Another World

She beamed up at him with a blinding smile. She looked into his eyes and she blinked a few times and jumped back, her face quickly darkening. She whispered, in a small frightened voice, "You're not my father."

Harry's mind reeled in confusion. "No, I'm not. I think I'm lost. Do you know where we are?" The girl gave Harry a look that told him she thought he was crazy, "We're on the third floor of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You look a lot like my dad, but his eyes are blue. Are you related to him? What's your name?"

The last few questions had strongly reminded Harry of when Hermione wanted you to answer her questions. He smiled a little at the thought of Hermione. She was the smartest person at Hogwarts yet she had not told Ron that she liked him. Harry was determined to find out what had happened, so he answered her. "My name is Harry. What's yours?"

"My name is Maria Emily Potter. You look a lot like my dad. His name is James Potter." Harry's insides did a flip flop, "James Potter?" He asked, feeling faint. Maria nodded, a worried frown on her face. Harry felt lightheaded as he began to sway on his feet, "Are you all right?" Maria asked, concern lacing her voice. "I'm fine, just a little lightheaded." Maria made a sound quite like the sound Madam Pomfrey made every time he told her that he was fine.

Harry smirked slightly, "Could you do me a favor, 'Ria?" Maria's eyes lit up and she nodded her head. "Make sure I don't hit my head." She looked confused, but as Harry started to fall to the floor, she rushed to support his head. Harry smiled up at her from the floor, "Thanks," and he lost consciousness.

< <> >< <> >< <> >

Maria was heading to the Gryffindor tower after being shooed out by Madam Pomfrey who had said Talia needed her rest. Maria didn't know why she needed her rest, all she did was break a finger. Maria shook her head as he walked down the corridor. Talia would probably have died a million times if it wasn't for Harry.

He had saved them all so many times. Maria had always felt that Harry was somehow connected to them, like it was his duty to protect all the Potter children. He had ever since Talia was a baby. It sometimes worried Maria that Harry was watching over Talia, Alex, Peter and herself while they were at Hogwarts and therefore not watching Rosemary and 'Vora. But just last week Rosemary had sent Talia a letter telling them that Harry had caught 'Vora when she had fallen out of the third floor window.

And now he had caught Talia when she fell off her broom. Maria thought that perhaps Harry had some sort radar that went off when one of them was in trouble. Maria was brought out of her thoughts when she almost ran into a person that was standing in the middle of the hall. He had messy black hair and he stood exactly like her father.

Her heart jumped, 'Of course, Madam Pomfrey would have contacted her parents since Talia had fallen nearly sixty feet off her broom. She launched herself at him and hugged him tightly around his waist. She asked him in a excited voice, "Dad! What are you doing here?" Maria looked into his eyes and was startled to see her mothers eyes staring back at her. She was startled, this man looked exactly like her dad, but he had her mum's eyes and an odd scar on his forehead, "You're not my father."

Terror filled Maria's heart. Who was this man? What did he want? The man's face showed relief and slight panic, but he answered her, "No, I'm not. I think I'm lost. Do you know where we are?" Maria stared at the man. He was in the middle of Hogwarts and he didn't even know where he was? He must have some sort of orders to act dumb if he was caught, Maria decided. She was curious to know why he looked like her dad, so she decided to ask him a few questions, hoping he would answer some of them.

"We're on the third floor of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You look a lot like my dad, but his eyes are blue. Are you related to him? What's your name?" A smile grew on his lips, he hesitated a moment then answered,

"My name is Harry. What's yours?" Maria was staggered, this was Harry. The voice had been familiar, but she never would have guessed it was her guardian. But something was different about his voice, it sounded less innocent, more wise. This was her protector, just not her protector. It made no sense to Maria, so she just decided to answer. "My name is Maria Emily Potter. You look a lot like my dad. His name is James Potter." As Maria finished her little speech, Harry went white and looked like he was about to faint. "James Potter?" Harry asked weakly. Maria was getting a little scared, Harry didn't look good, in fact he looked like he could keel over any minute.

"Are you all right?" Maria asked him as he began to sway on the spot. "I'm fine, just a little lightheaded," he answered her. Maria snorted in disbelief. This was not a person who was all right, he looked as if he were a vampire with all the colour he had. Harry smirked at her then asked, "Could you do me a favor, 'Ria?" Maria was ecstatic, he called her 'Ria, only her Harry had ever called her 'Ria.

She nodded her head, excited at the prospect of helping her protector, "Make sure I don't hit my head." Maria was confused, why did he want her to catch his head. The reason became apparent as he fell to the floor.

Maria rushed to his side and caught him just in time. As she laid his head on her lap, he smiled up at her and said in a grateful voice, "Thanks," and fainted. Maria was scared. What was wrong with him? Maria shook his arm and tried yelling in his ear. Nothing worked, so after about five minutes Maria carefully placed her cloak under his head and ran to get Madam Pomfrey. She would know what to do.

< <> >< <> >< <> >

Madam Pomfrey had sent the other Potter children back to the Gryffindor common room, telling them that Talia needed her rest. The truth was she couldn't stand all that energy, the Potter children had a limitless supply of energy. It amazed everyone, including their parents. Talia was the one that visited the hospital wing the most.

But Alex was a close second but he usually spent time in detention for blowing things up. The twins were still unknown to the old nurse, but she was learning. Peter would go immediately to the common room and brood about what had happened. Maria would wander around for a while maybe going to the lake or the owlery. And Alex would go and blow something up.

Poppy chuckled at the memory of the time when Alex was told he wasn't allowed on the Quidditch team because it would be unfair to the other first years.

The Divination classroom was blown up a few hours later. Or the time when Alex had gotten a letter from his pen pal saying that she didn't want to write anymore, the Slytherin common room was lit up like the Muggle fourth of July.

Madam Pomfrey would always treat anyone with burns, they would all being laughing 'cause Alex, the prankster, had struck again.

Madam Pomfrey was startled out of her thoughts by Maria who had just come flying through the door. "Madam Pomfrey! You have to come quick! Harry fell over and I'm not sure what's wrong with him!"

Talia sat up immediately "Harry? Maria, did you just say Harry? As in the Harry?" Maria nodded her head vigorously, "He just appeared. At first I thought he was dad, but he has green eyes and this weird scar." In all her years as a medi-witch she had never frozen, but with Maria's description all her insides did a flip flop and Poppy Pomfrey could not move. Maria had just described Harry Potter. But he was dead.

Maria ran over and began to tug on the nurse's arm, "Please, you have to come help Harry. He fainted and I can't wake him up! I tried shaking him and yelling but he won't wake up!" The desperation in Maria's voice was able to bring Poppy out of the trance she had gone into. Startled she shook her head and went into action. She grabbed her wand and asked Maria to show her where the patient was.

Maria, Madam Pomfrey and Talia all ran to the third floor where Poppy stopped dead in her tracks while Maria ran over to him and lightly shook him. Talia slowly made her way over to the boy and stared at the pale complexion in amazement. Poppy walked just as cautiously as Talia over to the body of a pale looking James Potter. But that wasn't right, James didn't have a lightning scar on his forehead.

Maria looked up at her, a pleading, tearful look in her eyes. "Please, you have to help him. I don't know what happened." Madam Pomfrey walked over to the prone figure and began to cast several routine spells on him, just to make sure he was alive and breathing. After making sure it was safe to transport him, she levitated him onto a stretcher and turned to Talia, "Miss Potter would you be so kind as to go and get Professor Dumbledore from his office, the password is 'Lemon Drops'"

Talia nodded and scurried off to the Headmaster's office. Madam Pomfrey continued on to the hospital wing where she placed Harry on a bed and pulled the curtains to block the sobbing form of Maria who was perched on a chair by the door. The nurse cast several charms trying to find out what was the matter with him but it was quite difficult because he had quite a few protective charms on him that were meant to shield any magical tampering by someone he didn't know.

It surprised her that she could get through at all but on further examination she found that he had almost no magical aura left it seemed to have all been sucked out of him, leaving only enough energy to keep living.

< <> >< <> >< <> >

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, an odd tingling feeling creeping its way into the pit of his stomach. The air seemed fractured, as if it had been pulled apart and then stuck back together. Something was terribly wrong. Fawkes let out one note, mirroring his master's pensive mood. The sky was growing dark and the air was getting colder. It was odd. It had been sunny and warm just a few hours ago. Now a giant storm was brewing.

"Lemon Drops!" Dumbledore's thoughts were broken when he heard someone shout the password and thundering footsteps as whoever it was pounded up the stairs. He began to stand up as an out of breath Talia Potter burst through the door, not even bothering to knock. Her long red hair was coming loose from her braid as she gasped, trying to catch her breath. After a few seconds she was able to speak. "Professor Dumbledore! You have to come quick, Madam Pomfrey told me to get you.

Harry's in the hospital wing and I think he might die!" Dumbledore was startled by the tears that were now rolling down the young girl's cheeks. "Calm down Miss Potter. I will come to the infirmary, but first you must explain to me what has happened. Does that sound all right with you?" Talia nodded her tear stained face. Slowly she began to explain. "I was playing Quidditch and I fell so they sent me to the hospital wing. They all followed me, "

Dumbledore interrupted her at that point. "Who followed you?" Talia glared slightly at being interrupted. "My brothers and sisters. They all followed me but Madam Pomfrey sent them away. But a little while later Maria came running back in like a mad woman and begged Madam Pomfrey to come because something had happened to Harry so we went and we found where she had left him and he was just laying on the ground and he was so white but what really bothered me was that he looked exactly like daddy..."

Before she could continue Dumbledore had left at a run. 'Harry Potter was in the hospital wing, or at least someone who looked like Harry Potter, so that must mean that Voldemort had sent a Death Eater to weaken the Potter family. But why was he after them again?'

Dumbledore had hundreds of thoughts flying around in his brain, but his concern for the safety of the Potter children won out. He ran like he had never run before. Distantly he heard Talia running after him, trying to keep up with the old man. Dumbledore reached the Hospital wing in record time and ran through the door.

The sight that met his eyes was unusual to say the least. Madam Pomfrey was working over a pale James Potter, or Harry Potter as he was supposed to look like. Maria Potter was sitting on the bed beside his, crying, the sobs wracking her body. Peter was holding his sister as she cried. Talia quickly ran up to her siblings and she, too, watched as Madam Pomfrey tried to save the young man's life.

< <> >< <> >< <> >

Peter Potter was sitting out by the lake, trying to figure out why he suddenly felt as if something he had been missing all his life was there, back, as if it had never been gone. The little hollow feeling telling him that something, no, someone was missing, was filled up. Gone. As if it had never been.

Whoever had been missing was back now and Peter was determined to find out who it had been. Peter looked once more to the lake. It was his special place, he always came here when he needed to think, or just when he needed peace and quiet. When he was little his parents spent lots of time here so he came to know Hogwarts well, even without the Marauders Map. He suddenly got the pain that he occasionally got, right in his heart.

Something was wrong with Maria. Peter closed his eyes and tried calling out to Maria. He hit the wall that she sometimes erected but he did get the image of the hospital wing, so he began to run, up the hill, into Hogwarts. He dodged Professor Snape who called after him that he had lost ten points for running in the halls. Up the stairs, jumped over the trick step and down more halls until he came to the doors of the hospital wing.

He burst through the door and went immediately to Maria who was huddled on one of the beds while Madam Pomfrey worked on a boy in the bed beside her. Peter tried to get a better look at the boy and was startled to see a replica of their father laying on the white hospital bed.

Maria continued to cry as she clung to Peter as if he was her last hope, the only thing keeping her from drowning. Quietly Peter leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Who is it Maria?" Still crying, he was barely able to make out an answer, "Ha-Har-rr-ry," and she buried her head in his shoulder once again.

Silently Peter watched Madam Pomfrey work on Harry. One thought rolling around in his head. 'This is who was missing. Harry. My brother.' Somehow he just knew that this boy laying on the bed was his brother. Someone mum had never told them about. Someone who had been gone forever. Peter and Maria watched, Maria crying, Peter comforting. They didn't look up when the Headmaster arrived.

They just cuddled into their older sister as she wrapped her arms around both of them. Professor Dumbledore went up to Madam Pomfrey and watched, with a mild look of disgust at the boy who Peter knew was his brother.

The Headmaster then whispered into the nurse's ear and went over to her desk and began to write a letter. He read the letter over and left the room, most likely headed for the owlry. Peter continued to watch. Suddenly the young man's eyes opened and he sat bolt upright. His odd scar shinning red against his pale skin.

< <> >< <> >< <> >

Lily Potter was sitting in the Nursery, rocking back and forth holding the teddy bear that Harry had dubbed Mr. Giggles when he was eight months old. It was a ragged bear. Brown with black eyes, a little snub tail. One ear was missing.

It had been ripped off the day Harry had died. Lily had never seen any point in sewing it back on. Lily broke into a fresh wave of sobs, soaking the already damp bear. Halloween and his birthday were always hardest for her. She remembered coming home and seeing the dark mark. It had been horrible...

Flashback

St. Mungo's-Godric's Hollow, November 1st, 1981

"Isn't she gorgeous?" Lily asked as she turned and kissed James. "Perfect," he answered her. Lily giggled as she gather Talia in her arms. James grabbed all their things and they disapperated.

They appeared right in front of the house, expecting to see Peter and Harry playing in the yard, but what Lily saw was her worst nightmare come true. A dry sob escaped Lily's throat as she ran into the house, leaving Talia in James' arms as she frantically searched for Peter. For Harry.

She was poised right outside the Nursery, her hand on the door handle when she noticed she was stepping on something.

It was Mr. Giggles. He was covered in soot and one eye and one ear were missing. She slowly bent down and picked him up. Lily brushed off some of the dirt and hugged him tight against her chest, a few tears trickling down her cheeks. Slowly, still clutching Mr. Giggles in her hand, she turned the door handle and pushed the door open. Peter lay spread eagle in front of Harry's crib, a look of terror mixed with determination lingered on his still face.

Another sob escaped Lily's throat. Lily saw a tuft of black hair hidden under the blue and green blanket, it was covered with little lions. It was Harry's favorite. She walked shakily over to the crib. Her hand trembled as she reached for the blanket and pulled it off Harry. He lay, sprawled, his white and blue pajamas were rumpled, a spot of blood stained the top of his shirt. Her eyes darted up to his eyes.

The clear green eyes stared back at her, blank and unblinking. A lightening-shaped scar was carved into his forehead, blood trickled down his cheek. He was white and cold yet a look of satisfaction seemed to be hidden behind the look of sadness and pain. Lily took another look into Harry's eyes and she screamed. A long drawn out scream that relayed all the pain and anguish she felt deep in her heart.

James who had been contacting the Ministry wizards dashed up the stairs. Talia lay forgotten on a seat placed on the couch where Peter had sat only hours ago. James raced into the Nursery and came face to face with his wife, laying crumpled on the floor, Peter lay beside her. Dead. James ran to his wife and wrapped her in his arms.

Rocking her back and forth as if she were a child. One look at the crib told James what had upset her. He stared at the boy, his baby boy. His first born, and he, too, began to cry.

< <> >< <> >< <> >

A loud bang brought Lily out of her memories. Slowly she stood up from the rocking chair that her mother had given her when she became pregnant with Harry and looked out the small window. "It was only a car backfiring," she told herself quietly. "It was only a car." Lily went back to the chair and clutched the green blanket and Mr. Giggles even more tightly as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to cry.

Flashback

St. Ann's cemetery, November 8th, 1981

Lily cried all throughout the funeral. James held her tight, his grief was silent, unable to produce tears. Bella was holding a squirming Talia as Sirius hugged her tightly around her shoulders. A few tears trickling down his cheeks and on to his black dress robes.

Everyone wore black. The most horrible thing for Lily was that it was a gray miserable day. A slight drizzle made it necessary for anti-water charms. But no one had thought to put a charm on the small coffin as it sat, poised to descend into the ground forever. Lily cried harder, thinking that her little boy was in there.

She would never hold him again, or sing to him or soothe his fear of the dark. It was all too much for Lily. She let loose once more, soaking James' black robes.

Nobody had seen or heard from Voldemort since he had attacked the Potter household. Many people were saying that somehow Peter or Harry had stopped him. Killed him. But none of the people close to them gave the rumors any notice. Talia had cried for hours after she came home, almost as if she knew that Harry was gone.

Remus and Kally had taken care of telling Peter's family and helping them with his funeral arrangements while Sirius and Bella took care of the house, cleaning it up and making sure it was presentable for the wake. James had kept busy, trying to forget that Harry was gone. Lily stayed close to Talia.

James had made most of the funeral arrangements with a little help from Lily and Keri. When he had asked them, both women had agreed that 'Amazing Grace,' a Muggle song, was best.

It had been the song Lily had always sung Harry to sleep with. She would sing it to him one last time.

So they stood in the drizzle, as Dumbledore delivered the eulogy. People stood and shared their favorite memories about Harry. Kally recalled the time Harry had gotten hold of Lily's wand and made everyone's hair different colours Remus remembered how angry James had been when Harry's first word had been 'Wormy' and not 'Prongs' or something similar.

Keri remembered when Harry had found out he was going to get a sibling he had gone and started to clear out his room for the baby before they told him that the new baby would get a new room. Finally it was time to sing.

Lily composed herself and the clear, angelic voice of Lily Marie Potter rang throughout the cemetery, warming even the saddest heart.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; 'tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me, this word my hope secures; Go will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

The last note hung in the air, haunting and filled with sorrow. Silent tears had been streaming down her face as she sang. She clutched a white rose, which she in turn lay on the coffin lid, placing a kiss on the cold wood that held her baby.

Others followed, all laying white roses. None knew why they all brought white roses but somehow they had all felt compelled to bring the delicate, beautiful flowers. Slowly the coffin was lowered into the ground. Lily picked up a handful of dirt and sprinkled it on the dark, cherry wood. Tears mingled with the dirt as they fell on Harry Potter's final resting place.

< <> >< <> >< <> >

An owl came through the window and landed on Lily's shoulder. She recognized it as a Hogwarts' owl, so fearing that one of the kids had been hurt, she reached over and took the letter, thanking the owl. Slowly she unfolded the letter and began to read.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Potter,

I am writing this note to inform you that a young man has been discovered on Hogwarts' grounds. He is unconscious at the moment so we can not question him, but he looks exactly like James, except he seems to have green eyes and a lightening bolt scar. Also, Maria Potter, who was the person that found him, keeps referring to him as Harry. I have reason to believe that this young man is a Death Eater working for Voldemort. I suggest that you both come to Hogwarts immediately. I have attached a portkey. I hope to see you soon and then we will be able to sort things out. Rest assured we will find the truth.

Sincerely

Albus Dumbledore

Lily dropped the letter and the feather that had been attached, a million thoughts running through her brain. But one was overriding, 'Voldemort is after us again'