Author's Note: Hello, my readers! Good news, it didn't take an entire year for me to update this again, lol. I told you guys I'm going to be more consistent with this, and that's what I'm going to do. Now it's time to reply to some reviews.

Spiderhyphenman: Thank you! Always appreciate your reviews, and I hope you had a Happy Holidays as well.

Sixdry: They're an intriguing ship, I can't lie.

Jh831: Thank ya! And yeah, I figured I would put a Home Alone reference in there, considering the title of this fic, lol.

Death Fury: Thanks!

Okay, that's all the reviews. To all my readers, make sure to leave a review, and I'll reply to it in the next chapter. Now without further ado, let's get straight to it.

Spider-Man: Home Alone

Intro Music: Intro Music: Spider-Man: Homecoming – Main Theme

Chapter 3: Welcome to ESU

BGM: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse - Let Go

The morning sun bathed the campus of Empire State University in golden light, and Peter Parker found himself standing just outside the main quad. The sight was almost surreal—clusters of students chatting, backpacks slung over shoulders, the faint buzz of excitement in the air. Yet, amidst the energy, Peter couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness. Groups of friends headed to their first classes together, their laughter ringing through the crisp autumn air.

"Guess I'm doing this solo," Peter muttered under his breath, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. For a moment, his mind drifted back to a time not too long ago. Doctor Strange's spell had wiped away all traces of Peter Parker from the memories of the people he cared about most. Ned, MJ—they were happy at MIT now, living lives free from Spider-Man's shadow. It's what he'd wanted for them. Or at least, that's what he kept telling himself.

Shaking off the thought with a sigh, Peter glanced down at the folded schedule in his hand. His first class: Advanced Molecular Biology, taught by none other than Dr. Curt Connors. Peter felt a twinge of nervousness. He had fought an alternate version of Dr. Connors, the monstrous Lizard, during the multiverse chaos. He hopes that this Dr. Connors would be somewhat normal, but Peter couldn't help but approach the situation with caution.

With a deep breath, he adjusted his backpack and headed toward the lecture hall.

The classroom was already half full when Peter arrived. Rows of desks filled the spacious room, the air buzzing with quiet conversations. At the front, a large whiteboard stood flanked by state-of-the-art lab equipment. Peter's eyes scanned the room until they landed on an open seat—right next to Gwen Stacy.

Peter's breath caught for a moment. He remembered her vividly. Just last Christmas, he had saved her from a group of armed robbers. Of course, she didn't know he was Spider-Man. To her, Peter Parker was just another face in the crowd.

Gathering his courage, Peter walked over. "Hey, is this seat taken?" he asked, keeping his tone casual.

Gwen looked up, her warm smile lighting up the moment. "Not at all. Go ahead."

Peter slid into the chair, offering a small smile in return. "Thanks."

Before he could say anything else, the door at the front of the room opened, and a man in a crisp lab coat walked in. Dr. Curt Connors had an air of authority about him, though his friendly demeanor quickly put the class at ease.

"Good morning, everyone," Dr. Connors began, placing a stack of papers on his desk. "Welcome to Advanced Molecular Biology. I'll be your guide through the wonders of cellular structures, genetic engineering, and cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs. I promise you, this won't be just another lecture. Science is an adventure, and I hope you're ready for the journey."

Peter couldn't help but grin. He felt like he was going to like this version of Dr. Connors.

"Alright, let's get started," Dr. Connors said, breaking Peter from his thoughts. He tapped a few keys on his tablet, and the names of the groups appeared on the large projector screen at the front of the room. "There will be a group project due within the next two weeks. I've already formed all the groups, so please take a look at them."

Peter scanned the list until his name popped up. Sure enough, there it was: Group 4 – Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, Miles Morales, Kate Bishop, Felicia Hardy, Harry Osborn.

A strange mix of relief and unease washed over him. Relief that Gwen and Kate were in his group, as they were somewhat familiar faces who could make the project less daunting. But Harry Osborn… that name hit him like a punch to the gut. Even though this Harry wasn't the one he feared, the name alone brought back the weight of his confrontation with Norman Osborn—the Green Goblin—and the pain of losing Aunt May.

"Alright, Group 4, come up here for your project brief," Dr. Connors announced.

Peter hesitated for a moment before forcing his legs to move. He joined the others at the front, sneaking a glance at Harry. This Harry looked nothing like the Norman Osborn Peter had faced in the multiverse. His face was friendly, his posture relaxed, and his expression curious. Harry extended a hand as Peter approached.

"Hey, I'm Harry. Nice to meet you," Harry said, his voice warm and genuine.

Peter hesitated for half a second before shaking his hand. "Peter. Same here."

Gwen, standing nearby, gave Peter an encouraging smile, and Miles clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Looks like we're all in this together," Miles said. Peter recognized him from a past encounter where he and Kate saved him from the Tracksuit Mafia, though he doubted Miles had connected the dots yet. Kate Bishop, ever the confident presence, leaned casually against the desk, twirling a pen in her fingers.

"Okay, folks," Dr. Connors said, handing out a packet of instructions. "This project is going to be challenging, but I have high expectations for all of you. Your task is to design a theoretical genetic modification that could have real-world applications. Your proposals should be scientifically sound, innovative, and ethical."

"Ethical," Felicia Hardy said with a sly grin. "That's a fun guideline."

Peter glanced at her. Felicia had a confident air about her, with a sharp wit that he could tell was going to make group dynamics… interesting. He also noticed her beauty, but that's currently not important.

"We'll have some lab time next week to work on this," Dr. Connors continued. "For now, I suggest exchanging contact information and brainstorming ideas. Good luck!"

The group slowly drifted toward an empty corner of the room, where they formed a loose circle. Miles was the first to break the ice. "So… does anyone here have a secret genius idea for genetic engineering, or are we starting from scratch?"

Kate smirked. "I think we're all geniuses in our own way, right?"

"Some more than others," Felicia quipped, her tone teasing.

Peter forced a small laugh, though his mind was still stuck on Harry. As the group started tossing out ideas, Peter found himself quietly observing Harry's interactions. He seemed sincere—eager, even. But Peter couldn't shake the lingering doubt. Could this Harry Osborn be trusted? Or would his family name eventually spell trouble?

Gwen nudged Peter gently, pulling him out of his thoughts. "You okay?" she asked, her tone low enough so only he could hear.

"Yeah," Peter replied, offering a quick smile. "Just thinking."

"About the project?" she asked.

"Something like that," he said. But deep down, Peter knew the project wasn't the only thing on his mind. The weight of the past, and the uncertainty of the future, loomed larger than ever.

Felicia leaned casually against the desk, her sharp green eyes glinting with mischief. "So, Peter," she said with a playful smirk, "you planning to zone out like that during our brainstorming sessions? Or is this a one-time thing?"

Peter blinked, realizing he'd been caught staring off into the distance. Her teasing tone wasn't malicious, though, and it brought a small smile to his face. "I'll try to keep my head in the game," he said, his voice light but sincere.

Kate, always one to keep things moving, pulled out her phone. "Well, I guess this is the part where we all exchange contact info, right? Here." She tapped at her screen and showed a QR code for her number. "Just don't spam me too much, okay? I've got superhero stuff to do. You know, saving the world as Hawkeye and all that."

Miles raised an eyebrow at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "As long as you do your part for this group project, we're good. Save the world after the presentation, alright?"

Kate rolled her eyes but chuckled as everyone took turns exchanging numbers. Peter hesitated for a moment before adding Harry's number to his contacts. Something about typing "Harry Osborn" felt strange, almost surreal, given everything he'd been through. But he pressed forward, pocketing his phone with a deep breath.

The group began to shift into lighter conversation about potential project ideas, but Peter's focus drifted back to Harry. The curiosity gnawed at him, and before he could stop himself, the question spilled out.

"So, Harry," Peter began, his tone casual, "are you… by any chance related to Norman Osborn?"

Harry's face lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, he's my dad! Oscorp's his company—well, technically ours now. It's still pretty new, but we've made huge strides this past year. His leadership's been incredible. I mean, I know I'm biased, but I'm really proud of what we've accomplished so far."

Peter absorbed the information, his stomach twisting. Harry's genuine pride in his father was clear, and it only made Peter's complicated feelings more intense. The Norman Osborn Peter knew from another universe was a brilliant scientist—but also the Green Goblin, the monster who had taken Aunt May's life and caused untold pain. Hearing Harry speak so highly of him felt like a strange collision of worlds, a reminder of how different, but also how similar, things could be in this reality.

Peter forced a polite nod, his expression neutral. "That's… impressive. Sounds like he's done a lot."

"Yeah, he's pretty amazing," Harry continued. "He's been talking about some big projects lately—stuff that could really change the world. I'm hoping to be more involved soon, you know? Carry on the family legacy."

"Cool," Peter said, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his chest. He glanced at the others, but none of them seemed to notice the tension beneath his calm exterior. Felicia was scrolling through her phone, Miles and Kate were debating project ideas, and Gwen was scribbling something in her notebook.

Peter clenched his fists subtly, keeping his emotions in check. This Harry Osborn wasn't to blame for the sins of another universe. He knew that. But hearing Norman's name, and Harry's admiration for him, brought a flood of memories Peter wasn't ready to confront. For now, all he could do was focus on the task at hand and try to keep his feelings buried where no one could see them.

Gwen looked up from her notebook and addressed the group. "Okay, so when is everyone usually available? We need to figure this out early if we're going to make this work."

Felicia stretched lazily, her smirk ever-present. "I'm mostly free during the day. Nights, though… they're a bit more complicated." Her tone was casual, almost dismissive, though Peter noticed the faintest flicker of something in her expression—an edge she wasn't about to explain.

Kate shrugged, leaning against the desk again. "Just text me when you need me. I'm all over the place, so I'll figure it out when the time comes."

Miles raised a hand with a grin. "I'm free pretty much whenever. Just give me a heads-up."

Harry nodded in agreement. "Same here. My schedule's pretty flexible. Whatever works for you guys."

Peter hesitated for a moment, then cleared his throat. "Uh, my schedule's… a bit complicated," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "I might be late sometimes, but I'll always try my best to make it."

Gwen tilted her head, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "What do you do, Peter? You're already warning us about being late—kind of a bold move for the first day."

Peter smiled slightly, already crafting his response. Over the years, he'd become a master at giving just enough of the truth to satisfy people's curiosity. "I work at F.E.A.S.T.," he said. "It's a shelter that helps people who are down on their luck. It's what my Aunt May would want me to do."

The room grew quiet for a moment as the weight of his words settled in. Gwen's teasing expression softened, and even Felicia's sharp demeanor seemed to dull slightly. Kate crossed her arms, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "Wow," she said. "Your Aunt May must be really proud of you."

Peter's small smile faltered, his expression growing somber. He lowered his gaze, his voice quieter now. "She was proud of me."

The room fell silent again, and the shift in mood was palpable. Everyone seemed to connect the dots at once, their expressions changing to ones of concern and sympathy.

Harry hesitated, glancing at Peter carefully before speaking. "You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but… how did she…" He trailed off, his voice softer than usual.

Peter's jaw tightened. For a moment, he felt the weight of the memory pressing down on him, as vivid and sharp as the day it happened. The chaos. The destruction. And Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, being the murderer, the glint of malevolence in his eyes never leaving his mind. And of course, Harry Osborn had to be the one to ask this question, right?

Taking a steadying breath, Peter forced himself to meet Harry's gaze. "She was killed," he said evenly, though his voice carried a weight that wasn't lost on the others. "But she died doing what she loved most: helping people."

The room was silent as his words sank in. Felicia, who rarely betrayed much in the way of emotion, glanced away, her smirk completely gone. Miles shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his usual enthusiasm tempered by an understanding that felt beyond his years. Kate, always quick to speak, stayed quiet, her expression conflicted, as though she wanted to offer words of comfort but wasn't sure how.

Gwen stepped closer to Peter, her voice gentle. "She sounds like an incredible person, Peter."

"She was," Peter replied, his voice soft now. "She believed in helping people, no matter the risk or the cost. She taught me everything I know about doing the right thing, even when it's hard."

Harry wasn't sure how to reply. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but thought better of it and simply nodded.

If it already wasn't clear enough to Peter, then it was definitely clear enough now.

He's going to have quite the time at Empire State University, to put it lightly.

END OF CHAPTER 3: WELCOME TO ESU

BGM: Spider-Man TAS 1994 – Ending Theme

Harry: I feel like I did something wrong. Did I do something wrong?

Kate: Well, maybe asking how Peter's aunt died was a bit much, don't ya think?

Felicia: Ever heard the phrase curiosity killed the cat?

Miles: Guys, guys! We're supposed to explain the next chapter.

Gwen: Aaaaand we're out of time.

Next time on Spider-Man: Home Alone!

Born Again

Peter: I know what that title means!

Author's Note: There goes chapter 3, y'all! I hope you guys enjoyed it. And if you're caught up on Marvel news, then I think you guys should be able to tell who might appear in the next chapter. Aside from that, if you guys enjoyed this chapter, then give this fic a FOLLOW AND A FAVORITE! Don't forget to READ AND REVIEW! See ya guys next time.