Disclaimer: Oh, I own Harry Potter. Sure. And I also own Microsoft. How could I *not*, being an eighteen year-old *AMERICAN* girl and not a however-old guy, nor an however-old *English* woman? Anyway…in other words, I am a *very* sarcastic person.
AN: *cringes* Okay…sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry for the wait. Don't kill me yet! I have an explanation, which lies on by beta reader. I sent the chapter to her, but then she got really busy and then went on vacation, while she still hadn't beta-ed the chapter yet. Then I get it back about two weeks ago and send it to my *other* beta reader, who I e-mailed yesterday asking on the progress and she informed me that she had lost the chapter and that she was too busy to beta for me. So *don't* kill me. And don't kill her either. It wasn't really her fault, I'm sure we can *all* relate to being busy. Which I *am* at the moment.
About reviews…wow, 50 with only two chapters. That's *good*, people. So thanks. A bunch. A few reviews that caught my eye:
No, Lily and James *won't* be splitting up. They are married, and happily…for the most part. What I meant is that the story *focuses* around Harry and Hermione, not Lily and James. But they *will* stay together…I think. Actually, that gave me a horrendously wicked idea which I instantly set into motion. So…just watch out for it in later chapters…
About the powers Harry has: In this chapter they're used, but in the other chapters not too often. Actually, Harry forgets about them for the most part, and then he isn't *supposed* to use them. So don't worry about them. They don't play that big of a role.
Lisa, thanks for being my 50th reviewer. Er, I was actually talking about my Sev. Challenge fic, which I may never post, if I ever getting around to *writing* it. But glad to see you read this one.
And er…that's all the reviews I can think of at the moment. Just want to thank you all and individual questions *are* best directed to me in e-mail, because then you get an answer right away.
Oh yes! I wanted to know if I should make a Yahoo Group about this fic and my others. That way you can get updates on the fic, ask me questions, get teasers, chapters in the story that will never make it to the actual fic and other goodies. So if you want me to, leave a note in your review.
Er…I guess I took up enough of your time. On to the chapter.
***
Chapter 3: To be Death Eaters or not to be Death Eaters?
Harry blinked. The two people in front of him blinked. Harry blinked again. They blinked again. And then, "WHO THE HELL *ARE* YOU!" Harry was shaking, the rage taking over his senses. The nerve of Voldemort, sending Death Eaters to impersonate his parents, as if he thought he could *fool* him. He held out a hand and, with out any words or motion, put a freezing spell on them.
The two wizards were shocked. The man tried to move his arm, found he couldn't, and then glared at the position he was in. "Oh dash it all, LET ME GO!" And Harry froze as the spell broke. He brushed off his dressing gown, and turned to the woman who had also broken the spell. "Do you have *any* idea what's going on?"
She glanced at Harry and ignored the question. "Harry...what's wrong?" Her voice was soothing, but Harry knew that it was just an act.
"DO NOT TALK TO ME!" He backed away. He wasn't going to let the Death Eaters get to him, he wasn't. He had to somehow use some curse that would stop them, or alert another wizard to their presence. He had to-had to get away. His mind flew to Mrs Figg, but she was probably asleep due to the late hour, and she was a house away. Harry knew that with Voldemort involved a witch a house away was no help at all.
The witch stopped her steps. "Harry darling, what's wrong? Do you-do you think you're in danger?" Her expression was almost sad, her mouth turned into a frown, her emerald eyes wide. She held out a hand. "We're not armed, and I promise that we will not harm you."
"LIAR! YOU'RE JUST TWO DEATH EATERS TRYING TO GET ME!" He yelled and then realised he had backed himself into a corner. There was no way out except through the two people before him, who were doubtless trying to trick him so they could bring him to Voldemort. He searched for a plan. Apparation would be nice, he could apparate into Hogwarts with the two Death Eaters. But then Hermione's words of not being able to apparate into Hogwarts stopped him, and he didn't have a license either.
"Death Eaters? I'd rather kiss *Snape* than be a Death Eater." The man spoke up. "That's actually kind of funny really. I- " He cowered under the glare of the woman. Harry used that time to decide what to do. He wasn't apparating if he used his new power, he knew Apparation needed a charm to do so. He waited until the man was talking again. "Come, there's no need for that Death Glare, I swear-oof!"
Harry rammed into him, caught a hold of the woman as well and wished for all his might to be in Hogwarts as a figure started down the stairs. "Who the hell are you? And boy, you'd better pray for your life!" Shit-just what I needed. Harry watched his uncle hurry down the stairs, surprisingly fast for a man of his girth.
Unfortunately, the woman took the time to turn around, getting out of Harry's grasp.
"*Vernon*? I had no idea it was possible to get even bigger than you were *before*." She started towards him. "Oh my...what a strange situation we're in."
Someone started laughing his head off. "Oh my-Oh my God! I- I've-I've never seen someone so *fat*!" Harry looked at the man. He was sitting on the ground, clutching his side, his robes in disarray. Harry then turned his vision to the stairs, where Aunt Petunia and Dudley had appeared. Apparently the James-Potter-look-alike found Dudley hilarious and Harry was horrified to have something in common with the Death Eater.
The woman turned to the man who had begun to cough. "You're sick and you're acting up. Will you *ever* mature?" She slapped him on the back, as something green came out of his throat.
"My frog! Thanks, Lil, now I'm not sick anymore!" The man grabbed a hold of her and kissed her hard. Harry turned his head away. These were *Death Eaters* impersonating his *parents*. And he hated to admit that they were fairly good at it. They even knew exactly what the Dursleys were like. He shook his head. He wasn't going to let that get to his head.
Noticing that the man and woman were still distracted, Harry grabbed a handful of each of their robes. Please, take me to Hogwarts, please, I beg of you… and praying with all his might, he closed his eyes as an odd sensation came over him and he blacked out.
***
When Harry opened his eyes again, he was staring at the mauve coloured carpet of Professor Dumbledore's office. Harry blinked. He stood. The man and woman were in a tangle of limbs as well as the Dursleys. And thankfully for Harry, the Dursleys were still unconscious. Unfortunately, the man and the woman were awake, though quite tangled.
Harry wasted no time. "I HATE YOU! GO BACK TO YOUR *DAMNED* MASTER AND TELL HIM TO GO TO HELL!" He sprang at the man, catching him in the stomach. The man fell down hard with an `oof' as he cradled his stomach in his hands.
"Gee, Harry, you're a lot stronger than you look." The man said, slowly standing up. Harry wasn't going to let him though. He rushed at him again and this time made a fist, ploughing into his jaw. And then Harry stopped in shock. The man had to have been at least two metres tall, and Harry shouldn't have been able to aim a punch at his jaw- and deliver it- perfectly, being so short. But he had.
Taking advantage of Harry's stunned state, the man, with one hand on his jaw, waved a hand and Harry felt himself paralysed. It was like a Full-Body-Bind, but a bit different, for Harry could move his arms and legs, if not much. And he certainly couldn't aim a punch, which he tried to do.
The woman apparently had had enough of the situation. "That's *it*! What the *hell* is going on here? James, first release Harry. Second, Harry, calm down. I'd like to know *how* you got it into your head that we're Death Eaters, but I can assure you we're *not*. And what in the world is Petunia, her husband and son *doing* here?"
Unfortunately, the Dursleys must have heard the woman's remark. Petunia stirred, opened up her eyes, and then shot up. "Lily!" Harry had never seen his aunt so shocked in his entire life. Her blond air most often in a bun, was in disarray, her, always-spotless, housedress was mussed and her mouth could have reached the floor. "You- you're dead."
The woman, who in the glowing light of the candles in the office, really did quite resemble Lily Potter, sighed. "Honestly, where have you *been* the last thirty-nine years? I can assure you I am *not* dead. I talked to you last week, if you remember." Harry opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it. He wasn't about to listen to the Death Eater's lies.
But it *was* true that the woman could have passed as Lily Potter. The darkest red hair you could imagine, ringlets falling to her shoulder-blades, the emerald green eyes set under thin ebony eyelashes and slender brows, the peaches-and-cream complexion. She was petite, slender, and her robes fell perfectly on her body. Actually, her robe was more like a muggle old-fashioned dress, the bodice tight, the skirt long and falling perfectly to land in a puddle on the floor.
"Boy, where the hell *are* we? And you better start praying, for you're going to receive the worst beating of your life." Uncle Vernon had apparently also gained consciousness. Though he might have wished he hadn't, as a hand came flying at him, slapping him hard on the cheek.
"Vernon Dursley! I will not have *you* threatening *my* son!" She had her hands on her hips, her skirt in disarray. Harry watched her wide eyed. He could not fathom why a *Death Eater* would care if Uncle Vernon beat him or not.
Everyone else in the room fell silent as Uncle Vernon regained his composure. "How dare a freak like you strike *me*!" Aunt Petunia had a frightened expression, as she kneeled by Dudley. She apparently was fooled by the Death Eater.
"*Freak*? I am no *freak*, Vernon Dursley, and I resent being called one. I am a *witch*, not a *freak*." The woman glared daggers at him as he began to cower under her glare. Harry in one way was glad. He certainly didn't like his relatives and it was nice to see them get put down. On the other hand, he didn't wish to see them killed by Death Eaters.
"STOP!" Every head in the room turned to him, falling in silence. "Aunt Petunia, we're at my school. This man and woman are Death Eaters sent to kill me. We have to get to Professor Dumbledore, but this man tied me up in ropes and-" Harry blinked as the man waved his hand under the woman's glare.
"I thought I told you to *untie* him, James." The man fidgeted under the glare, shrinking into a corner. "And you should get *dressed*, not *tie* our *son* up." Harry watched them as the Dursleys crept under the desk. Good, they'll be out of the way. He snuck behind the woman, and then grabbed her around the waist, pulling her down with him.
The woman started screaming at the man to get him off of her, when Harry kicked at the man's ankles. The man dodged out of the way but Harry was able to get him in his left shin and he started hopping around the room until he slipped on his robe and toppled down as the door sprang open.
"What on *earth* has been going on in *here*?" Professor Dumbledore stood in his night shirt and dressing gown, a night cap placed upon his head, holding a candle and a cup. He surveyed the scene, the Dursleys under the desk, the woman on the floor, Harry sitting on her waist, the man in a pile near the door. And then he noticed the man's black hair sticking out in all directions and the woman's dark red curls. "Lily, James. I'd like an explanation."
* * *
Harry looked up. "But Professor, they're *Death Eaters*."
"Innocent until proven guilty, Harry. And *I* would also like an explanation of why two known *dead* people, three muggles and yourself are in my office at Hogwarts, when you seemed to just appear here. And as none of you carry wands, I assume that you did not apparate."
"You can't apparate in Hogwarts, Professor, as *some* people are due to remember." The woman sat up, and glared in the man's direction. He blushed noticeably. Harry was instantly reminded of Hermione, but then stopped. He wasn't going to compare his best friend to a *Death Eater*.
"Quite right. Now, let me modify the memories of your family, Harry, and I'll send them on their way." Dumbledore waved his hand, grabbed his wand and with a flick of his wand sent the Dursleys away. He turned to Harry. "Now, Harry. Please tell me why you are here *and* how you came to be here."
"THEY'RE BLOODY *DEATH EATERS*, THAT'S WHAT!" Harry shouted. He was tired, his arm was beginning to start throbbing and there were two Death Eaters posing as his parents. He felt like screaming, so he did.
Dumbledore blinked. "Ah, I see, Harry. Stupefy." And Harry instantly fell on the woman, stunned. Dumbledore turned to the two other occupants of the room. "Now that young Harry is not screaming, I should think it would be possible to have a normal conversation. Lily? James? What *are* you doing here?"
And with a glance at each other, the woman began.
* * *
"Er, I'm not really sure where to begin, but I suppose we're in a different Universe. James was sick with a Frog Throat, and I was trying to make a potion. The only problem is that the Sien wasn't Sien. And I didn't figure that out until James had knocked over the jar and broke it. It was a strange yellow powder, not as fine as Sien should be. Then James had to go and be an idiot-"
"Hey! I'm not an idiot!" The man sat up. "And how else were we supposed to know what the potion did?"
"Maybe because as a *First Year* you're taught not to touch unknown potions?" The woman picked Harry off of her, laying him down on the floor so she could stand. "Anyway, James touches it and we're both swept away and land in this bare bedroom, which contained a piece of parchment bearing the name Harry Potter. We waited a bit, trying to figure out what's going on and then after we hear voices going to bed, we decided to try to sneak out."
"Yeah, and as soon as we get down stairs, we get attacked by Harry who's screaming that we're Death Eaters. Honestly, me a Death Eater. I swear-" James stood as well, kneeling next to Harry.
"James, shut up. Yes, Harry starts attacking us and then I'm assuming my sister and her family come down stairs and start screaming and then somehow we got transported here. Harry starts screaming again, Vernon calls us all freaks, Petunia thinks I'm dead and James was being no help." Lily shook her head. "And then you came, Professor."
Professor Dumbledore nodded. He had to admit that this man and woman certainly acted like Lily and James Potter. And they certainly looked like them. "If you don't mind, may I place a revealing spell on you two?" A revealing spell would reveal if the two Potters were under any spell, from a Tickling Charm to Polyjuice Potion.
"Of course, Professor. May I ask what is wrong though?" Lily looked up at the Headmaster. "I can tell there's something wrong. Harry's reaction, Petunia's, Vernon's, they all acted as if they hadn't seen us in years. And though I know we're from another world, I'd just expect them to confuse us with the Lily and James of this world. Where are they, by the way? It won't work to have two James' and two Lilys in this world, that is, until we can get sent back." She smoothed her hair back and adjusted her skirt. "But please perform the spell."
James lifted up Harry, placing him in an arm chair. "Harry's so light and there are scars all over him. Professor, what *has* happened in this world? And what is this lightening bolt scar on his forehead? It resembles a curse scar, but I can't think of any curse that would leave such a scar."
Professor Dumbledore sighed, placed his candle on his desk and sat down. "That is a long story, Lily, James and I *will* tell you, but first I wish cast the revealing charm and then I will tell it. And I also shall wake young Harry when I am finished." He held up his wand. "Lily? James? If you please."
Lily nodded, standing straight as the spell wound around her, sending her skirt and hair blowing as if she was standing in a great wind. James's robe flew out behind him, his hair waving as the spell intensified. They were both used to it, it was standard procedure these days. No one could tell when the Dark Lord would send one of his minions disguised as someone else. And the Massacre at the Ministry was proof.
The spell subsided and Dumbledore was pleased, but puzzled to see that the Potters had no foreign spells on them. Except for the golden glow that always accompanied James Potter and for white spots at Lily's left hand and neck, which were enchanted jewellery. Dumbledore knew that truly Lily and James Potter were standing in front of him.
"Excellent, Lily, James. Welcome to this world. And I'd like to introduce to you Harry James Potter, Gryffindor Fifth Year, Seeker on the Quidditch team, Captain if my assessments of the Gryffindor Quidditch team are correct and Prefect, though he of course does not know it yet. And, I almost forgot. The Boy who Lived, a name as recognition for his defeat of Lord Voldemort at the age of one year."
***
Okay. So now we know that Lily and James *are* Lily and James. Well, Harry doesn't think so, but…
I lie to address certain appoints after my chapters, to give closure. Here are my points:
Harry's reaction. The thing I *hate* about other L/J coming back to life, appearing or whatever fics is that for the most part, is that they always seem so *happy*. Harry's always 'Oh Mum, Dad, I love you' or something like that. But really, think about it. Voldemort's just come back to life, the Dursleys are mean and then two people looking like your long dead parents show up. First reaction? Scream.
Dumbledore stunning Harry. Harry was irrational at the point and Dumbledore needed to talk to Lily and James. There wasn't any other option. Plus, if Lily and James really *were* Death Eaters, it'd be safer for Harry to be out of the way.
Er…can't think of any more. Therefore, got to go. E-mail with questions and/or comments, or review. Oh yes, remember the Yahoo Group. Should I, or should I not? Leave the answer in your review.
Next up: A few explanations and a meeting of a character. A closer look on James and Lily.
Remember R&R. And the Yahoo Group.
-Myra 3/8/03