Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter characters etc.

Warning: Book 1-6 spoilers

A/N: Much to my mortification I realised there were quite a few typos in that last chapter. Hopefully this one will not prove the same, though I admit I am half asleep right now. I’ll apologise now just in case, lol.

I should also apologise for the wait. I just got bombarded with assignment after assignment, and so I didn’t have any time at all for writing.

No Friend Of Mine

Harry wasn’t sure if he was awake or asleep. A loud buzzing seemed to be echoing in his head, and when he tried to move he found it extremely difficult to make his limbs listen to the commands of his brain because of a frustrating numbness that seemed to be clinging to his body. If this was what it felt like to be paralysed Harry thought he would not like it at all. The sheer annoyance he felt right now in being unable to do so much as lift an eyelid was nearly unbearable.
 

“How is he feeling?” he heard someone ask in a concerned voice that was slightly muffled. Well at least his hearing was okay, and amongst all the buzzing Harry thought he might have recognised that voice. Though it was not one he had heard many times before- more one he had just yearned to hear.

“His mind has gone into shock,” another muffled voice said slowly. “I don’t know what could have caused this to happen, but…” the voice trailed off, and Harry could almost feel their eyes watching him. “He’ll be fine.”

“But, it’s been three days…”

“It’s been three days…don’t you think we should stop now?”

“Don’t even say it!” Harry yelled angrily. “He'll come back Malfoy! I know it!”

Draco walked forward. “Ignoring it will only make it worse Potter; you have to accept-“

“JUST SHUT UP!” Harry exploded, his emerald eyes flashing furiously. He didn’t want to hear this right now. He didn’t need to hear this right now. They were wrong; they were all wrong…

Draco sighed in exasperation. “Keep telling yourself that your precious Weasley isn't dead, but deep down you must know he isn't coming back…”

Harry stared at the wall, completely ignoring the other boy. Ron wasn’t dead. He just wasn’t.

“Potter… Weasley went missing three days ago…you know just as well as me that it's not because he’s gone on holiday…”

Tears burned in Harry’s eyes. Draco’s words had hit him like a sledgehammer, and he knew he could not deny the truth of them. The brutal knowledge that his best friend would never laugh with him again; the sorrow he felt as Ron’s face turned into a memory- it just wasn’t right…

“I’m sorry,” Draco said softly. “He didn’t deserve this…”

Harry opened his eyes and was surprised to feel warm droplets sliding down his cheeks. He must have been crying. The memories that haunted him were always painful. So many friends had been lost in the war, and not just Ron. Everyone he loved had been murdered and killed; some before his eyes- others just never came back. There had been no end to it. The killing, the death, the blood… it just kept going and going until all hope slowly unravelled like a loose thread in a beautiful tapestry; the picture eventually slipped away, and all that remained were the scattered dreams of abandoned warriors.

“Harry, you’re awake!” Lily exclaimed and pulled him into a hug, making Harry feel incredibly uncomfortable. He was not used to being hugged by anyone but Hermione, and it was strange to be hugged by someone who he had believed to be dead. Even if he had yearned to know what it was like to be held by his mother, now it was just strange- almost painful…

“Mum,” Harry mumbled weakly, pulling himself away from her to escape the sudden awkwardness. “What happened?”

Lily’s smile faltered, and she looked at him keenly through her emerald eyes. “You went into a sort of coma. Madame Pomfrey says your mind went into shock and just closed itself off.”

Harry couldn’t help but gasp. He had been in a coma? And if what they had said before was true, than that meant he really had been out for three days. “So, I’ve been out for three days?”

Lily nodded. “I was getting worried, but you’re okay now.”

Harry frowned and looked away. Was he okay? He didn’t think so. He was trapped in a strange world filled with people of his past, with no idea how he got here, or why he was here. He had thought it had just been a dream, but feeling the reality of it all made him understand that he was only deluding himself in thinking this a mere dream. 

“What’s wrong, Harry?” She sat down next to him on the bed and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, a concerned expression flickering in her eyes- eyes that were just like his.

Harry shook his head, not wanting to worry her with his own problems. She would just think he was crazy if he ran around saying he was from another world and that she had been dead in that world for nearly seventeen years. 

“It’s nothing, mum… Um, can I ask what you’re doing here anyway?”

The thought had been troubling him for a while now. Why was his mother at Hogwarts? Surely she should be at home doing whatever it was that mothers did.

Lily laughed in obvious amusement. “Silly, I’ve been visiting your father, but Professor McGonagall told me about your little mishap and so of course I came to see if you were alright.”

“Oh…” Harry felt his face break into a confused frown and wondered what that mishap was. Was there another Harry in this world? And if so, what had happened to him?

“Well, I have to go home and look after Adelle.” She smiled tenderly and leaned down to give him a small kiss on his forehead. He felt her hand smooth away his unruly fringe and couldn’t stop the feelings awkwardness shooting through him.

“Take care of yourself Harry. I don’t want you following your father in his recklessness.”

Harry nodded obediently and watched her leave the hospital wing, all the while wondering who this Adelle was and why his mother had to look after her. He was also curious as to why his mum had come to Hogwarts to meet his father. Why would James Potter be here of all places?

Madame Pomfrey bustled in through the door and immediately started fussing over Harry before finally declaring he was fine to go, adding darkly that it would not be long before he was in there again anyway. Harry nodded, ironically thinking to himself that perhaps some things were not so different in this world after all, and quickly left the Hospital Wing. It suddenly occurred to him that he didn’t know just what he was supposed to be doing. The Harry in this world would surely know, but for Harry himself he felt like a fish out of water with no idea how to even breathe.

To his great relief he saw Hermione walking past with her books clutched in her hands, her bushy hair bouncing from her fast pace.

“Hey, Hermione!” Harry hollered, coming to walk beside her. She turned to look at him, and realising who he was raised an eyebrow enquiringly. Harry paused at the haughtiness in her expression but decided to plunge on ahead anyway. He’d never get anywhere without some help after all.

“Um, what class do I have now?”

“Potions,” Hermione replied shortly and continued walking, clearly not in the mood to be talking to him. He’d never thought she could be such a snob…

“H-hey, wait,” he stuttered and ran to catch up. “What’s with you?”

“What’s with you?” Hermione exclaimed in frustration, her brown eyes flickering with annoyance and confusion all mixed into one. “You’ve been acting so…so weird lately. Not to mention you keep talking to me for some reason.”

“What do you mean I’ve been acting weird? Why wouldn’t I talk to you?”

He didn’t know much about this world, but he was sure things couldn’t be too different could it? After all, he and Hermione were lovers in his world, so surely they must get along somewhat in this one…

Hermione sighed and absently rubbed her face with her free hand. “Don’t you remember anything?”

It was not really possible for him to remember anything, and he hoped she would explain for his benefit so he could actually work out what was wrong with everyone here. “I don’t understand.”

Hermione shook her head in exasperation and continued walking. “Maybe you really did hurt yourself in there,” she muttered more to herself. “Not that it really matters much to me.” Her eyes narrowed into a glare, and she clutched her books tighter to her chest. “If this is another one of your stupid friends’ games to make me look ridiculous again, I don’t want any part of it. Just leave me alone, Harry.”

“Oh, c’mon, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you,” Harry replied earnestly as he walked by her side. It was true enough, but he was beginning to doubt the niceness of the Harry in this world. She clearly disliked him, and Ron too seemed to have no love for him either. It was rather frustrating.

Hermione raised her eyebrow again in disbelief and pushed open the Potions classroom, obviously trying to tell him silently that she no longer wished to talk with him. Harry was not so easily rebuffed. She was the only person he could trust to help him with this, and after all, how much different could she be in this world than from his own?

He watched her sit down at a table by herself and then promptly sat down next to her, earning a glare from the bushy haired girl.

“What are you doing?” she hissed angrily, her eyes narrowing into irritated slits.

“Sitting by you. Is that a crime now?” Harry asked innocently enough, and was amused to see her scowl. The Hermione he knew rarely made such a childish expression, and he had the happy satisfaction of knowing he had made her unable to retort with an excuse on why he could not sit by her.

She rather angrily pulled out her stuff and made a noise that sounded amusingly like a huff. “Don’t get in my way then.”

Harry grinned slightly and then turned to look up at the teacher. It was Professor Snape, much to his surprise (though he did think he should have known that over-grown bat would be here in this world too). Harry had always hated Snape during his school years, but something happened that had changed how he viewed the man. Something he would never forget….

Harry sat up from the explosion and stared around feeling very dizzy. His eyes were swimming with black spots, and an odd ringing sound was echoing in his brain. Someone groaned from underneath the rubble, and Harry stumbled his way over to find Severus Snape trapped under a large piece of building.

“Snape!”

“You're okay?” Snape asked sharply, concern that Harry had never seen before in his normally pitiless black eyes.

Harry nodded. “Fine.”

“Good…”

“I'm surprised to hear you say that,” Harry muttered. The professor had always hated him, always taunted him…

Snape laughed bitterly. “Don't get me wrong. I still hate you, Potter. I hate the way you look, the way you act. I hate everything about you...”

“Then why-”

“-I did it for Lily.” His eyes closed in pain, whether from his wounds or perhaps the emotional hurt he carried. “I couldn’t let her son die…not when you should’ve been mine.”

“Huh?” Harry couldn’t stop the shock from appearing on his face. “What are you talking about?”

“I loved her, and he took her from me! Your face…is a constant reminder of that.”

“You loved…my mum?” Harry asked quietly. His brain tried to absorb this new information, but he was finding it rather difficult to envision this bitter man feeling anything but hate.

Snape nodded. “We were quite close at school, but things happened... Your father swept her off her feet eventually, and I was left with nothing but bitter memories.”

Harry frowned. “That's no excuse to hate me. I've done nothing.”

“You're right.” He considered Harry through his cold black eyes and smiled slightly. “I always thought you were like your father, Potter. I see now I was wrong. You're more like Lily than you know.”

“Enough of that,” Harry said firmly. He didn’t like the way Snape was talking. “We have to get out of here.”

He stood up and looked around for a way to get the rubble of Snape’s chest. “What can I do to get this off?”

When Snape didn't answer Harry knew it was too late. The man was already dead.

Harry knelt down by his old enemy and Potions teacher and stared at the face he had hated so much. He was surprised to find he no longer felt the resentment he once had.

“I think understand now,” he whispered. “I'm sorry…”

Snape’s dark eyes glittered maliciously in the torchlight as he stared at the students. “Today we will be learning about Strengthening Solution. If any of you so much as think about sneaking some of the potion, it will be an instant detention.”

“See he hasn't changed much,” Harry muttered and leaned his head against his elbow. Even with the changed feelings he held for the man, there was just no getting around that Snape was a bitter, sometimes cruel, and hateful little man.

“The ingredients are in the cupboard, and the instructions are on the board.” Snape once more allowed his eyes to sweep over the class in an intimidating way before he sat down at his desk and started marking some tests.

Harry groaned out of habit and made his way towards the cupboard. As he gathered his ingredients, he noticed Ron talking in a low voice to Seamus Finnigan. They looked at him through narrowed eyes and continued their fast mutterings, causing Harry to pause in his progress and wonder just what he had done to them.

Harry shrugged slightly, knowing there was no way he could figure it out, and weaved his way through the cauldrons back to Hermione. She was staring hard at a beaker and did not seem to notice him at all, though he couldn’t help but wonder if that part was intentional.

“Hermione,” Harry said slowly. “Can you tell me what’s with Ron?”

“You really don't remember anything do you?” she said in some amusement.

Harry looked down, feeling frustrated at how little he knew about this world. Everything was just so different here, and he thought he might have taken it better if it wasn’t for the fact that everyone seemed to hate him.

Sighing irritably, Hermione placed down her beaker and looked at him frankly. ”The two of you used to be such good friends, but last year you were made Quidditch Captain, remember?”

Harry nodded, even if he didn’t. “Sure. So what happened then?”

Hermione raised her eyebrows again but didn’t admonish him. “You removed him from the team- said he wasn’t good enough.”

He felt his mouth drop open in shock. “I what?”

Hermione nodded seriously. “After that things just fell apart. You got into a fight a couple of weeks ago, and I think he’s still angry that you won. I’d watch your back if I were you, Harry. He’s definitely not going to let you off easy.”

Harry groaned and ran his hands over his face. “Just what I need,” he mumbled to himself. Things were really out of hand here, and he couldn’t believe what a jerk the Harry in this world was.

Hermione stared at him curiously but didn’t say anything.

“Well, I guess that clears up that,” Harry mused with a frown. “So what else has been going on?”

“Look, I’m not a Harry encyclopaedia.” She snapped grumpily. “It’s not like I know everything about you. We hardly talk remember?”

“Whoa, calm down!” Harry exclaimed, backing away from her slightly. “I didn’t mean to make you angry.”

Hermione huffed slightly and started chopping up her potions ingredients.

Harry watched her for a moment, noticing the tense way her shoulders were positioned, and how her movements were a bit too jerky for her to be in a good mood. She was obviously extremely frustrated, and it was clear that it was because of him.

“So, can you at least tell me why you hate me so much?” Harry asked her curiously. Now he knew why Ron hated him, but he was unsure why Hermione did. 

Hermione’s hand slipped on the knife and caught her finger. She stared at him incredulously, completely ignoring the blood dripping from her hand. He wondered if she even realised it at all.

“Hey, you’re bleeding!” Harry said in alarm and instinctively grabbed her hand away from the knife. He muttered a quick healing spell under his breath and smiled warmly at her as the cut disappeared. Holding her hand like that made everything feel like a strange sense of déjà vu. In that moment he felt like he was back in his own world, with his own Hermione, and he could not stop the warmth and tenderness from creeping onto his face.

Hermione gazed at his hand holding hers with a fascinated look. Slowly she brought her face up to his, and Harry noticed the strange almost searching expression in her brown eyes.

“You’re so different…” she said softly.

Harry quickly dropped her hand and pulled himself together. The last thing he needed was her suspecting anything. “I, uh, don’t know what you mean.”

He looked around nervously and tried to avoid her questioning gaze.

“I know you’ve been acting weird lately, but it’s like you’re a different person.” She shook her head in confusion, her eyes once more falling back to the hand that he had healed. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”

It was just like her to be too perceptive for her own good, but Harry found he could not be angry. In a way he was glad she noticed, because it allowed him to think she was not so different after all. The Hermione he knew had always noticed everything, and would not rest till she had an answer. He knew he had to tell her something.

“Something happened to me. I don’t know what, but now I can’t remember anything.”

Her eyes widened, and she placed an impulsive hand over his. “Do you think someone modified your memory?”

Harry shrugged. “Maybe.”

Of course he knew this wasn’t the truth, but it was better to keep her in the dark at the moment. If he told her he was from another world she’d just think he was crazy again.

“Okay, well I guess I can help you,” she said slowly, taking her hand away again. “Just tell me one thing.”

“What?”

“This isn’t some kind of sick game, is it?”

He stared at her downcast eyes and wondered just what it was he had done to her. “I already told you I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. Please just trust me.”

Hermione looked up and their eyes met. Harry willed her to see that he was being honest; he didn’t know what he had done to her, but he hoped she would find it in her heart to forgive him. He would not hurt her, even if the Harry in this world would.

Slowly she nodded. “I believe you.”

Harry let out a sigh of relief and smiled at her. “Thanks.”

She merely nodded and continued with her work. Harry realised he had better get a move on with his potion too or else he’d be in a lot of trouble. It was lucky that he had gained a few tips about making Strengthening Solution during the war.

As Snape called for the students to bring up their potions, Harry quickly filled his vial and moved over to Snape. He handed the potion over and was surprised that Snape said nothing to Harry but merely nodded his head in Harry’s direction.

Shrugging slightly, Harry followed Hermione out of the classroom and no sooner had he started walking towards the dungeon exit, something very hard connected with his face. Stumbling back, he let out a groan and rubbed a hand to his throbbing cheek. He looked around dizzily and saw Ron’s dark blue eyes flashing with intense hatred directly at him.

“That’s for the other week, Potter. Now we’re even.”

Harry couldn’t even bring himself to do anything, and just stared at Ron’s retreating back, watching as Seamus and Dean came up to him and clapped him on the back praising and laughing. Knowing that Ron had punched him and hated him that much was far more painful than the actual punch.

A cool hand closed over the one on his face and pulled it gently away. He looked down and saw Hermione peering at his face, her eyes not meeting his.

“I told you to watch your back,” she scolded gently. She stood back and gazed at him frankly. “Well it looks like nothing is broken, but come with me to the Hospital Wing and I’ll get you some bruise salve.”

Harry nodded and followed her through the corridors, tentatively massaging his cheek to try soothing his aching face. Ron packed quite a punch.

“Why couldn’t he have just cursed me?” Harry groaned out loud, frustrated now that the pain was finally sinking in.

Hermione laughed. “You’d rather be sprouting tentacles right now?”

Harry shook his head. On second thoughts, perhaps getting punched was not so bad after all.

Suddenly he realised something he had completely forgotten. He remembered Hermione saying once that he had stupid friends, but if he was a not friend with Ron, Seamus and Dean, then who were his friends?

“So, if I’m not friends with Ron…then who am I friends with?” Harry asked curiously, looking down at her face. 

“Neville Longbottom, William and Isabella Black… you know?”

“Wait a minute!” Harry gasped, his brain seizing on two of those names. “William and Isabella Black?”

Hermione nodded, though there was a twisted smile on her face. “They’re family friends, and, well, you became close friends too.”

Harry shook his head in wonderment. If they were who he thought they were, than that must mean Sirius Black was alive and well in this world, and that he had children. “How strange,” he mused out loud, wondering just what else was different in this world.

“We’re here.”

Harry snapped himself out of his musings and followed her into the hospital wing. He watched as Hermione bustled around by the cupboards, and narrowed his eyes as she came back with a rather foul smelling cream.

“Here, this will stop the bruising,” she said soothingly and started applying some of the cream to his face before he could protest. It didn’t hurt as much as he thought it might, just smelt terribly.

He stared into her face as she applied the cream, watching the familiar features that he loved so much. Her honey brown eyes were focused on his bruise, and her rosy pink lips were slightly parted as she concentrated, just begging to be kissed. Strands of her bushy brown hair were falling about her pale face, and in one swift movement Harry had moved those silken strands behind her ears.

Harry didn’t know why he had done it. All he knew was seeing her like that made him think of the Hermione he had lost, the girl who had always been there for him, to heal him when he was hurt, and to love him.

Pink spread across her cheeks and she quickly stood back. “Well it seems to be fine now. I think we should go,” she mumbled quickly, her eyes darting nervously away from him.

Harry felt his heart sink, but smiled all the same. “Yeah, let’s go.”