Doppelganger

Two figures stood in front of a mirror. This wasn't a normal mirror by any means. You didn't even have to know the history of it to know it was an unusual object - the eerie glow and the flickers of images told you that much.

These two figures - one a woman, one... something else, were studying these images. Truthfully, they couldn't see the complete picture, but they had both gathered that what they were seeing was a world not their own.

"Bellatrix, how long?"

"Anytime now, my lord."

* * *

Harry trudged into the Gryffindor common room, collapsing into the sofa Hermione was sitting on.

"You look exhausted, Harry," Hermione said, looking up. "Why were you gone so long? Ginny was back from practice an hour and a half ago."

"I stayed outside and flew around the pitch a bit. And then I practiced with the snitch." Harry let his head fall back on the arm of the sofa, closing his eyes. "I caught the snitch six times in thirty minutes."

"And you're proud of yourself, I suppose?" Hermione smirked, placing a book mark on the page she was on and closing her book.

"Not proud," Harry said, scooting down the couch a bit so he could see Hermione, but still lie down. "Just completely worn out."

Hermione set her book down in her lap and leaned forward. "Can we talk about what's been happening, Harry?"

Harry shut his eyes once more. "Can't it wait until tomorrow, Hermione?"

"No. I'm researching tomorrow when I wake up. If you want me to help you, you have to talk to me now."

Harry sat up, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

"What the change is like." Hermione pulled out some parchment and a quill. "I saw it happen, but I need to hear from you what it actually feels like."

"It feels like nothing. I'm just in one spot, and then I'm in another."

Hermione blinked. "You don't feel anything at all?" She scribbled a bit on the parchment. "What about the other things? Did you feel anything when you saw the visions in the mirror? Or what about when you ran into the strange Malfoy?"

"No. I was just walking, and I found myself in a place in Hogwarts I've never seen before." Harry looked away from Hermione and into the fireplace.

"And when you suddenly found yourself kissing somebody, what did you do?"

Harry did not answer and did not look at Hermione. He instead stood up, still staring into the embers. "I don't think that question helps your research at all." He turned away and began walking towards the dormitory stairs.

Hermione stood as well, his lips pursed. "Harry James Potter!" she hissed. "Come back here!"

Harry stopped walking, but did not turn around. "Did you tell Ron?"

"No."

"Goodnight, Hermione."

This time, Harry ignored Hermione's calls after him.

* * *

Draco was still fuming by morning. His expression alone was enough to catch Pansy's attention, who tried to cheer him up by ruthlessly teasing some third and fourth year Hufflepuffs. However, the only thing that made Draco's face lift was an eagle dropping a small package in front of him.

He removed the letter attached to the package, instantly recognizing his mother's handwriting. He quickly opened the letter, an odd smile drawing across his face.

Draco,

May I ask why you've neglected writing to me? Your father may be in Azkaban, but I am still your mother. Seeing as how I'm all alone in the manor, you have even more reason to write to me.

Draco grimaced. He hadn't realized how much time had passed since he last sent his mother an owl. He skimmed down the letter, picking out the important parts.

I'm afraid to say that my efforts to get your father out of Azkaban have not been very successful. I may be a Malfoy, but I don't have anywhere near the amount of influence your father has. If our positions were reversed, I'm sure I would be out by now. I would like you to speak to Professor Snape about this. Severus still has quite a bit of influence with the Ministry. I doubt he’ll be able to accomplish anything, but I'm running out of options.

I need your father home, Draco. The manor is dreadfully boring without him around.

Draco sighed, folding the letter back up. Professor Snape, while he did have some influence in the ministry because of his research in potions, could never pull any weight to get his father out of Azkaban out of fear of bringing suspicion on him. It looked like his father would be there for a while.

"Draco?"

He looked up and across the table at Pansy, who was staring back with concern. Draco merely shook his head, scooped up the package, and left the table.

* * *

"Harry!"

Harry immediately sank down in his chair when he heard Hermione's sharp yell. He had succeeded in avoiding her all day up until now - he'd skipped breakfast and lunch, as well as taken longer routes to classes to avoid seeing her in the hallways.

She slipped into the seat next to his, slamming her books on the table. "You owe me, Potter."

Harry stared for a moment before responding. "What?"

"Even with how uncooperative you were last night, I managed to dig up a very likely cause for your problems." She pulled a book out of her stack and thrust it at Harry. "Never avoid me when I'm trying to do you a favor."

Harry held the book in his hands, staring down at the cover. "'Morgana's Life, History, and Accomplishments?'" He flipped open the cover and noticed the symbol stamped in the corner. "This is from the restricted section! Hermione, how did you - "

Dumbledore gave me permission." Hermione cut him off. "Just hurry up and read what I've marked before class starts."

Harry glanced to the front of the classroom. Professor Carter hadn't arrived yet. He quickly found Hermione's bookmark and opened to those pages.

Morgana's Mirror

This particular creation of Morgana was made when she was only a teenager, yet she already shows potential for great power and ideas with this simply made legend. It has been called many things throughout history, such as 'The Mirror of Wishes,' or 'The Otherworld Mirror.'

Legend has it that the mirror was created with the purpose of visiting another version of yourself or allowing another version of you come to your world. Morgana, as we learned earlier, came up with the original theory behind alternate dimensions. She thought it you learned of another version of your own history, you would learn more about your faults, weaknesses, and strengths.

However, it was considered a failed project by Morgana, when she could only see glimpses of other 'dimensions,' and not allow them to crossover into one another. She threw it away, when a scavenger supposedly found it and kept it. Her theory of the actual existence of other dimensions has never proven, but it is widely accepted. Many witches and wizards crave to find this mirror to try and prove her theory true, but the mirror has been very elusive since the year 1398 AD.

Harry read over the entry a few more times before having to stuff it in his bag when Professor Carter walked in the room.

"Good afternoon, class."

Professor Carter was well-liked among all the houses. He rarely took points away from any house, and he always gave generously when he thought points were deserved, but never favoring one house over another. He hadn't attended Hogwarts, so he had no loyalty to any of the houses.

"Today we'll be discussing a charm that can be used for defensive or offensive purposes. It originates from Japan, based on a very old myth from the 9th century..."

Harry sank down in his chair again, his thoughts running away from what Carter was saying. Right now, that mirror was the only clue he had.

He had to tell Ron. Harry wasn't looking forward to that conversation at all. He would have to explain how close he had been to being in Slytherin, and who he had been kissing the other night...

~After the Quidditch match. I'll tell him after the game, so it doesn't distract him...~

* * *

Harry and Ron were the first ones to the Gryffindor table for breakfast that morning, both talking around their food in hushed voices about their strategy. Hermione joined them soon enough, sitting across from the two of them. "Good morning, you two."

"Hi, Hermione."

"Morning, 'Mione."

The two went back to their quiet plotting, stealing glances at the Slytherin table to see if any of their Quidditch team had arrived for breakfast yet.

Harry was chewing his food thoughtfully when he felt a sharp kick to his kneecap from underneath the table. He looked up and saw Hermione glaring at him. Her eyes shifted from him to Ron, who was glaring across the room at the Slytherins. She looked back to Harry, who shook his head.

"Well, you should." Hermione said loudly, making Ron look at her. She grabbed a scone and stood up. "I'm going to the library," she announced. "Good luck today."

"You're not going to the game?" Ron asked, his face dropping.

"Of course I'm going. I'm just going to the library first. I have some extra work to do." She shot a pointed glare at Harry and left. Ron, who was too wrapped up in the thought of the upcoming match, didn't notice Hermione's sharp look.

Harry sighed and looked down at his plate, pushing the eggs around with his fork. He knew he had to tell Ron, but today was too important to distract him with something that bizarre. He heard the doors to the Great Hall open and shut, but didn't look up until he heard the whispers.

"Isn't that Professor Lupin?"

"Who's Lupin?"

"He was our Defense teacher a few years ago..."

Harry immediately stood up and turned around. Sure enough, Remus Lupin was walking down the Great Hall. A grin spread over Harry's face and he waved enthusiastically.

Lupin pulled Harry into a hug. "How are you, Harry?"

"I've been good." Harry drew away from Lupin, looking at his face. The werewolf looked tired, but cheerful. "How have you been?"

"Much better than I have been lately. Since Umbridge left her position at the Ministry, the anti-werewolf supporters have died down, as well."

"That's great." Harry grinned again. "Do you mind if I ask why you're here?"

"Well, I'm actually assisting Snape for one of your lessons on Monday, but I came a few days early so I could see the match."

Harry beamed at the thought of Lupin coming to the Quidditch game. "It should be a good game."

Lupin smiled back. "They always are."

* * *

"Harry, what if it happens during the match?"

"Then it happens. There's nothing we can do about it."

"I don't want to lose this match because we're going insane."

"We're not going insane, Draco."

"Fine, but I still don't want to lose the match."

"We won't."

* * *

The Snitch was right in between Harry and Draco. Draco spotted it first, but Harry's broom was faster.

Arms stretched out, pulses racing, the two seekers were flying straight at each other. They grew closer and closer, and just as it appeared that they were going to hit...

FLASH.

* * *

Hermione threw an arm over her eyes when the entire sky suddenly lit up, looking like the world's biggest camera had just taken a picture.

The glare subsided, and Hermione lowered her arm, waiting for spots she was seeing to fade.

She looked down at the field, searching for Ron and Harry. Ron was where he was supposed to be, rubbing his eyes, but Harry was on the ground, his red uniform glaring out against the green grass.

Hermione froze, her eyes widening.

Beside him lay Draco Malfoy.

A few feet away from both of them lay two more people, both clad in the Slytherin Quidditch uniform. One of them had a shock of blond hair, the other raised his dark brown head to see what had happened.

Even from her seat in the stadium, Hermione could see the lightning bolt scar across his forehead.

Part VII: The Landing

Harry reached out for the snitch as Draco was about to score another goal. Harry knew he could keep his eyes on the snitch, and Ginny Weasley could not keep up with him. Harry was delaying catching the snitch so the score would be higher. Just wait a few more seconds...

"Slytherin scores!"

Harry stretched his arm out just a bit further to close his fingers around the tiny golden ball...

"HARRY!"

His vision went white, and a sound of rushing water filled his ears. Harry felt as if he was floating down the middle of a waterfall, and he flooded with panic.

He opened his mouth to yell Draco's name, but no sound came out.

Quite suddenly, he landed. It wasn't a harsh landing, just shocking.

Harry stared straight ahead for a few seconds, waiting for his vision to clear. A blue sky and a few clouds began fading in, and he sat up.

Lying right across from him was... himself.

That blasted Gryffindor reflection of his, who was telling him that his life was wrong...

His eyes narrowed, and he stood up, grasping his broom in one hand. He slowly began walking towards that twin of his on the ground...

With a quick twisting of his wrist, his wand fell out of his sleeve and into his right hand. Standing over his double, he pointed his wand at his forehead, staring down at him with burning eyes.

* * *

Shadows filled the room, only odd angles of light seen here and there. Bellatrix entered and knelt at her master's feet. "My Dark Lord," Bellatrix began, only to be immediately cut off.

"It's happened, Bellatrix. He's here."

"That's excellent, my lord."

"I have a new task for you."

"Yes, my lord?"

"Wait a few days time, and then send him this package."

Bellatrix was almost speechless, as a small bundle was handed to her. This wasn't like the Dark Lord, giving her something so simple and small to carry out... "Is that all, my Lord?"

A smirk flashed in the darkness. "For now, Bellatrix. I will tell you the next step when the time comes."

Bellatrix bowed low once again, and left.

* * *

Harry opened his eyes to find a wand pointed directly at his head. He sat up, and followed the arm of the wand up to the bearer.

It was himself.

Ron watched in horror as Harry's double shot a spell at the real Harry. Ron didn't hear the incantation, but the iradescent blue glow was only something he'd seen when someone cast Dark magic. The spell was flying towards Harry's head...

Ron show off like a bullet, learning as far forward on his broomstick as he could. The spell was about to hit... he wouldn't make it on time...

"NO!" Ron shouted as the spell passed through Harry.

The 'new' Harry froze, his eyes widening. "What?!" he exclaimed, his grip tightening on his wand.

He felt a sudden rush of air around him, and a Weasley abruptly fell through his stomach. He clenched his teeth and aimed his wand at Ron, who was getting to his feet.

"Specico!" Again, a dark spell flew from the end of his wand. It flew through Ron, who had closed his eyes. "Damn it!"

Ron stood. "Your spells don't work," he hissed. He swung his broom around him like a baseball bat, hoping to hit this twin of Harry's on the head.

To his surprise, his broom didn't connect with anything. He watched as the broom went through his opponent's head, falling to the ground once more with the force of his empty swing.

"Who are you?" The new Harry sharply turned his head back to his twin.

"Who are YOU?"

"I'm... I'm Harry."

"No, you're NOT!" One Harry moved to tackle the other when one more person dressed in green entered the fray - an exact twin to the Draco Malfoy that Ron and Harry knew.

The new Draco wrapped his hand around Harry's, urging him to lower his arm. Harry stopped moving, looking over to Draco with wild eyes. "Why isn't anything working?" Harry whispered.

"I don't know, Harry," Draco said, forcing Harry to loose his grip on his wand. "But if you keep trying, it still won't work." He finally clasped Harry's hand around the wand.

Madame Hooch had flown down to where the five boys were staring at one another. She gaped at the two doubles dressed in green. "What's going on here?" she demanded.

A voice well-known to Ron and Harry answered Madame Hooch. "Who the hell knows?" Harry turned and felt a small surge of relief when he saw the Malfoy familiar to him approaching the group.

The hush that had fallen over the crowd was being broken as more and more whispers got shot back and forth.

"Who are they?"

"WHAT are they?"

"Are they holding hands?"

"...Slytherin?"

The two Harrys were staring at each other, their red and green Quidditch uniforms standing in stark contrast. Draco, releasing the hand of the Harry dressed in green, walked up to the Harry dressed in red.

"I'm assuming your name is Harry Potter?" he asked.

Harry found himself not being able to do anything but nod. "I'm Draco Malfoy," the blonde said, sticking out a hand. "Nice to meet you."

Harry looked down at the offered hand. He blinked at the hand, suddenly finding himself unable to move.

"You can't trust him, Harry!" Ron hissed, clenching his broom and his teeth. "His 'friend' used Dark Magic!"

"I'm just introducing myself, Weasel," Draco said, his hand still held out.

Harry bit his lip. "Nice to... meet you." He reached out to shake Draco's hand, but found his own hand going straight through the other's. Both boys looked down in surprise. Draco opened his mouth to comment, but was cut off.

"Harry! That's Malfoy!" Ron said, his eyes wide. "Well, maybe it's Malfoy, but it's still a Slytherin!"

"You're exactly the same, Weasel." Ron jerked his gaze over to the other Harry, startled at hearing the same venom Malfoy would use in Harry's voice.

"Gentlemen."

The five boys turned to see Dumbledore approaching. The new Draco immediately went back to his Harry's side and grasped his hand once more.

"Perhaps this would be better sorted out in my office?"

"So you know how this happened?" The green-clad Harry practically spat out his words. His Draco shot a warning look at him.

Dumbledore merely gave them all a small smile. "You four, come to my office. Follow me."

Harry turned to Ron as the other three followed behind, the Malfoy familiar to them the most reluctant. "Talk to Hermione," Harry said. "See what she knows."

Ron smiled weakly. "Give me the full story when you get back in." Harry gave Ron an even weaker smile as he turned, but Ron suddenly put a hand on his arm. "Harry!" Ron lifted up Harry's arm. "Good game."

There, clasped in Harry's hand, was the snitch.

Harry blinked. He didn't remember catching it, and he certainly hadn't realized he had been holding it.

Madame Hooch fell out of her stupor. "Gryffindor wins!" she cried.

A few angry shouts arose from the Slytherin section, but the crowd was mostly quiet as Harry handed her the snitch and he ran to catch up with the others.

* * *

Narcissa Malfoy looked up from the book she was reading. A house elf had appeared in front of her. "Yes?"

"There is a visitor here, Mistress."

"Show them in here, please."

"Yes, Mistress."

Narcissa closed her book and stood to replace it on the bookshelf. She honestly had no idea who the visitor could be; she'd had so few guests since Lucius went to Azkaban...

"Narcissa."

She turned, and saw a face she had not seen in years - her sister. "Bellatrix!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up. Narcissa moved to her sister, and the two hugged. "I'm surprised you risked a visit to the manor - there are ministry officials looking for you. They've already stopped by asking if I'd seen you!"

"That's why I waited such a long time," Bellatrix said, drawing away from her younger sister. "And I knew you'd be lonely, with Draco at Hogwarts and poor Lucius being locked up..."

Narcissa smiled. "Yes, it has been very quiet around here. House elves are not the most interesting conversationalists."

Her sister laughed. "That's definitely true." The two sat on the sofa, making small talk.

"How is Draco doing?"

"He's not the top of his class, but he's up there. He's been tutoring the first and third years in potions."

"Well, Severus is an excellent professor."

"True. He's also the seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team. They had a match today… I wonder how it went?"

Bellatrix nodded. "I'm sure it went well. Draco was always good on a broom."

"Have you heard from Sirius?"

Bellatrix's smiled dropped. "He's dead, Narcissa. He never came over to our side, as we thought. That little rat, Peter Pettigrew, framed him all those years ago. I thought Lucius would have told you. He's known for two years."

Narcissa's mouth fell open. "Lucius never said a word. He rarely tells me his 'business' stories - I didn't even know you had escaped until it hit the Daily Prophet." She shook her head. "So Sirius spent thirteen years in Azkaban for something he didn't do? That's horrid!"

"Yes. Even though he didn't agree with us, he was still family..."

"I always appreciated his sense of humor. How did he die?"

Taking in a sharp breath, Bellatrix bit her lip before answering. "He was killed in the same battle that Lucius was captured at."

"Oh, my." Narcissa shook her head. "It's such a shame that conflicting beliefs have to divide our family so horribly. He was one of my favorite cousins, even if he didn't behave like a Black."

The two sisters were silent for a few minutes before Bellatrix finally spoke up again.

"Would you like to get Lucius out of Azkaban?"

* * *

Four chairs. Four boys.

Two faces.

Even Dumbledore had to admit it was a strange sight. Even identical twins had minor differences he could pick out, but these two sets of doubles could only be told apart by their clothes, in the two Harrys' cases, and their hair with the two Dracos.

The four boys were now sitting in a line in front of his desk, each wearing a very different expression. The Draco Malfoy he knew had an annoyed look, while his twin's face appeared very flat and neutral. Harry Potter, on the other hand, was sitting on the end of the row of boys, looking a bit sick. The green clad Harry was glaring at Dumbledore, waiting for him to speak.

The headmaster folded his hands on top of his desk. "This is quite an unusual situation."

"Stating the obvious," Harry muttered, still glaring. "Do you know how it happened?"

"Unfortunately, I have no answers at the moment," Dumbledore replied.

"Are you going to get answers?"

"I will use all my resources to figure this out," Dumbledore assured Harry. "However, something like this has never happened before. What I suggest we discuss now is how we handle this in the meantime."

"What do you mean, 'in the meantime?'" Draco, the 'new' one, asked, brushing a stray strand of hair out of his eyes.

"Unless I'm gravely mistaken, you two are still attending school. I would not have you miss out of an education simply because you aren't at YOUR Hogwarts."

None of the boys said a word.

"There's a few matters of confusion that we should clear up, for the students as well as the professors. We can't have two Harry Potters and two Draco Malfoys -"

"You already do," the more familiar Draco snapped.

"What I mean is perhaps we should refer to our two 'visitors' by something slightly different."

"Like what? I'm not changing my name," the green-clad Harry said.

"There's no need for that. Would you mind temporarily using your middle name in addition to 'Harry?' You could simply be known at 'Harry James.'"

"Sounds stupid, but that's fine."

"And you will be known as 'Draco Lucius.'" Dumbledore said to Draco.

"Fine."

"Now, I would like you all to go to the hospital wing to be checked over. I'm not sure what effect this could have on you, since we're not sure how it happened. Don't let Madame Pomfrey keep you too long, though - dinner will be served soon."

The other four moved to get up, but Harry James stayed in his chair. "What about schedules? Sleeping arrangements? Culture shock?"

Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling just a bit. Harry James rolled his eyes. "I'm about to speak to Professor Snape about all of those things. For now, hurry to the hospital wing so you don't miss the feast."

"And what about us not being able to touch anything?" Harry James demonstrated by cutting his hand through the air, going through Harry's leg. "What if we can't eat?"

Dumbledore reached forward and picked up a small container, pulling off the lid. "Lemon drop?"

Harry James shot Dumbledore his most vicious glare yet, but picked one up and put it in his mouth.

"If you can eat lemon drops, you can eat anything. Now that's interesting..." Dumbledore leaned back in his chair a bit, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Your... ability to come in contact with objects, but not people, is quite interesting. That may be a clue to what's happened." He looked at the boys again. "If you come across any other strange... symptoms, inform me at once." The boys turned to leave again.

"You do realize that Voldemort is behind this, don't you?" The other three boys froze, and turned back around.

"Harry..." Draco Lucius murmured, a warning tone in his voice.

"I do have a feeling that he is. However, we don't know how or why he's done this, if it is indeed Voldemort. You are dismissed." Harry James opened his mouth one more time, but the headmaster cut him off. "That's an order."

The boy glared at the headmaster, his eyes challenging, until Draco Lucius tugged on his arm. Finally, he stood, turning sharply to leave.

* * *

Narcissa closed the door, excitement bubbling in her stomach.

She had missed her husband so much, and Bellatrix was going to see to it that he escaped. Sirius had done it, Bellatrix herself has done it… and if those two could escape from Azkaban, there was no way Lucius Malfoy would be able to be held.

Lucius would be back. He would be in her arms once again.