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Author: Sorting Hat Story: Through a Dark Mirror Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-DH Status: WIP Reviews: 13 Words: 13,544
Derailment As soon as he hit the ground, Harry heard Ginny scream and George yell, "Bloody hell!" "We thought you were gone for good, Harry," Remus said, helping him up. Harry turned around a few times, looking concerned and then grabbed Ginny's arm. "Where are my parents? Who is Hermione going out with? Who is the Headmaster's second in command?" "Blimey, Harry! Your parents are dead, Hermione is still with my prat brother, and McGonagall was until Dumbledore died. Let go of me!" "S-sorry," Harry said, "It's been a weird couple of days." "Days?" Remus asked. "Yeah," Harry replied. "You've only been gone for a few hours, Harry. We were trying to figure a way to bring you back from whatever happened with the Portkey when you suddenly appeared," Fred explained. Harry stared at Fred for a moment as though he'd suddenly confessed his undying love for Professor Snape. "Well, I'll tell you about it later. Right now I need to sit down," Harry said. "I'm feeling dizzy." Remus pulled up a chair, and Ginny handed Harry a cup of tea. He drank it down quickly and held out the cup. "Is there more?" he asked. She poured him another one, and then set the pot down next to him. Over the course of the next hour, Harry explained where he'd been and what he'd seen. He started over midway into the story because Ron arrived and Harry refused to leave him in the dark. The reaction to his story wasn't quite what he expected. "Sounds like an interesting dream," Fred told him. "Maybe we could create some psychedelic Wheezes based on this?" "No," Remus interrupted flatly. "But--" "No," Remus responded in a voice of such authority that Fred looked shocked. He glanced at George, who looked just as shocked. Fred shrugged. "Sounds wicked anyway." "So I suppose we go back to the drawing board," George said. "Since this Portkey doesn't work properly." Harry gave him a look that spoke volumes about George's ability to state the obvious. "Are there any other ill effects Harry? You've obviously made it home, but I wouldn't recommend you test any more Portkeys for a while," Remus commented. "You think so?" Harry asked, sarcastically. Remus looked hurt. "What now?" Ron asked. "I mean, what do we do about these other universes?" "Nothing," Harry muttered. "Not like they did anything to ours." Ron held Harry's gaze for a moment and then shrugged. Harry continued to look at him for a moment. "What?" Ron asked. "Nothing. I could have sworn..." Harry started, but then he waved his hand as if to brush his distress away. "Your eyes must have been different in one of the other universes." "Maybe," Ron shrugged. Harry responded with a shrug of his own "Are you all right now, Harry?" Remus asked. "I'm fine. Some food might be nice, though," Harry muttered. "You're in luck, mate," George replied. "Mum's been worried sick about you. She cooks when she's nervous." "Think she'd mind if--" Harry began, but Ron began laughing and making a show of being sure this was really Harry after all. "When has our mother ever minded your visiting?" he asked. Harry shrugged. "I guess that's true," Harry replied. In less time than it had taken to make the decision, Harry and the others were standing in the Burrow. "He's been away for days and days, Mum," George said. "Nonsense, George. He was here this morning, before the experiment," Mrs. Weasley retorted, spooning some sausage onto Harry's plate. She turned to Harry and asked, "How did it go?" "No, really. He's--" George began again, but apparently Mrs. Weasley had run out of patience. "George Weasley! I need no more of your foolishness. Go degnome the garden!" "But--" "March!" George gave his mother a bewildered and angry look, but trudged out anyway. Remus moved over to him before he left the room and whispered something in his ear. George straightened up instantly, with a twinkle of anticipation in his eye. "You're sure?" he asked. Remus nodded. "Fred, dearest brother mine, please join me out in the garden. This will peak your interest," George stage whispered. Together, they marched out of the kitchen and out of earshot. Harry grinned internally as Molly shook her head and turned to Remus. "Why do you encourage them?" she asked. Remus looked at her blankly and said, "Encourage who?" "My sons!" Molly snapped. "Which sons?" Remus asked, looking very confused. "FRED AND GEORGE!" she yelled. Remus' face clouded over, and his voice shook, "I'm sorry about what happened to them, Molly." Now everyone was looking at Remus in utter shock. Then Ron began to laugh. "You really had us going, Professor," "Ron! This isn't funny!" Ginny shrieked. Remus glanced at her, and then did a double take. "Who are you?" Harry stood up so quickly that he knocked his plate to the floor. It shattered, causing everyone to look his way for a moment. When Harry looked back, Remus was on the opposite side of the room. Harry did his own double take. Something was... "Remus?" Harry ventured. "Yes, Harry?" "What do you mean, 'who is she'?" he asked, pointing at Ginny. "That's a fair question. I imagine she's still Ginny Weasley," Remus said, turning to her, "Unless you were taking Polyjuice all through your second year?" "What happened to your face?" Harry interrupted. Remus looked confused. "My face?" "Your hair, as well. You changed it," Harry pressed. "Harry, this is the same way I've worn my hair--or what's left of it--for the past nine years." Harry sighed. "Forget it. Maybe I just need to rest." "Harry? What's going on?" Molly asked. "Ask Ron to fill you in. I'm feeling a bit dizzy." Harry responded, turning and heading up the stairs to Ron's room to lie down. * Harry tossed and turned for about three hours before deciding it just wasn't worth it and getting up again. He stretched and then froze as a flurry of noise burst up from downstairs. After a moment, it faded to deathly silence. Harry grabbed his wand and opened the door as silently as he could. Slowly, he crept down the stairs, hopping over the one that tended to squeak. The kitchen was dark. Too dark, Harry thought. Like death. With that thought keeping him company, Harry flung himself into the kitchen, wand held ready. The lights turned on in a blinding flash. "Welcome home, Harry!" a chorus of voices assailed his ears as he blinked desperately to clear his eyes. When he could finally see again, Harry took stock of the situation. The Weasleys, Remus, and several Hogwarts professors surrounded him. The table was set for what looked like a huge feast, and when the main course was brought in, Harry's heart skipped a beat. It was carried by Petunia Dursley. She used her wand to clear a spot at the table and set it down. Harry nearly dropped his own wand in surprise. "Aunt Petunia?" Harry asked, skeptically. "Of course, dear," she said, leaning down to give him a quick kiss on his cheek. "How're you feeling?" Without waiting for an answer, she hurried back into the kitchen. Harry was nearly knocked off his feet as someone clapped him on his back. He turned and looked into the eyes of Bill Weasley, with a horrid scar on his face and his arm around a very pregnant Tonks. "Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks said brightly. He nodded at her and Bill took his hand and shook it. "Bill?" Harry stammered. "Where's Remus?" "Right here, Harry," Remus said, causing Harry to turn around. He stood with his arm around a very pregnant Tonks. In confusion, Harry turned around and saw Bill, his arm around Fleur. Not Tonks. Harry blinked his eyes, and then shook his head at himself. "What's going on?" Harry demanded. "You must have hit your head harder than we thought," Remus muttered. "Don't start that again!" Harry yelled so loudly that the activity in the room stopped. Harry turned around and caught himself on the table. When he looked up again, the room was dark and everyone was gone. "Professor Malfoy to Potter," the voice came from his wand. "Potter here," he said, hearing a faint echo of the same words half a moment later. "Report to your station immediately! It's--" The wand went silent, and regardless of Harry's efforts, he could raise no one. "Harry?" Molly's voice came from nowhere. Harry whirled around, "Are you all right, Harry dear?" "No. I need to talk to...McGonagall," Harry said, catching himself just in time. "Certainly. You can Floo her from our fireplace." Harry grabbed a handful of Floo Powder and threw it into the fireplace. "Hogwarts, Head Office," Harry snapped. McGonagall appeared almost instantly. "What is it, Potter?" Harry did a double take. He could almost swear that Sirius had said the words along with the Headmistress. "Something strange is going on." "I'm aware of it. I want you to report to Hogwarts immediately. We'll--" McGonagall stopped speaking and turned around. Apparently, someone had entered the Head Office uninvited. Harry listened, horrified and helpless to stop what happened next. Professor McGonagall screamed, "My God, you're dead!" At the same time, Harry recognized the voice of Dumbledore as he shouted, "Your disguise would have worked if I hadn't seen Minerva die!" The two senior professors dueled each other for several minutes, while Harry knelt next to the fireplace. He was aware that Molly had knelt down beside him, but said nothing. Eventually, everything was still. "Professor?" Harry called out, intentionally not specifying a name. Dumbledore appeared a moment later. "I'm not sure how that impostor managed to get in here, Harry, but I've taken care of it. You should report to Hogwarts at once," Dumbledore closed the communication without another word. Harry helped Molly to stand, and she sobbed quietly for a moment before demanding an explanation. "We tried to tell you earlier. I've been jumping universes," Harry said. "That Dumbledore was an impostor," Molly whispered. "No. He was real. Just not from this universe." "But he's dead. He just killed Minerva McGonagall," Molly continued. "I know. We need to find Ron and Hermione and the others. In one of the universes, Fred and George are dead. I don't want someone to appear and decide they're impostors as well," Harry spat. Molly's whole attitude changed with that statement. Harry was suddenly facing a side of the woman he'd never seen before. The gentle woman who was the mother of his friends was gone. In her place stood someone who had obviously seen combat, and was prepared for it. The fact that this was the same woman he'd grown to love was unnerving. "Let's go," she snapped. She flung the door open and was outside before Harry could disagree. He maintained a safe distance and noticed that even the grass seemed to part and get out of Molly's way. "FRED, GEORGE!" Molly yelled at the top of her lungs. There was a slight note of panic in her voice, and to their credit, the twins appeared immediately. "Mum?" Fred asked. "What's wrong?" George finished. "Get in the house. NOW!" Molly snapped. The twins looked at one another for about half a second, before moving toward the house at a run. Remus appeared a moment later. "Molly! What the devil is going on?" he asked. "Someone just killed Minerva," Molly replied. Remus' face paled, and the three of them ran into the Burrow. The Floo exploded, causing everyone to aim their wands at it, but they relaxed when the flames spit Hermione out onto the hearth. "This is horrible, Harry!" she said the moment she had her breath. "Tell me about it!" Harry muttered. "You don't understand! The wizarding world might have some notion of how to deal with this, at least to some degree. The Muggles don't." Harry shuddered, "One set of Dursleys is bad enough." "Yes. Think about how the government is going to react! Suddenly there are two or three copies of certain people and only one of others," Hermione stressed. "Whatever is happening must be happening at different rates depending on where you are," Harry said to himself. "Suddenly there are several copies of key people, all of whom are claiming that they're the real version, and the others are fakes. One of the prime minister's aides was killed this morning by one of his duplicates who then insisted the prime minister was dead and another person had assumed office nearly three months ago," Hermione said. "How is the media handling this?" Harry wanted to know. "They're just as confused as everyone else, but having a field day trying to get the best story," "The wizard media isn't much better off," Remus added, walking in. Harry hadn't noticed he'd gone. "So what do we do now?" Ron asked. Ginny took Harry's hand. "We go to Hogwarts," Ginny said. "Are you mental?" Ron asked her, but Harry overrode her response. "No. We should go. The other Harry may have some ideas, and with more than one Hermione attacking the problem..." "Right, let's go," Remus said, cutting off the discussion. They tried to call the Knight Bus, but nothing happened. Harry sighed. "We Apparate," Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and counted off, "One...two...three!" The sights and sounds of Hogsmeade surrounded them, but Harry had no eyes for them. He took off for Hogwarts at a run, with the others hot in his heels. He burst through the doors to the castle, only to land flat on his back outside again. "Ouch!" he snapped, rolling his eyes at himself. "Idiot." Hermione muttered a counter-spell and the doors opened. Harry made a spur of the moment decision and turned toward Gryffindor Tower. "Remus, we need Dumbledore. Molly, don't kill him. He has no idea what's going on." Harry and his friends ran for the tower, only to be stopped by the portrait guarding it. Hermione muttered the password, but nothing happened. Harry muttered the much more complex password from the universe he'd most recently left. They entered and pandemonium exploded. "Polyjuice! Kill them all!" one of the older students shouted. Spells flew from all directions, but Harry's DA training had prepared them for situations like that. In the end, it was Harry's double who put an end to it. "ENOUGH!" he thundered so loudly that the windows shook. Harry figured he'd used the Sonorus charm. "Harry?" his double asked. "Yes. And I brought some friends," Harry answered. "I can see that. What's going on?" "I made it home, but something else went wrong," Harry explained. His double nodded. "Finnigan, go get Dumbledore," Harry's double snapped. Seamus ran toward the entrance to the tower, but when it opened, Hermione and Ron stumbled through. Harry frowned, and the others, including his double, took up defensive positions. "Hermione!" Harry snapped, and all three of them reacted, but the one Harry recognized as being from the universe he'd first visited came over and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Harry. I've been so worried," she said, clinging to him. Behind him, he heard Ron stifle a strangled "What?" "Harry," his double asked, "What the hell is going on?" "She's from the first universe I visited. So is he, I imagine. Hermione, let me go." She did, but reluctantly. The others were looking at the group in confusion. "So let me get this straight," Neville began, "We have two Harry's, three Rons, three Hermiones and a--who are you?" "Ginny Weasley," Ginny replied. "In our universe, Ginny died in the Chamber," Harry's double said. "In mine, she died when my mother was killed," the newly arrived Ron said. "This is really strange, Harry." "Tell me about it." Harry sighed, "Regardless of what's going on, I don't want to make any choices or sudden moves until we talk to Dumbledore." Harry took a moment and addressed the room at large. "If anyone sees Sirius Black, hold him for questioning, but do not harm him. There is another one who is the headmaster in his universe." "Oh, bloody hell," someone muttered. The pounding in his head made Harry tend to agree.
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