Hey everyone, here I am again, this chapter is a little shorter than I was intending, future chapters will be longer.

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Chapter Three: Veritaserum

That Lily was unhappy with Harry's decision to take veritaserum was obvious. She sat beside her husband with her lips pursed in disapproval. For the first time Harry thought that his mother- and wasn't it strange being able to ascribe that word to a living person- looked something like Aunt Petunia. Harry tried to ignore the guilt that he felt at being the cause of his mother's upset so soon after their reunion as he reached out to take the vial of veritaserum from the Headmaster.

"Harry, really," Lily tried again. "You don't have to do this."

Harry doubted that he would be able to convince his mother otherwise so he said nothing as he uncorked the vial and put it to his lips.

"Just a drop Harry," Dumbledore cautioned. "This is an extremely potent potion."

Harry nodded and took a tiny sip. The potion didn't appear to taste of anything. He looked down at the vial and frowned, and remarked to nobody in particular. "I think Snape gave us the wrong vial."

His father burst out laughing at that and he was sure that he heard his mother make a small noise of reluctant amusement.

"Professor Snape, Harry," Dumbledore corrected him. "And I am sure that this is the correct vial. Now young man, what is your name?"

"Harry James Potter," said Harry automatically.

"And when is your birthday, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"The 31st July 1981 sir,"

"So you are ten years old?"

"No sir," Harry said. "I'm eleven, in my world it was Christmas night."

"Indeed," Dumbledore hummed. "Now, Harry, who are your parents?"

"Lily and James Potter, Professor." Harry announced. "They died when I was one when Voldemort came to kill us."

He heard the Lily Potter who was very much alive let out a strangled sob and the James Potter, who was equally alive, make to comfort his wife.

"Have you any siblings, Harry?" Dumbledore pressed.

"No sir," he returned. "I'm an only child."

Dumbledore hummed again. "You said, Harry, that you lost your parents as a baby when Voldemort came to kill you- how, may I ask, did you survive that night?"

"I don't know," said Harry.

"I see," Dumbledore said, then he asked. "And, who raised you after you lost your parents?"

"My Aunt and Uncle," Harry replied. "Vernon and Petunia Dursley,"

"Where was Padfoot?" was James' rather cryptic question. "There's no world out there where he wouldn't have taken Harry if anything happened to us."

"Shh James," Lily hissed.

Dumbledore ignored this and carried on as though Lily and James had not spoken. "How Harry, did you get here, to this world?"

"I came through a weird mirror." Harry told them. "It sort of pulled me through, and I woke up here."

"Why weren't you in your bed? It was hours after lights out."

Harry told the room at large about how he had received his late father's invisibility cloak for Christmas and how he'd used it to sneak into the restricted section of the library to research the name Nicholas Flamel; he spoke of running from Filch, into the room with the mirror in it.

"I saw myself with my parents, and a girl who I think might be Robyn," here he cast a glance in his parents' direction. "I touched the glass and it pulled me through. I hadn't been here very long before Robyn found me."

"Thank you Harry, no more questions," Dumbledore smiled and offered him a new vial. "Here, the antidote."

Harry took the antidote and winced at the bitter taste. "Ugh,"

And then he was in Lily's arms again. "You really didn't have to do that sweetheart."

Robyn traced the familiar route up to Dumbledore's office and stooped in front of the gargoyle which guarded the Headmaster's study. She had received a message from Dumbledore himself asking her to come up his office for a reason which she would bet her broomstick was to do with her brother.

"Cockroach cluster," she said and the gargoyle which guarded the entrance leaped aside allowing her to pass. "Thank you Graham."

"I keep telling you not to call me that!" the gargoyle harrumphed as it leapt back into place.

Robyn had given the gargoyle this name back in first year and the only reason she kept the practice up three years later was because it annoyed him so much.

"You know you like it really Graham," Robyn called as she ascended the spiral stair case to Dumbledore's office. At the top of the stairs she raised her hand and rapped on the door.

"Come in Robyn,"

Robyn lowered her hand, shaking her head. How did he always know?

The fifteen year old witch let herself into the office to find her little brother and their parents sitting with the headmaster.

"Mum, Dad, hi," she greeted them, with the end of summer term mere days away she had not anticipated that Dumbledore would bring them into school to meet Harry, though now that it had happened it seemed so obvious. "Hey, Harry, you're looking better."

And he did too. He had more colour about him and it made him look even more like their father.

"Thanks," said Harry.

"Robyn," said Dumbledore. "I called you up here to ask if you would show young Harry around the castle, I have a matter to discuss with your parents."

"Of course professor," Robyn nodded. "C'mon Harry,"

Harry looked uncomfortable. "But…"

"Go on sweetheart," their mother encouraged with a tight smile- it was clear that she wanted to keep Harry close for a while but whatever this was about was obviously about what had happened ten years ago, and Robyn for her part did not want to have to think about that- not now, not anymore. "It's alright."

And finally, Harry allowed her to lead him from the headmaster's office.

When the door had clicked shut behind the two younger members of the Potter family, Albus drew his wand and cast a silent muffliato charm to prevent what he had to say from reaching the children's ears should they make an attempt to eavesdrop.

"How is this possible, Albus?" Lily demanded as soon as he had set his wand down on his desk. "Have you ever heard of anything like this happening before?"

"No," he admitted. "But more learned men even than I are being surprised by what magic is capable of each and every day. I must tell you that I doubt that Harry's… reappearance is in any way coincidental."

"What are you saying?" James asked, wincing slightly as his wife squeezed his hand.

"I believe that we were wrong in assuming that Sybil's prophecy had been fulfilled with Harry's death."

Harry had given up trying to tell Robyn that he didn't need to be given a guided tour when she had started showing him secret passages that he had never dreamed of.

"And these," she said, bringing the tour to a halt beside a large painting of a bowl of fruit, and tickling a pear. "Are the kitchens."

The pear began to laugh and all of a sudden the painting swung itself away from the wall and revealed a huge room. It was about the size of the Great Hall and there were tables set out paralleling the four house tables and staff table.

"Welcome back Miss Potter and welcome Sir," they were greeted by a great number of small creatures with large bat-like ears and huge eyes, all of whom looked to be dressed in towline togas bedecked by the Hogwarts crest.

"This is my little brother, Harry," Robyn told the creatures. "He's new here and I've been given the day off to show him around. Harry, these happy little campers are the Hogwarts House Elves."

Harry gave his sister a questioning look.

"We can't stay this time, but my brother looks hungry."

The House Elves promptly disappeared, returning minutes later with spindly arms laden with edible goodies.

"Here you are sir and miss- please come back soon."

"We will- thank you,"

The kitchen door closed once again and Robyn cast a spell on the pocket of her robes and began stuffing food into it- it all fit.

"Gotta love the engorgement charm," she grinned, offering him a toffee apple.

On taking the proffered treat Harry meant to say 'Thank you,' but the words came out: "What's a House Elf?"

~v~

Next time: Harry goes home with his parents and the summer term comes to an end