Journey

Author's note: I apologize in advance, but I fear that the last chapters of this story may not be of the same quality as those that preceded them. Indeed, I have been writing Harry Potter fanfics intensively for about 18 months, and I believe I am starting to get tired or run out of inspiration. Or perhaps I set myself too difficult a goal by attempting to write a story with so many main characters interacting together in the same chapter, whereas previously I focused my chapters on at most two main characters accompanied by a few less detailed secondary characters.

Anyway, so far the sentences flowed effortlessly and writing fascinated me to the point that I had a hard time concentrating on my real job (the one that is useless or even harmful to society, but earns me tons of galleons). Besides, if your office colleague is typing like crazy on his keyboard with a big smile worthy of the Joker, rest assured he is not preparing your murder in a dark alley. It's just me, writing a scene where Doctor Housser torments his patients when I should be working (I really enjoyed writing the passages with this character).

But from this chapter on, I started to lose the desire to write and had to force myself to finish the story. I tried to do my best, but I feel that compared to the rest of what I've written, it's a bit sloppy. I hope you'll still enjoy this ending.

oOoOoOo

So if I summarize, Ryan must die for us to live? Asked Neville Longbottom

Harry Dursley hadn't planned on telling them so much. However, he also hadn't planned on being bombarded with questions by the 5 teenagers throughout the entire journey. Those 5 apparently had a habit of getting their interlocutor to spill the beans.

When they had started to become too insistent, Harry Dursley had tried to shake them off, but to his dismay, Lord Harry was even more skilled than him in flying. Of course, in front of his double's smug look, he blamed his failure on his concern for the terror his aerial performances caused Dark-Harry, but a little voice in the back of his mind told him otherwise. At the same time, he probably had the opportunity to train throughout his childhood with James Potter, he thought with jealousy. Or not, he thought, recalling how James and Lily Potter had treated him when he had tried to ask them for help.

Unless we manage to gather the Deathly Hallows before Voldemort and are able to use them. He replied.

For the first time in my life, I am transported with joy at the thought of not being in Ryan's place. At least now I know why our parents and Dumbledore are so excessively concerned about his well-being. They must know that he is going to die and think that he must be surrounded by love to avoid being possessed by the horcrux. Commented Lord Harry, who didn't really know what he should feel about this news. Over time, his brother and he had almost become strangers, but as he had discovered when Pettigrew had kidnapped his brother, the idea of his disappearance caused a sort of emptiness in him.

That's not love. Against Neville.

And despite all his faults, my father is too honest to go along with such a scheme. Elizabeth also protested.

I will ask Uncle Remus if he was aware. And if so, why he didn't tell me anything all this time. Nevertheless, insisted Lord-Harry.

In my world, Dumbledore hadn't told anyone. Not even me. However, everything is so different here. I can't even understand how he could have survived the Avada Kedavra without Lily's sacrifice. For all I know, he might not even be a Horcrux. Explained Harry Dursley.

How can we know? Asked Neville.

Harry Dursley thought for a few seconds.

His scar. Before the horcrux was destroyed, my scar always hurt when Voldemort was near. Since then, nothing. Do you know if Ryan's scar has ever hurt him?

Lord Harry turned pale as his friends suddenly looked at him with pity.

What!? Asked Harry Dursley.

Please look ahead of you. Dark-Harry shouted, pointing with a trembling finger at a gigantic mansion they were rapidly approaching. Flying was definitely not his thing.

I'm going down on purpose. I think it's the Riddle Manor. Yes, I would recognize this cemetery anywhere. Commented Harry Dursley, shivering. The Gaunt house must not be far. We need to find a ruined shack in the middle of a forest. He added.

oOoOoOo

For more efficiency in their searches, they decided to split up. In any case, that was the excuse Lord Harry gave to quickly distance himself from the others. But that was without considering the legendary persistence of Elizabeth Black.

It doesn't mean anything. He said it himself.

Do you really believe it? Obviously, I am a horcrux. It would have been a blot if, just once in my life, I could have had a minimum of luck. A young death was all that was missing to conclude in apotheosis such a pathetic life.

Despair is not in your character, my darling. Whatever the problem, we will find a solution. Together, as always. She said, moving closer to him to try to embrace him. But he pushed her away.

Aren't you disgusted? Now that you know my true nature? Lord Harry asked with fragility.

If you think I'm going to let go of the only boy in our year that my father couldn't scare away, you're deluding yourself. I don't care who your soul belongs to, the rest is mine. She said as she finally managed to capture his lips.

I still don't understand what I did to deserve you, commented Lord Harry once the kiss ended.

Me neither. And yet, it's not for lack of trying. Elizabeth replied cheekily, before trying to steal one last kiss.

Now completely oblivious to their mission or that they were hanging 200 meters above the ground, Lord Harry willingly let her do it. He did not know how she managed it, but Elizabeth always succeeded in driving away all his worries. It had been that way since the day when, at age 6, she had found him sitting alone in a remote room of the Potter manor where his parents had confined him (with lines to write), so that he would not spoil his twin brother's birthday party (completely forgetting that it was also his birthday).

Blacks are too honest for their own good.

I thought about giving you a reassuring platitude, but the only thing that came to mind is that I love you because you are unique. Elizabeth continued to mock.

Ah ah ah! I'm dying of laughter. Raya gently Lord-Harry, as he began to focus again on the landscape at their feet.

What do you think of the others? Elizabeth asked after a moment.

Lord Harry did not need the young girl to specify whom she was talking about. However, he didn't know what to think of his doubles. In fact, he still didn't know if he should believe this preposterous story. On one hand, every time he thought about it, the most likely seemed to him that it was a disguised impostor. Or anything else. There was no shortage of more credible explanations. But during all those years when he had to face Voldemort's plots to reach Ryan, he had learned to trust his instincts. And here, it was screaming at him that the visitors were telling him the truth. At least about their origin, because he could see that they were hiding things from him. In any case, if there were things worse than horcruxes, he wasn't sure he wanted to know them.

Just because he looks like me doesn't mean you should trust them. Even if they are indeed my doubles, they remain complete strangers. You must remain cautious.

Before he could say more, Lord-Harry had to raise his hand to his forehead. His scar was burning like never before. By reflex, he used his Occlumency shields to push back the pain and stay focused on his surroundings. It might have been a figment of his imagination, but he hadThe impression of seeing something stir within him. Something that did not belong to him. Something unhealthy.

oOoOoOo

Quickly, the group of teenagers settled at the edge of the sinister woods. As soon as they set foot on the ground, Dark-harry let out a deep sigh of relief just before moving away from the place, without noticing that Harry Dursley seemed upset.

What's going on? Is everything okay? Asked the boy his age whom Harry Dursley had finally identified as Neville Longbottom. Another person who had been killed by Voldemort in his universe.

Yes, everything is fine. It's just that using this wand exhausts me. It resists me way too much. Harry Dursley replied, forcing himself to get up.

That's when Dark-harry intervened:

Liar. It's like last time. Without the cape, you will die.

But no, it has nothing to do with it. Last time, it took me two days to feel the effects of traveling to another universe. He tried to reassure Dark-Harry, carefully avoiding mentioning that it was probably because last time, he had quickly gotten his hands on the cloak.

Stop lying to me. I'm not a baby. I feel weak too. Replied Dark-Harry.

What is this story? Asked Neville.

The last time I found myself in a universe that was not mine, I gradually lost my strength until I fainted, and according to Dumbledore, I would have died if being covered by the cloak of death hadn't miraculously restored my strength.

You should have told us. We would have taken it before leaving. Exclaimed Lord Harry.

And take the risk of delivering her on a silver platter to Voldemort. Besides, if his Voldemort told me the truth, then Voldemort is even more affected than I am and that could play to our advantage. Replied Harry Dursley.

In the meantime, we can't risk you fainting in the middle of a battle. You two stay here and keep watch. Cast red sparks with your wand if you see anything approaching.

Out of the question. I'm the only one who stands a chance against him. But for you, it's a good idea. Replied Harry Dursley, pointing to Dark-Harry.

After a moment of hesitation, he replied:

I don't want to stay here alone.

Don't act like a child. You will be safer here.

You don't trust me anymore, is that it? I explained to you though. Exclaimed Dark-harry.

It has nothing to do with it. And even if it seems crazy, since you still haven't apologized, I still trust you. When will you trust me? asked Harry-Dursley.

Why should I trust you? You are like everyone else. As soon as it was in your interest, you got rid of me.

Harry Dursley sighed and replied:

Listen, I messed up, I'm really sorry. I should have prevented all this from happening. I can't blame you for being deceived by Voldemort. Adults much more experienced than you have been seduced by his lies. I should have protected you better. But I was possessed by Voldemort, and believe me, death is a much better fate. But now is not the time to talk about it. He added in front of Dark-Harry's skeptical look.

After a moment, Dark-Harry asked, embarrassed:

If you don't come back, what would I do?

I will come back, I promise you. And if someone approaches, you point your wand towards the sky making this gesture then you run as far as possible without stopping until you reach the nearest police station. There, you will ask to see Tom Hunter. In my world, he was a policeman you could trust. Do you understand?

Dark-harry gently made the gesture and a spray of red stars lazily emerged from his wand.

Perfect, you will be a great wizard later. Commented Harry Dursley with a smile.