Strange Potter

"I don't understand," Dumbledore spoke mostly to himself.

"No one does Albus. Mr. Potter was at practice!" His deputy was frantic. She rarely showed such emotions near students but two of her lions were attacked.

 Harry and Hermione were both in the medical wing. Both are frozen in place, but alive. Stephen was examining them.

The sorcerer who battled the snake was out still along with Helena. Both were recovering from their wound. He had suffered the worst of it but had been lucky enough to not see the animal's eyes. The fact he fought the beast with his eyes closed was impressive.

There was no door bursting open because a red portal tore open in the wing.

Wanda, Natasha, Sirius, and Remus all rushed in. On their heels was the youngest member of the family. The boy saw Harry on the bed and rushed over.

"Harry?!" Regulus shook him and got nothing in response. That wasn't right!! "Mum?! Dad?!"

"He's alive but frozen," Stephen told the boy and his family.

"How did this happen?" Sirius demanded an answer.  "Your trap didn't work?"

"Yes and no. I know the culprit now."

"Fat lot of good that does! What happened?!" 

"Hermione was attacked. She came across a fight between one of my sorcerers and the creature. Wong reviewed the battle. It's a basilisk."

Sirius looked pale at that. "Bloody hell."

"You mean to tell us a giant snake that can kill with a look is running around this school?!" Natasha shouted.

"Not at the moment. The animal retreated into the pipes as Wong and the others conversed on the scene."

"What happened to Harry?" Wanda held her hand over his head. Harry? Harry?! She had never not gotten a response from him. That was not right.

"We found this." McGonagall held up Hermione's mirror. 

"The scene showed her pulling it before the attack. It is reasonable to believe she called to Harry on it and he saw the creature through it, causing his state." Strange was pleased with his cover. He knew full well that Harry hadn't answered any mirror calls.

"I...I found this on the field." Neville spoke as he handed over Harry's mirror. He and the twins were called to the infirmary as the rest of the team was sent to the Great Hall. It was obvious Dr. Strange was covering for Harry so he played along. Harry always gave him his mirror to hold on to during practice.

"Good eyes," Fred said.

"Guess we missed it," George said next. They were preoccupied with getting their seeker off the ground so it was possible.

"Who is behind this?" Wanda's voice was like ice. Harry was not responding and that infuriated the witch.

"Wanda the culprit is not working under her own will." Stephen tried to placate the woman.

"Who?!" Her eyes glowed brightly.

Stephen sighed as he looked at the twins. "An eleven-year-old girl named Ginny Weasley."

"What?!" Both the twins shouted together.

"No way!!" Fred argued.

"Ginny would never do anything like this!" George shouted along with his brother.

"Like I said. She isn't working under her own power. Something is corrupting her. Have you two noticed anything unusual with her?"

"No, well she seemed more distant. I thought she just didn't want to be around her brothers."

"She spent a lot of time over the break in her room. Mum thought she was just beginning to...go through that 'special' time." Fred winced.

"Do you believe she is possessed?" Natasha asked. "Like that guy last year?"

"No. This is different. I have a theory but right now we have bigger concerns." He paused. "Luna Lovegood is missing and according to Myrtle was taken down to the chamber by Miss. Weasley."

Regulus felt some fear fill him. He liked Luna and if something could do this to Harry it had to be dangerous.

"No way! Luna is Ginny's friend. They've been friends for years."

"Hopefully that is something she will hold on to. Her will is eroding with each minute."

"So we have a hostage situation." Natasha realized.

"Unfortunately."

"Most unfortunate," Dumbledore said. "We are taking every precaution we can to find a solution."

"Wong and the others are gathered in the bathroom. The spots the creature came through the pipes are covered as well."

"All the students, except the ones here, are gathered in the Great Hall."

"Has anyone told Xenophilius yet?" Remus asked.

"Apparently he's on a jungle expedition for rare creatures. I have no way to locate him at the moment." Strange said. He could if he had a hair from Luna but the house elves here were very thorough in cleaning.

"What about their parents?" Sirius motioned to the twins. "Or Richard and Jean?"

"I imagine Hermione being awake would lessen the impact when they are told so I am waiting until the potion has been administered to bring them here."

"I will inform Arthur as soon as I can," Dumbledore said. "In the meantime you three please follow Dr. Strange's sorceress here to the others in the Great Hall."

"But..." Neville spoke.

"In a moment." A voice said from the doorway.

Frank and Alice came in. Neville rushed to his parents.

"Are you okay?" Alice checked Neville over.

"I'm fine. Harry and Hermione, they were attacked."

"We heard," Frank spoke as he too made sure Neville was alright. "Amelia and Fudge haven't been told yet but I will have to the moment we are done discussing what has happened."

"Understood." Stephen agreed.

"What is behind this?" 

"A basilisk."

Both parents went a little pale at that.

"Truly?" Alice whispered in horror.

"A very large one at that."

"So what is the plan?" Frank asked. "Who is responsible?"

"A victim of some dark magic. I will explain to the Minister and Director soon, but right now the situation here is more pressing."

"Very well. Alice and I will go with the escort to the Hall."

"I'll stay and help guard the door." The former aurora said as she pulled her wand.

"Alright, I'll make the trip to the ministry to hear Fudge lose his mind and Amelia lose her temper." Frank did not like the fact he was going to be telling them The Boy Who Lived had been attacked.

"Can't we stay here?" The boys asked.

"We want all the students in the same place. Less probably of someone being separated." Dumbledore told them. "When we bring your sister back you will be the second to know after your parents of course."

Alice came and sat next to Harry. "You had better wake up young man. Your mothers would be very cross if all you did was sleep." She squeezed his arm. She couldn't help him here but she could help protect the others in the hall. Something that Harry would want her to do.

"Please let us know when they wake up." Frank said. Neville nodded in agreement.

Frank led them to the Great Hall while Neville kept looking back at his friends.

The twin were trying to think of a way to break the new to their brothers. Ginny was their baby sister. How did they miss this?! Guilt was filling the two as the reexamined the past year.

"How long until the potion is done?" Remus asked after they left.

"Dr. Strange has already aged the mandrakes and Severus is working as we speak. It should be ready for administration within the hour."

"Hour!" Wanda snapped. "Not good enough." She looked at Sirius.

He nodded back. "You want to try to fix him don't you?"

"I won't try anything."

"Okay." He knew Wanda would die before she ever hurt Harry. "I know you know what you are doing. Just please be careful."

"I always am with Harry."

"What? Absolutely not." Poppy frowned. "That magic is too dangerous. Especially for these cases."

"It's not your call to make." Wanda moved her out of the way with a flick of her finger. 

"Don't worry. Wanda would never hurt Harry!" Regulus defended his aunt to the medwitch.

"Wanda," Stephen spoke. "A moment before you start."

Wanda stepped over and a small bubble of red went over them. Natasha and Sirius came in too but Dumbledore found he was not able to join the conversation. Regulus stayed with his brother. He knew when to stay out of some talks.

"What?" Wanda asked.

"Harry was in his astral form when they were attacked. It saved Hermione as she saw the death stare through him."

"That makes more sense." Sirius nodded. "The mirror is a good cover story."

"Where is he?" Natasha asked. "Every time Harry is doing that he has control over both. Is he hiding in the plane?"

"I haven't seen him. That is unusual." 

"No, it's wrong. I can't contact him." Wanda said. She felt like a piece of herself was missing now. Harry and she were together in their heads. The silence was maddening.

"As I feared. We have to go to the scene while you work here."

Wanda nodded at him before she moved over to Harry and placed her hands over him. She began to glow as magic poured into him. 

Regulus stepped back and Natasha held his shoulders.

As she worked the sorcerer and witch slipped into their astral form. Time slowed to a stop. 

"This way." Stephen led.

They flew through the walls to the spot Hemione was attacked.

In the astral plane, Harry floated. No movement. He spun around hanging in the air.

"Harry?!" Wanda held his shoulders. "Harry, can you hear me?"

"He's unresponsive." Stephen went over him. Harry was only alive due to a technicality. His soul was out, similar to a ghost.

"What can we do?"

"We? Nothing. Harry won't wake up until his form has been. I can not fix him. You can. Use your connection. Find him and wake him at the same time as his body does."

Wanda cupped Harry's face. She glowed as she poured her magic into him. She dove deep into his mind. 

Harry. Harry. Listen to my voice. Follow it out. 

Harry started to glow the whole castle could feel something was happening.

Time flew back as Stephen came back to his body. Wanda had the luxury of doing this and still had access to her physical form. Come on Harry.

"Albus?" Poppy felt the castle reacting and it sent chills down her spine.

"Miss. Maximoff stop this!" The old wizard could feel it too. This was dangerous to the whole school.

"Don't," Remus jumped between them. "You interfere and who knows what might happen."

Wanda glowed over Harry as his body rose off the bed. At the same time, their astral forms were glowing together.

A blast of red magic went over the room as Harry landed back on the bed.

"Hermione!!" Harry shot up screaming.

"Mr. Potter!!" Poppy and McGonagall said together.

"Harry." The witch who woke him said in relief.

The boy shot off the bed "Don't touch me. Don't touch me. Don't touch me." He stammered as his astral form and body tried to rejoin. The term split personality was the closest thing to what he was feeling. His head was on fire to add to the problem.

"Get back in that bed now!" Poppy demanded.

"Don't," Sirius told her. "We'll handle this."

Harry had his hands on the wall with his head against it. "Breathe."

"Harry." Natasha held his shoulder.

"Mum...Dad?" His eyes began to focus and he saw his parents there.

"Easy Harry," Sirius said from the other side. "You're okay."

"Hermione...we...I..." He struggled to get out. His whole body felt like it had been turned to stone and then a bunch of explosives was set off inside it.

Natasha and Sirius held on to him as everything began to focus again. She cupped his face and kept his glowing red eyes away from the others. They slowly changed back to green and he let out a long deep breath.

Regulus saw he was settling down and attached himself to his brother's side with a hug. "Don't ever do that again!"

"Sorry, Reg." Harry put his arm around him. "I didn't plan on it." He held him. When he saw Wanda he smiled. "You found me."

"Every time." She joined the hug.

How bad is it?

I have you back in my head. So it's perfect.

He squeezed her tight at that.

"Harry, do you feel okay? Anything unusual?" Stephen spoke.

"Like a rock and my head hurts."

"If you feel up to it we need to talk about what happened."

"Hermione?" The boy's eyes pleaded for an answer.

Natasha motioned her head to the other bed.

Harry's shacking legs had to be helped move as he went to it. Hermione was as still as a statue.

This was wrong. She was frozen and silent. Hermione should never be silent! Unless she was reading and even then she would make the sound of biting her lip or taking notes...

"Harry." Sirius came next to him. "She's okay."

"She's a statue. That's not okay." He said quietly and looked at Wanda "Will you wake her up?"

I don't have her parent's permission.

Better to ask for forgiveness.

Or we could simply wait for the cure...you plan on trying the second you'd have a chance.

You know me too well.

You are the exception to the rules of magic Harry. Only your connection with Chaos let me cure you. She is still bound by the magic inside her. Trying on her is too dangerous.

I've done magic on her before.

Small spells to block her mind or show images are completely different. You know that. The more magic poured into her and the more risk she will face. 

I hate not being able to help.

I know.

"That is not acceptable. It was far too dangerous to even do this time!" While I can do nothing to stop you from using it on Mr. Potter I can not allow you to do it to Miss. Granger." Dumbledore declared in a powerful voice. "It won't be long and Severus will have the potion ready."

Harry didn't like that he couldn't do anything, but Wanda was right. If he tried there was a good chance he would kill her. 

"Mr. Potter. Please lay back on the bed now." The medwitch said sternly.

Regulus helped him stand back up and sit on his own bed. "Are you sure you're okay?" 

"Did you think a giant snake would get the better of me?" Harry gave his brother a comforting smile as he laid back down.

"You were frozen. It did get the best of you." 

"Quiet you." Harry glared playfully.

"Nope. Im making fun of you for this forever." Regulus smirked.

"You'd better learn to sleep with one eye open then."

"Don't have to, Motto will keep an eye on you." Regulus laughed.

"I'll cover him in some shiny glitter."

"Don't even think about it." It was a nightmare to wash Mottos hair. Especially since mum made him use No-Maj ways when it was the result of a prank.

"Alright enough you two." Sirius shook his head. "Im glad you're okay." He sat at Harry's feet.

"We all are," Natasha spoke for the others. "Worse of all I can't get on to you for doing something foolish this time."

"Don't you mean best of all?"

"No." She rubbed his hair as she kissed the top of his head.

"Poppy, do you mind if we ask some questions while you work?" McGonagall asked after a few minutes. She did like how much Harry's family cared for him but they had to know some details.

"As long as it doesn't get in my way." Poppy was casting various charms over the boy to make sure that magic didn't cause him any issues. Shockingly he was healing at a fast rate.

"Excellent." Said Dumbledore. "Mr. Potter can you explain how you came to be in this state with Miss. Granger?"

Harry was hearing Wanda give him the story and repeated it. "I was on the way back down to the pitch when my mirror went off. I wasn't thinking as I pulled it and I saw these big yellow eyes. Then everything went black."

"That matches what we were able to gather, but how did you know it was a basilisk?" The headmaster had noted his words.

"Hermione managed to get that much out as she was running. When I saw the eyes and passed out it connected as I was getting my mind back together." 

Nice safe.

Thank you.

Wanda and Harry grinned at each other.

Dumbledore nodded. It seemed the most probable of the situation. "Miss. Granger had this in her hand." He held out the paper. "It appears she was investigating on her own when she was attacked."

"How did the snake get to her?"

The adults looked at each other. 

"Ginny Weasley sent it after her."

"What?! She's the one behind this?!" Bloody hell! I should have read her mind!!

Why didn't you?

She was always thinking of me when she first got here. I kept a distance for my sanity. Bollocks, I screwed up!

Don't blame yourself. Everyone made mistakes today.

"She managed to harm who I had watching the area and opened the chamber entrance," Strange said. "That's not all Im afraid."

"What?" Harry didn't like the look Doc had on his face. "What happened?"

"She took Luna down there with her."

Harry looked horrified by that discovery. "Luna? What are we going to do?!"

"You are going to lay in this bed and get better," Natasha said. "We're going to go deal with the snake and stop this from happening again."

"I can help! I can't lay here while she's in danger! She's my friend."

"Harry."

"You are brave." A girl's voice said as a white face peeked out from beside his bed. "Im glad you didn't die."

"Ah!....thanks. You must be Myrtle?"

The girl nodded. "But if you do die here I will be happy to share my toilet with you."

Harry looked at the rest of the group and then back at the ghost. "Thanks, I think."

"Ginny said to give her you. I dont understand why."

"Myrtle," Strange said sternly.

"What? Ginny wants me? I knew she has an obsession but that's insane."

"It's not her. Not really. We'll handle this." Strange said.

"Doc. What does she want with me?"

"I have no idea."

"Harry you stay here," Sirius said. "Reg you need to stay here as well."

"What?! But I want to see you guys beat the snake!"

"No!" Both parents said together.

Regulus and Harry both had the same frown as Regulus took a seat next to the bed.

"Poppy, is it alright if Reg stays here for the time?"

"Provided he is better behaved than you were."

"That's not something we can guarantee." Natasha said.

"Just let me know if they give you the same problems James and I did." The marauder told her.

"They are in good hands," Dumbledore reassured. "Dr. Strange, shall we go to the bathroom?"

"Us too." The rest of the adults moved with them. 

"Yes. I need to have a word with this heir." Wanda glowed as she flew out of the room.

Harry watched them all leave and stared at Hermione's frozen form.

Luna's head hurt. Bad. 

"Ah..." She let out as she tried to see where she was. When she attempted to move she found her body tied to something.

Her vision began to focus and she shrieked a the various snake heads across from her. She realized she was trapped in one of them with the serpent's tongue wrapped around her.

"Good you're awake." 

She found some boy she had never met looking at her. "Who are you?"

"Tom."

"Where are we?"

"The lair of the greatest of the four." 

Luna's sight was acting. This boy was wrong. Everything about him was off. It was like looking at Harry's astral form, but darker. "You're? What are you?"

The older boy smiled wickedly. "A memory in a diary. Brought back to fix the world."

"Fix? You. You're the Heir? You attacked the others!"

"Technically it was her." Tom motioned to the other occupant on the floor.

Luna saw the redhead and gasped. "Ginny! What did you do?!"

"The stupid girl did this to herself." Tom shrugged. "It was too easy. A few encouraging words and slowly she fell."

"You won't win," Luna warned even as her head was throbbing. "Dr. Strange won't let you."

"So you think this doctor will come to save you?"

"I know it."

Tom smirked. "You would be wise to hope he doesn't." He motioned down the long walkway to the entrance. "If anyone but Potter comes down here. You will be dead before they can do anything."

Luna winced as the tongue of the statue tightened around her neck.

Harry couldn't wait any longer. Luna was in danger and Hermione had almost been killed. He had to do something!

"You're planning something." Regulus knew that look on his face.

"You remember the Two-Step?"

Regulus nodded. Their old maneuver to distract their parents from one to the other. "What are you going to do?"

"Save my friend," Harry whispered back.

Regulus got up and moved to where Poppy was. He saw the door was still guarded by one of Docs but Harry wouldn't have an issue there."Madam Pomfrey." He sat at the chair beside her desk. "Was my dad as bad as the stories say?"

She glanced up at him. "My hair had far less gray before he and his group walked these halls."

"You're the second person to say that." The boy laughed. "Hey after next year I'll be here too."

"Is that a threat young man?"

Regulus laughed again. She shook her head and had a calming potion in hand as she stood. 

"Now Mister Potter you need to..." She stopped when she saw the bed her charge was in was empty. "Potter!!" 

Under his cloak, Harry ran. He did wince when he heard Poppy but he couldn't stop. He couldn't do anything for Hermione, and that infuriated him, but he could do something for Luna. She was trapped with a monster, a monster that wanted him and he planned to give him what it wanted.

Us odd ones have to stick together.

Wong and the others were gathered in the bathroom. All the students and staff were in the Greathall and the places the serpent

Wong was furious as he pinned the sorcerer who left his post against the wall. "You were told to monitor the room!"

"I didn't think..."

"Only thing you said that matters! Helena came close to death and two girls are in danger. Go back to the Sanctum before I toss you to the basilisk."

 The man glared back as he was released."We never should have been involved with these people." He said hotly as he portaled out.

Wong sighed as the man left. They nearly lost two of their own. They got sloppy. At the moment he felt they were as bad in competence as this world.

"Wong." Stephen came in with the others. "What do we know?"

"There's a notification charm going down. Keyed to send an alert to the caster."

"So she will know if we go."

"It's very likely that if anyone goes down there Miss. Lovegood will not be alive by the time we reach the Chamber."

"Can you not just open one of those portals in the Chamber?" Dumbledore asked.

"We have to visualize the place. There's no drawing or even a description of the inside of the Chamber."

"Miss. Maximoff?"

"I can't either. The places I've not been to can still be seen when I look into someone's head. No one here has seen the inside or has a blueprint for me to go off of. So I can't portal in." She told him. "It's an easy solution anyway. We cancel the charm," Wanda said simply.

"Considered that. The alert is on the other side of a door that is locked with Parseltongue." Wong told her. "Miss. Weasley had to cast it on the door before she sealed it behind her."

"I will make the walls into dust." She said testily as she began to start down the opening.

"Wanda." Wong grabbed her arm. "None of us know the inside of the Chamber or where Luna is being held in it. Weasley could easily kill her before we can act."

Wanda glanced down at her arm causing him to let go. "I will not stand around and wait."

"What about me?" Natasha asked. "Would the spell react to someone without magic going down?"

"Nat, to quote you. 'Have you lost your mind?!' Salazar placed that snake down there with the soul purpose to kill people like you. Not to mention you have no way to open the door." Sirius told her. 

"I'll go." They turned to see Harry standing at the entrance. "Myrtle said Ginny wanted me, if I go alone there's a chance she won't hurt Luna."

"Absolutely not." Wong declared.

"Not happening!" Natasha shouted.

"Like bloody hell you are," Sirius said.

"No." Said Wanda with a voice of steel. "What part of stay in bed did you not understand?"

Stephen was the only one who didn't say anything.

"I can do this!" Harry yelled back at them in frustration.

"Mr. Potter." Dumbledore raised his voice. "While I admire your courage and loyalty to your friend.  You will return to the infirmary and let this be handled by the adults. This no small matter to risk yourself on." You are far too important for such things now. You will have your time to be the hero. The one the world needs.

"Really? The giant snake didn't tell me that?!" Sarcasm dripped off Harry's mouth. "Sorry that was rude, but the fact is whatever or whoever is controlling Ginny wants me. I say we give them what they want."

"Harry." Stephen finally spoke. "I promised you we would handle this."

"Every second Luna gets closer to being snake food. Please let me do this!"

"You are asking to go into the very mouth of a lion's den without support. Do you really expect us to agree? Not to mention you still have no way to open the door." Stephen knew Harry could easily take out the wall, but that was something other didn't need to know.

"I think we all know whose controlling Ginny. He'll open it if he thinks I'm alone." Harry grinned a little. "But I won't be."

Wanda stepped over to him. "I know what you are planning. I can't say I like it but it can work."

"What?" Sirius asked.

Harry pulled out his Stark glasses. He hit the button and a small orb flew off them. It began broadcasting everything he was seeing. "Once you see the Chambers inside. Do what you do best." 

Wanda and Stephen looked at each other and then at Natasha and Sirius.

"Harry." Nat grabbed his shoulders. "What did we say about doing crazy things like this?"

"Be sure to strike a good pose?" He cheeked. The mother's glare was a full force at that. "I'm not running into the fire alone this time."

"Is this the best choice?" Remus asked.

"It's the one most likely to be a success. I do think with Harry, Ginny could be too distracted to kill Luna." Strange reasoned. "But I still dont want to risk your life, Harry."

"It's my life, right? I told Luna we would stick together."

"I dont like it at all. It's too risky." Sirius argued.

"You know none of us will let Harry be hurt," Wanda said. "I will rip the snake's head off before it could even open its eyes to him."

"Mr.Potter I can not allow this," Dumbledore spoke. "How can any of you condone this?"

"We don't. We just trust him." Sirius reluctantly agreed.

"The second you are in there you get to cover and let us deal with it," Wanda ordered.

"I'll keep him distracted. You guys take him by surprise." The boy agreed.

" Whether you have your permission or not I am the Headmaster of the school." The old wizard said to the boy. "I can not allow this. We will have to use another method to save the young girls." He turned back to Stephen. "I'm sure your magic and mine will be able to get past the door and charm with minimal effort." Then he turned back to Harry. "Mr. Potter you will have to wait back..." Only to see he wasn't there.

The boy already jumped down the hole.