people like me need to appear in costume."
"Alright then," Dung said in a tone of false confidence, "anything else?"
"I've got a small shopping list of tools I'd like to get from the muggle world," Harry said eagerly, "used and dirty if possible."
"Right," Dung agreed, "no problem."
"Dirty doesn't mean broken," Harry said as the man was about to leave the room, "covered in encrusted grease would be good and I want any cutting edges to be perfect."
"Got it."
"Thank you."
Dung returned a few hours later with a large package which he presented to Harry with a flourish.
"That all of it," Harry asked.
"Everything," Dung agreed, "need anything else?"
"Not for now thank you," Harry said, "do you have a list of your expenses?"
"Yep," Dung agreed, "right here."
"Did you make sure to pad it," Harry asked as he went through the package.
"Er?"
"Part of my agreement with Dumbledore was that he was to take care of expenses," Harry explained, "I don't care how much you over charge. In fact, put in another twenty Galleons for services rendered."
"I believe that I'll do just that," Dung said in a voice filled with wonder, "thanks lad."
"No problem," Harry replied, "fair warning."
"Yes?"
"I caught you stealing from me in the last world," Harry said, "it took you fifteen hours to die."
"Eep."
"I know a lot more about my trade now then I did back then," Harry finished, "remember that. Either don't rob me, or don't get caught."
"You got nothing to worry about from me," Dung said hastily making a mental note to make sure that all his thieving came out of Dumbledore's pockets.
"Glad to hear that," Harry said. "Again, I really appreciate how quickly you were able to get these things to me. Might want to give yourself a little bonus for that."
"Right," Dung agreed. He waited until the boy turned his attention away before attempting to covertly remove a few small items from his pocket.
"Yes I noticed that you lifted those," Harry said, "no I'm not going to kill you for it . . . this time."
"There won't be a next," Dung promised. He didn't take his eyes off Harry as he backed out of the room.
IIIIIIIIII
Lily awoke that morning feeling a bit better then she had the day before and optimistic that she'd be able to forge a relationship with her 'offspring.'
"I'm going to the Order James," Lily called over her shoulder.
"I'll meet you there in a bit," James called back.
"No kiss?"
"Uh . . . you don't want any part of what I'm doing right now," his voice echoed from the loo.
"Eeew," she squealed, "you're disgusting." She threw a handfull of powder into the fireplace and dove through before he could reply. Lily found Harry in one of the house's many unused rooms arranging tools into neat lines on a table.
"Fixing something," She asked with a grin.
"Arranging the stage," Harry replied, "you need to have things just right before you begin."
"Where'd you get the dentist's chair?"
"It's not a dentist chair," Harry said as he straightened out a pair of pliers, making it parallel to the tool next to it. "It is similar thought," he allowed, "and I built it."
"Where'd you learn to make furniture," Lily asked. She was impressed, most magic users didn't bother learning a craft. "Is it a hobby?"
"No," Harry said as he put on his new apron, "it's another skill I picked up for the job."
"What are you going to do with all this stuff," Lily asked nervously.
"I got a Death Eater in the closet," Harry replied, "I'm going to strap him into the chair and wring every bit of knowledge out of his mind."
"So this is all to scare him into thinking that you're going to torture him," Lily said with a nod, "I get it."
"And then I'm going to torture him until he talks and spills everything he knows," Harry added, "I find that the theater puts them in the proper frame of mind. Wouldn't want them to get disappointed that I didn't set things up right would we?"
"Torture is unreliable," she protested, "you can make someone say anything with it."
"Yes," Harry agreed, "unfortunately for him, everything includes the truth. I'd use other methods if I had the time and if he weren't a Potions master." Harry gave a what can you do shrug.
"Professor Dumbledore would never allow this," she tried another track.
"Then it's quite fortunate that he isn't here to stop me then isn't it," Harry asked. "and thanks to the agreement he signed he really doesn't have a say in it anyway, so the point is moot."
"I . . ."
"Why don't you wait outside," Harry suggested gently. "This is going to be quite messy."
IIIIIIIIII
Albus reached into the secret compartment in his desk to withdraw one of his 'special' pensive memories containing someone's memories of one wonderful summer spent working as a telegraph boy in a house off the Tottenham Court Road.
Humming in delight, Albus retired to his private chambers for a bit of well earned rest and relaxation.
IIIIIIIIII
"You know Severus," Harry said easily as he looked over his tools, "there are twenty seven bones in the human hand? It's a common enough threat to make to someone in your situation. Not only is there the promise that I will break them all one by one, there's also the fact that you will be crippled and unable to hold a wand or practice your craft after each and every one is shattered."
"You won't do that to me Potter," Snape sneered, sure that the boy didn't have the guts.
"No I won't," Harry agreed, "I always preferred feet myself. There are twenty eight bones in the foot if you include the sesamoid bones at the base of the big toe, twenty eight is one more then twenty seven. And I suppose the fact that any competent healer can deal with shattered bones rather easily takes away the threat of being crippled," Harry added thoughtfully, "really takes away some of the threat of broken fingers in my opinion." Harry reached down and selected a pair of bolt cutters. "Happily, amputation remains an option."
"You can't," Snape screamed. The man had finally been convinced that the boy was capable of doing the things he'd been threatening. "Albus would never let you."
"He's not here," Harry replied as he put Snape's right thumb between the cutting blades. "Just you, and me." Snip
IIIIIIIIII
Lily ran to the nearest fireplace and threw in a handful of floo powder. "Hogwarts Headmaster's office," she screamed, "Albus I need you now." She counted off nearly twenty precious minutes before the Headmaster's face appeared in the flames.
"What is it Lily," he demanded.
"Harry has a Death Eater," Lily replied, "and he's planning to torture the prisoner to get information."
"You were right to bring this to my attention," Dumbledore assured the distraught woman, "move back I'm coming through."
IIIIIIIIII
"I think we made some real progress here Severus," Harry said as he washed the blood of his hands, "and I want you to know that I appreciate the way you chose to take me into your confidence like this." Snape just moaned weakly in reply.
"Stop this at once," Albus screamed as he burst into the room, "my god, Severus."
"Good afternoon Headmaster," Harry said with a grin, "how are you today?"
"What have you done," Albus asked in horror.
"Nothing much," Harry replied, "just a short conversation with our friend here. You should really think about killing him by the way," Harry added idly, "just a suggestion really but you did ask me to give you my input."
"You can't just . . ."
"You took me from my nice comfortable home with the only true friend I had," Harry interrupted, "and you asked me to fight your war, a war I had already won. I am fulfilling your request, you have no right to complain about how I do it."
"I didn't mean this," Albus said, "never this."
"Should have spelled it out in our agreement then," Harry replied cheerfully. "Incidentally, you wouldn't happen to know if the found a way to regrow teeth in this dimension do you?"
Dumbledore didn't reply in favor of rushing his friend out to get a large amount of emergency surgery.
IIIIIIIIII
Luna's life had gone downhill in the days since Harry had disappeared and it was only the thought that he was alive somewhere that kept her from hunting down and slaying anyone and anything that might be responsible. After all, it wouldn't be polite to take Harry's kills without asking.
After a bit of 'rigorous questioning', well from their point of view not her's, a couple of Luna's 'contacts' in the Department of Mysteries managed to solve the puzzle of Harry's disappearance and, they hoped, develop a way for Luna to join him, far far away from them.
She spent the next few hours closing Harry's accounts and gathering his things, hoping that Harry would be pleased enough by her initiative to reward her . . . or annoyed enough by her presumption to punish her. She wasn't picky.
She could always have asked him to do so, but where would be the fun in that?
IIIIIIIIII
Harry was sitting in the library and doing his best to ignore the accusing looks that his 'mother' kept shooting him, when he felt a great disturbance in the wards.
"Something just broke through the wards," Harry said as he sprang to his feet and bolted down the stairs, "it's in the back." The two of them burst into the backyard to find an odd looking blond girl with a look of serenity on her face.
"Harry," Luna sighed breathlessly, "I knew I'd find you."
"Luna," Harry said with a blinding smile, "how did you get here?"
"There are still those who remember you in the Department of Mysteries," Luna replied. The girl dropped to her knees and kissed the back of his hand, gazing up at him with a look of adoration.
"Who is she," Lily asked, eager to know anything about her 'son's' past.
"This is Luna Lovegood," Harry said with a fond smile, "my last and most faithful follower."
"Lovegood," Lily asked. "I think I know your parents, but their daughter . . ."
"I expect I died here," Luna interrupted, "was Neville the one that was tortured into insanity instead of his parents?"
"Longbottom," Lily asked. Upon seeing their nods she continued, "I think he's a Hufflepuff prefect this year. I'll have to ask Alice about it the next time I see her."
"So it isn't perfect then," Luna said with a smile.
"On your feet Luna," Harry ordered.
"What's happening Harry," Luna asked with a wide, innocent smile.
"Had a little talk with our good friend Severus," Harry replied, he ignored Lily's shudder, "and he's told me a lot of interesting things."
"Like what," Luna chirped.
"Like the fact that he was the one that set Voldemort after the Potter family," Harry replied, "isn't it interesting the way some thing are different, while others stay the same?"
"Very," Luna agreed.
What," Lily asked, wide eyed.
"Very," Luna repeated herself.
"No," Lily said frantically, "the thing about Snape sending Voldemort after us."
"He heard part of the Prophecy and told Voldemort," Harry replied, "payment was supposed to be you as his sex slave . . . well, if you survived anyway. Though he may have been happy with a corpse," Harry added thoughtfully. "To be honest, that wasn't one of the things I thought to ask him."
"Oh god," Lily cried, she fell to her knees and emptied her stomach.
"Does Dumbledore know here too," Luna asked.
"Yep," Harry agreed, "but he doesn't seem to care."
"Wow," Luna said, "the worlds really are similar."
"Or the people are," Harry said.
"Nature and nurture?"
"Bingo." Harry looked down at Lily. "Luna, be a doll and clean her up would you?"
"Of course Harry," Luna agreed, "I'd be happy to." Luna took Harry's 'mother' down the hall to an empty water closet and cleaned the other woman off with a few well placed charms and some water.
"Thank you," Lily said softly, "I'm sorry I just . . . when I heard."
"Do not mention it," Luna said with a wave, "I helped you because Harry asked me to and you did no more then many people would in your situation. Besides, it's not the first time I've had to clean up vomit and after you have to clean up a few lesser substances, Vomit doesn't seem so bad anymore."
"So . . ."
"Yes?"
"So . . . you're Harry's girlfriend huh," Lily asked the younger girl.
"I'm his loyal minion," Luna corrected, "and his friend."
"What exactly does that mean," Lily asked in confusion.
"I'm anything he requires me to be," Luna said immediately, "his assistant, his maid, his concubine, his loyal assassin. Anything he requires that is within my ability."
"But . . . why?" Lily was flabbergasted.
"Harry is my only friend," Luna said honestly, "and he was my leader during the war. To be quite frank, I'm not sure I could live without him."
"But don't you have any other friends," Lily asked plaintively. "Anyone at all?"
"Mummy died when I was young and Daddy was murdered by Death Eaters," Luna said calmly, "along with every other friend I ever had. Harry's all that's left for me and I'm all that's left for him. It may not be a very healthy relationship but it's the one we have."
"Can I expect to see grandchildren from you two soon," Lily asked. She winced, she really didn't want to bring up the subject of children, not when she hadn't told Harry about his 'siblings.'
"If Harry wants children then I will give him children," Luna said simply. "Unless and until that day comes, I wouldn't worry about it."
"You're that dedicated to him?"
"He's my world," Luna said with feeling, "it was terrible when he disappeared."
"Sorry," Lily said with a wince, "I guess we didn't think things through."
"Hermione used to say that magic seemed to replace common sense," Luna giggled.
"Who's Hermi . . ."
"Dead," Luna cut the woman off, "along with almost everyone else that either of us mentions."
"I'm sorry."
"So am I."
"So tell me about Harry," Lily tried to change the subject, "what made him into . . ." She stopped, at a loss for words.
"The most dangerous being in two dimensions," Luna suggested.
"Yes," Lily agreed, "that."
"Death Eaters and Dumbledore," Luna said after a moment of thought, "Dumbledore dropped him off with your sister and the Death Eaters killed or destroyed everything he ever loved. They taught him to hate, he in turn taught them to fear."
"Oh." Lily gave another dry heave. "Looks like we got back to that subject again."
"When it comes to Harry, most things go back to that subject."
"Tell me about yourself then," Lily suggested.
"I also lost everything I ever loved," Luna said, "except one thing and I am not going to lose him. Harry is the kind of man that would charge hell with a bucket of water and I am the girl that will be at his side. I will follow him anywhere, even in death. When he dies I want to be buried by his side, death mirroring life."
"Oh . . . well . . ."
"Perhaps you could tell me about yourself," Luna suggested, "or this world. It isn't all bad is it?"
"It's been fairly quiet till Voldemort came back," Lily replied uneasily, "it hasn't gotten bad yet but I expect that it will."
"Depends on how they react to Harry," Luna said thoughtfully, "after he cut loose in the old world they just sort of stopped."
"Why?"
"I don't think they knew how to deal with the transition. Predator to prey is a big change after all, especially when you've always been a stoat among rabbits."
"Guess it's a shock to learn that there are wolves in the world," Lily said weakly.
"Guess it is," Luna agreed, "are you going to be alright?"
"I just want to go to my husband right now," Lily confessed.
"Come on." Luna pulled the other woman up. "Let's find your husband then. The sooner I do that, the sooner I can get back to Harry." They found James in the smoking room with Sirius. Both men stood when the women entered the room and both shot looks of confusion at Luna, it wasn't often you saw a stranger in the heavily warded Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.
"This is Luna," Lily introduced the girl, "she's with Harry and I'll explain all about that later. Right now, I . . . I have some news I need to share with you two."
"What is it Lils," James asked, concerned at the look on his wife's face.
"I . . ."
"Why don't I give you all some privacy," Luna suggested as she was half way out the door. She raced up the steps and to the room that Harry had claimed as his own while he waited for the Order to get his new house ready. "Harry," Luna said as she threw herself into his arms, "I was so worried when you disappeared."
"I was more annoyed myself," Harry said with a laugh, "how are you my Lovegood?"
"Better now," Luna said as she snuggled into his arms, "I brought all your things with me."
"Everything?"
"Uh huh."
"Even my gold?"
"Of course."
"I thought the bloody goblins wouldn't grant you access to my vault because we weren't married?"
"They changed their minds when they heard what I was planning to do to them if they didn't," Luna said serenely, "it involved a cheese grater"
"A cheese grater you say," Harry said. "That's a Galleon I owe you, I never thought you'd be able to use it in a threat."
"But I was."
"One can't expect any less then success from the most brilliant witch I know," Harry said fondly.
IIIIIIIIII
James looked stricken when Lily finished her tale. Granted he and Snape had been at odds for years but he never thought that the man would do such a thing, not after the Headmaster vouched for him anyway.
"Sirius," he said calmly. James felt like he was no longer an occupant in his body. "Would you be my second?"
"With Pleasure," Sirius said as he stormed out of the room. He walked down the hall and burst into the sitting room where the rest of the Order was waiting. "Get out," Sirius said harshly, "all of you get out."
"What's this about Sirius," Arthur asked.
"Ask Dumbledore why," Sirius replied, "he's the one that gave sanctuary to the man who got my godson killed."
"What do you mean," Molly asked. "The Headmaster would never . . ."
"Severus Snape sold out the Potters and is responsible for Harry's murder," Sirius growled, "bloody Dumbledore knew and protected that bastard anyway."
"I can't believe . . ."
"Get out now," Sirius shouted, "the entire bloody Order is no longer welcome in my house." Sirius was a hair away from declaring war on Albus Dumbledore and the entire bloody Order. The only thing that stopped him was the thought of James and Lily, it was their right after all.
"Does that include me," Remus asked, as the others filed out of the room.
"What do you think," Sirius snorted.
"I think I want to murder the old bastard," Remus replied, "I think I want to have him with me during my special time of the month. I think that for once I'd let the wolf have his head and I know that I would enjoy the feel of his flesh ripping and the taste of his blood in my mouth. I think that Wormtail and Snape are the only two men that I want to kill as much."
"Stay then," Sirius said in an Arctic tone, "brother."
"We should get back to James and Lily," Remus said, "they shouldn't be alone right now."
IIIIIIIIII
Luna and Harry watched the reactions as the information that Harry had ripped from Severus Snape's mind spread and divided the Order.
"Funny how she doesn't seem to mind how you got it anymore," Luna mused.
"This world is much like the last," Harry replied, "it's all about who's ox is getting gored."
AN: Polish by dogbertcarroll and Ed Becerra reminded me of a line that I really had to add.
Omake by Wild KS Phoenix
It took weeks to perfect the ritual to breach the barriers that separated Harry's world with their own and the sacrifice of several dark artifacts that Sirius had lying around Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, but their hard work was eventually rewarded with a light show reminiscent of that seen in the world's northern climes and a lot of smoke. When the smoke cleared, they saw a dark figure standing in the middle of their ritual circle.
"Harry," Lily sobbed. She threw her arms around the stranger. "My poor baby, I missed you so much."
"You! Get the hell off me you slut!! Why the hell would I want to see you again?" Harry snarled as he struggle away from the clingy woman.
"I…I…what??" stammered out a confused and hurt Lily.
"Don't play that game with me! You know exactly what you did to me."
"Harry…I…"
"Mr. Potter, you are in another dimension." Dumbledore interrupted.
"Not you too!! Avada Kedavra! Avada Kedavra!" Dumbledore and Lily fell dead to the floor as a stunned Order watched Harry run out of the room and house.
Weeks later many Order member and Death Eater alike have been brought down by an unknown third party, until he is cornered on an upper floor in a random building by Voldemort and his inner circle.
"You are the one responsible for killing my Death Eaters? A mere boy?" Voldemort said in disbelief. "Prepare to die!" Voldemort stepped forward to duel the boy but his feet went out from under him
and fell backwards down the stairs they had just climbed.
"So that's where I put my skateboard!" Harry exclaimed then snuck off as the Death Eaters started fighting over who would be the next leader. He would get them later, after they had thinned themselves
out for him.
AN: Eh, not that great but maybe it'll inspire someone else. Basically, this Harry comes from a world Lily raised him but she was more like Sirius' mother was to him. So Harry hates her and Dumbledore (plus a few others) because they were cruel to him and on the Dark side. He learned to fend for himself and what not.
Unrelated Omake: Another Harem Fic
"May I have your help with something Hermione?" Luna asked politely.
"Sure Luna," Hermione agreed, "what class are you having trouble with?"
"Do you promise to give me your help?" Luna asked intently.
"Yeah," Hermione said. The other girl was acting a bit oddly, even for Luna. "Why?"
"Then promise to help me," Luna demanded.
"I Hermione Granger, promise to help Luna Lovegood," Hermione sighed, "now what's this about Luna?"
"I would like to date Harry," Luna said with a pleased smile, "and I need you to help me find a couple other girls to date him with me."
"What?" Hermione asked dully.
"Maybe just two more," Luna mused, "that way we each have someone to entertain us when Harry is recovering."
"You can't do that Luna," Hermione said firmly.
"Why not?"
"Well, it's against the law for one."
"No it isn't," Luna said serenely, "it's one thing the Ministry hasn't gotten around to legislating yet."
"Well . . ." Hermione bit her lower lip in concentration. "Why do you want to share Harry? Don't you want him all to yourself?"
"Mummy taught me that it's not right to be selfish," Luna said richeously.
"You don't have more then one mum do you?" Hermione asked.
"No," Luna answered mournfully, "Harry's mummy married Harry's father, Neville's mother married Neville's father, and all the other potential mummies got killed by Death Eaters." Luna looked depressed for a moment. "It's too bad, maybe if I'd had another mummy then she could have helped mummy when mummy had her accident. Even if mummy couldn't have helped mummy then I'd have still had a mummy so maybe it wouldn't have hurt so much to loose mummy."
"I . . ." Hermione's eyes crossed as she tried to work out exactly what Luna said. "I'm not going to help you find more girls for Harry."
"But you promised," Luna said stubbornly, "and you can't just break your promise."
"I . . . damn," Hermione grouched, she'd known better too, she really had. "I suppose the first thing to do is to make a list?"
"Already done Hermione," Luna said cheerfully. "From best to worst."
"Hanna Abbot and Susan Bones?" Hermione asked. "Why them?"
"I asked them about it and they seemed interested," Luna said happily, "all we have to do is give them the physical exam."
"Physical exam?" Hermione asked, afraid to hear the answer.
"We meet them in an empty classroom and ravish them," Luna said with a wicked smile, "ravish them until they can't be ravished anymore."
"I'm not going to help you ravish them Luna," Hermione sighed.
"But . . ."
"Because I'm going to be busy editing your list," Hermione added quickly, "you've got a few misspellings here."
"Oh." Luna's smile returned full force. "Why thank you Hermione."
"It's . . . no problem Luna," Hermione replied in a tired voice.
"Come on." Luna grabbed Hermione by the wrist and dragged her through the corridors. "Susan and Hanna are waiting for us over here."
"Did you tell them what the meeting was going to be about?" Hermione asked.
"I wanted it to remain a surprise," Luna replied over her shoulder.
"Alright then," Hermione said with a grin. She couldn't wait to see the reaction when the two timid Puffs learned about Luna's plans for them.
They arrived at the meeting place to find Susan and Hanna waiting for them with twin looks of expectation on their faces.
"What's this all about Luna?" Susan asked.
"I just wanted to give you two a physical exam," Luna replied innocently.
"Uh." Susan looked at Hanna who shrugged in reply. "Alright, in the classroom then?"
"Uh huh," Luna agreed, "coming Hermione?"
"I'll wait out here thanks," Hermione said quickly.
"Are you sure you don't want to come in and take notes?" Luna asked.
"I'm going to be much too busy editing your list," Hermione replied.
"Alright then," Luna agreed. She followed the other two girls into the classroom and closed the door behind them.
For the next hour, a red faced Hermione sat outside the door and listened to the sounds of someone being throughly and expertly ravished. Maybe I should have warned them, Hermione thought guiltily to herself, and . . . oh god what if Luna wants to do this again and I don't have an excuse not to stay out of it? Hermione had known better then to make a promise without restrictions, it was one of the first things they taught a muggle born, don't make oaths unless you intend to follow them since the consequences for ignoring them could be quite dire. Hermione rubbed her knees together as the sounds increased in volume before climaxing in a loud shriek.
Hermione waited nervously as the door opened and two slightly disheveled Hufflepuffs walked out with identical smug expressions on their faces.
"That was a nice little pick me up wasn't it Susan?" Hanna asked with a lazy grin.
"Team work beats inventiveness and enthusiasm once again," Susan purred.
"Hmga"" Hermione gaped.
"So do we pass?" Hanna asked. "Luna kept screaming yes when we asked her."
"She also said that she wanted all the girls to be in agreement before we took this to Harry," Susan added, "so what's your verdict?"
"Or would you like to give us your own physical exam?"
"You pass if Luna says you do," Hermione said quickly.
"Wonderful," Susan said with a sultry smile. She pulled Hermione into a toe curling kiss. "Then we look forward to dating you too."
"Hmwaa?" Hermione sputtered.
"Please treat us well," Hanna said as she pulled Hermione into a kiss of her own.
"Luna?" Hermione squeaked.
"You didn't think I'd ask you to help if you weren't going to be part of the relationship too did you?" Luna moaned. "That wouldn't be a very polite thing to do."
AN: Mostly wrote this with the idea that Luna lures two puffs to an isolated location and gets the tables turned on her.