Alternate Universes

Hello, dear readers! I’m glad you came back! I’ve been struggling to write this bit, as it contains Harry’s POV. Some of you asked if he was supposed to be some kind of genius or something, but I’m really not trying to write him that way. He’s just a smarter than average kid. My sister and I started talking around a year old, my first words being “Dr. Who” (for those of you who don’t know, it was a really cool early science fiction show that ran for a really long time. My mom actually got to meet Tom Baker, the best of the seven ‘Dr. Whos’, and he was thrilled. I still think he’s one of the best British actors of all time. I also think he’d make a great Dumbledore. . .). Anyway, a kid begins to assimilate all the sounds used in their native language as soon as they’re born, pretty much, so I figure that if a kid’s smart, then he ought to be able to piece together /some/ of those sounds at a year. Also, I guess you could kind of base his mental capacities on those for Lowis Lowry’s character of Sam Krupnik, Anastasia Krupnik’s little brother. That’s not quite what I was thinking for the character, but it works. You get a very detailed look into the working’s of baby Sam’s mind. For those of you who haven’t read the Anastasia Krupnik books, I highly suggest them. They’re kids books, and quick reads, but are definitely entertaining on a rainy afternoon.


By the way, in this chapter, I went for describing Harry’s baby thoughts with some adult words. These seem like the rambling thoughts I had as a baby (and yes, before questions are asked, I remember very clearly how I used to think as a small childs I’s I’m 20 years old, it’s really rather strange, but there you go.), and worked for me when trying to describe those thoughts. They’re not word for word what he’s thinking, but more of a description of those thoughts.


Anyways, thanks to all of my reviewers for chapter 4! Just for a short list of recognition, to know I love you, here you are:


Kitty; Kaelli Karali; PeachDancer82; LadyMacbeth; eLeNa; Roxxy M.; AnGeL*Of*MiNe; Skysong; englishgirl; Hot4Remus and Hot4Draco; Anastacia-Gwydion; and Jordan


Special Reviewer prizes go to those who have left multiple reviews! These are:


princess55; Pantherocker; citrus scented; freakyfroggurl22; Alexa Donaghy; CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur; GunSmoke; Doe (thanks for having me on your favorites list!); Shaye(I’ve enjoyed our e-mails a lot! I love getting to know my reviewers.) ;and Princess Malfoy (I beta read her stuff, it’s beautiful! Go read it!)


Thanks again to all of you. Hint: If you leave a review, you get your name in the chapters, too! See, I give prizes to good reviewers!


Oh, one semi-swear word. Not even a full blown one, so if I get in trouble, I’m going to be royally PO-ed.


Anyhow, on with the tale.


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As his Mummy and Daddy stepped back into the living room of Daddy’s Mummy and Daddy, Harry looked around the room from his perch in his Mummy’s arms. He was really tired. Last night, something bad had happened. A bad had had come into the house and tried to hurt his Mummy and Daddy! Harry didn’t know what had happened after that, but Mummy said that he was a good boy and that he had done good things. Harry didn’t know anything except that he hadn’t wanted his Daddy to get hurt, so he had said so, and then there was a bright light, and his forehead hurt. It still did, a little bit, but not a lot. And today, when he called to his Grandmamma and Granddaddy, and then to his Grandma and Grandpa, the big people had made all kinds of fuss. Harry didn’t understand that. He knew who these people were, they were his family! Why shouldn’t he say their names? The sounds felt strange in his mouth, because he hadn’t said them a lot, but he knew them okay! Well, if they started making a fuss again, he’d have to tell them to stop. He didn’t know many words yet, but he knew ‘Daddy’ and ‘Mummy’ and ‘No!’ and ‘Hurt’(he skinned his knees a lot when he tried to walk like Daddy-he knew all about hurt. But a kiss from Mummy on his hurt usually helped that.) and now he knew he could say the names of his Grandmamma and Granddaddy and Grandma and Grandpa. Harry felt very contented with himself and his knowledge. But he was still tired. Trying to decide whether to fuss or just fall asleep in his mothers arms, Harry chose the second alternative. Yawning, he closed his eyes and leaned into the comforting warmth of his Mummy. She would always be there to keep him safe.


He knew it.


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As Lily and James stepped into his parent’s living room, Lily felt Harry look around, yawn, and lay his head on her shoulder. She tightened her arms around him, before asking Beth if she could take Harry upstairs and put him down for a nap.


“Of course, dear! Oh, the poor wee thing must be exhausted. Here, I’ll go up with you, I’m sure we still have a cradle around here someplace. . .” With that Rose Potter led her daughter-in-law and grandson up the stairs of Potter Manor, to look for James’ old cradle. When they were up the stairs and safely out of earshot, Bill Potter turned seriously to his son. James took a deep breath, and returned his father’s gaze.

“We told her parents that they came after us simply because of Muggle blood in the family. They wouldn’t have taken it well if they knew we fight against Voldemort. They’re so afraid of losing their daughter. I can’t blame them, the thought of them getting hurt scares the hell out of me, too.” Bill nodded. He understood what his son was going through. James and Lily had been in the forefront of the resistance against Voldemort, and for that reason, they were targets. Now, though, since Voldemort was apparently gone, maybe the little family could rest. Suddenly, Bill’s head snapped up to look at James.


“James, what was done with You-Know-Who’s body?”


“Oh, Dumbledore called the Ministry of Magic first thing after we appeared in his office. They had Aurors on the scene before five minutes had passed. It seems that one of thath ath Eaters got a little over-enthusiastic and cast the Dark Mark over the house before the job was finished, so they had all the proof they needed. Voldemort’s wand was snapped immediately, and his body was taken and burned. They definitely wanted to make sure that he was gone.” James gestured his father over to a couch, and they sat down. James smiled at the similarity of their postures as they sat: both with their legs slightly open, both leaning back into the couch with their arms crossed, right over left, across their chests. Bill spoke again when they had settled themselves.


“Do you want to go clean out the house today? There’s time to do it, if we’re quick. We could go and leave Harry and Lily here with Rose, I don’t think we need much more help to put shrinking charms on everything and get it over here. . .” Bill was cut off by the annoyed voice of his daughter-in-law.


“Oh, no you don’t! When that house is cleaned out, I’m going to be there. I lived there, too, and I’m not going to be left out!”


James stepped quickly in. “We weren’t trying to leave you out of anything, sweetheart. We just didn’t know if you’d want to go, because we /aren’t/ taking Harry, and we weren’t sure that you’d want to leave him.”


Lily’s eyes narrowed, but she accepted the response. “You wouldn’t mind looking after him, would you, Beth?” she asked the woman who had come down the stairs behind her. Beth shook her head.


“I have a feeling the angel’s going to be sleeping for a few hours. He had a late night last night, and an early rise this morning.”


Lily smiled, she knew that Harry’s sleep schedule had been thrown off horribly for the past day. “Thank you, Beth. I know you’ll look after him.” Lily turned to her husband and father-in-law. “When are we going?”


James looked at his father. “Now?”


Bill nodded. “Might as well.”


Since they didn’t have a baby with them this time, the three adults headed out to the backyard, past the anti-apparition wards, to Apparate to Godric’s Hollow. They took one look at the house, and immediately, all thoughts of saving anything of great value died.


The house was in shambles. The windows were all blown out, the doors were gone, and half the roof was caved in. The entire outside of the house was covered in black smoke stains, overlaying the pale blue shade that the house had been before. It looked like after James, Lily, and Harry had used the portkey, the remaining Death Eaters had tried to set the house on fire. They hadn’t been able to do enough to totally destroy the house, due to the appearance of Aurors, but enough damage had been done to render the house unlivable. Lily caught herself even wondering if there was anything in the house worth saving. As her mind began to function again, Lily realized that the section of roof over the bedrooms was still intact. /Merciful Merlin/, she thought, /that means that our bedrooms should be alright!/


The trio began to head into the house, careful to watch for dangerous holes and weak spots in the floor. The house reeked of smoke, but as they went up the stairs, the smell dissipated some. It seemed that the fire had mostly taken the ground floor, which meant that much of the furniture and family trinkets were ruined. But the important things were in the bedrooms: clothes, pictures, treasured books, odds and ends.


As James, Lily, and Bill stepped into James and Lily’s bedroom, they were once again stopped, stunned at what lay before them.


The room had been totally ransacked. Clothes were aver ver the floor, the bed was dismantled, any glass had been smashed-that included the large ornate vanity mirror. After a moment, Lily regained enough of her physical ability to run into Harry’s room. That was trashed, too, just as badly as the master bedroom. Lily sank down onto the floor, catching up a singed yellow baby blanket that was on the floor. After only seconds, Lily felt the arms of her husband around her. She turned around so that she could bury her face in his shoulder, and wept.


“What kind of people would ransack a baby’s room?! A /BABY’S/ room!!” Lily sobbed into James’ shoulder. He held her tight, rocking gently back and forth in a comforting way, making soothing sounds. From the doorway, Bill watched his only son comfort the woman he had taken as his wife. It was obvious from the look in James’ eyes at that moment that James, though showing his soft side to Lily, was ready to kill the people who had done this to his family.


The look in James’ eyes was frightening.


Bill hoped that the Death Eaters that had escaped knew what they were up against, because not even Merlin’s own mercy could help them escape James Potter.


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Yay! Another chapter done. I’m going out of town for a few days, so I won’t be posting for awhile. I hope this chapter was up to par, it was kind of rushed, as I wanted to get something out before I left. Not a whole lot happens, but you found out what was done with Voldie! And yes, before any questions, Voldie /is/ dead. Gone. Taking the eternal celestial dirt nap. Tango Uniform. BUT! That doesn’t mean James and Lily are going to have it easy. We still need to find Pettigrew! That means. . .Sirius and Remus! I enjoy writing them. They’re fun.


Up next: I really don’t know. I think something was mentioned about a second anniversary coming up for James and Lily? Oh, I wonder what Sirius is going to cook up for them. . .J


Okay! It’s time! The review button is your friend! Please use it, it makes me so happy to see my mailbox full of reviews!


Thanks, ~Desertrain