Everyone was set to leave for Hogwarts in a week's time. Everyone had bought their supplies early and the shocked looks everyone gave James and Lily were rather entertaining, for me at least. The two hated being identified as a couple and no doubt would have torn the Daily Prophet a new asshole had they seen the article Skeeter had printed about them had I not made an appearance at the office threatening to expose Skeeter's secret had they not pulled the article.
Various theories were being thrown about from dark rituals to the two having found the fountain of youth. The funniest having come from The Quibbler, stating that they were time travelers. Being the closest to the mark I had to applaud the Lovegoods.
Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban a few days ago and I decided to capture the man before he caused anymore problems having seen him nearly attack Ron once the Weasleys returned from Egypt. He was rather shocked when I cured him of his many ailments he had suffered from prison. Explaining what had happened and what was going to happen took nearly a whole day even with help from James and the younger Marauders. Sirius had lit up when he saw them, he understood that they came from another reality but still accepted them as his friends. Peter was the most shocked.
I was a bit surprised that Sirius was taking it all rather well rather than attacking the rat animagus on the spot. It was as if seeing his old friends had shaved years off of him even if they were from another world. He did freak out when he saw Bellatrix, it had taken James a bit of time to calm him back down but when he did his eyes had a shine on them.
I eventually narrowed down where Vela had ended up to Grimmauld Place. Kreacher not responding to Sirius only added to my suspicion that she was there.
"For the last time it's better off if I go alone. The wards may not affect me but they might just kill everyone else."
"Then we're going with you, we're Blacks by blood. The wards shouldn't harm us." Bellatrix and Narcissa nodded before sending a glare at the squirming Sirius.
"Oh fine, I guess I'll go too."
"What don't you guys get about-"
"It's better if you take everyone Theseus. They won't shut up otherwise."
I looked at Lily who came in from the study. I fought a grumble as Sirius and James snickered at me.
"Fine, we'll leave in thirty minutes."
"Whipped." James mumbled, causing Sirius to cackle and fall off the side of the couch he was sitting on. I glared at the two before snapping my fingers. The two yelped before being turned into their animagus forms and shrunk down to half their sizes.
Bellatrix squealed and charged at them picking up a puppy sized grimm who had a look of panic in his eyes. James' stag tried to run away only to be summoned by Narcissa who held him down while Bellatrix squeezed the snot out of Sirius.
"Really? You're going to stoop to their level?"
"They deserve it."
Lily sighed before walking away muttering something about immature men. I fought another urge to grumble something witty and pushed out my senses to check on Vela. Thankfully, or not, I didn't quite know yet, she was still in Grimmauld Place. Her having not moved said two things. One, she was laying low and two, she was being held hostage by a deranged Kreacher.
Once everyone had managed to 'sober' up I flashed everyone into the dilapidated home. James immediately cast a silent Lumos and called out to Vela. Almost as fast Kreacher came rushing out of the kitchen brandishing a cleaver while doing a pretty impressive battle cry. The poor elf was hit by no less than three stunners before being hogtied and gagged. Vela peaked her head out from where Kreacher had come running. When she saw everyone she unhesitatingly jumped from behind cover and tackled James in a hug that brought both of them to the floor.
"It's okay, you're okay. We're here now."
"As sweet as this all is, can we do the whole reunion thing somewhere that isn't covered in decades worth of mold and dust?"
"Be nice Bella." She mumbled something under her breath but offered no further protest. "I have to agree with her though. This place is rather…. dirty. Wrap it up Potter."
James helped Vela back to her feet before nodding to me. Bellatrix freed Kreacher who looked at her in reverence, possibly mistaking her for this world's Bellatrix. Flashing everyone back to my home Narcissa immediately began to run medical scans on Vela. Apparently she had a knack for healing magic.
"Taking everyone was pretty pointless. You guys didn't do much of anything and the wards were so old they didn't even so much as tickle you."
"Oh stop whinging. You're just mad that you didn't get to blast anything."
"Fine, but I still think taking everyone was a waste of time. She was clearly safe."
"Not with Kreacher holding her hostage."
"He wasn't, holding me hostage I mean." Vela looked at everyone around the room.
"He recognized me as a Black and was taking care of me."
"How long?"
"What?"
"How long were you there? I know time works differently in other worlds. We only just got here six days ago."
"I- I'm not sure, when Voldemort raised his wand at me I wanted to be somewhere else, anywhere else."
"Wait, you guys had a Voldemort in your world too?"
Everyone turned to Sirius, "Yeah, they were still going through the first war. Though there's no need to worry. I turned him into a vegetable before we left. Oh and before I forget, Sirius this is Vela, Vela this is Sirius or who you would have been had you been born a man."
Vela did a spit take of the water James had gotten her drenching the teen. Sirius and Vela looked at each other for a moment before the younger Black shuddered.
"When did I get so old."
"Oi! I'm not old." James chuckled at the man's indignant tone.
"You are looking a bit…. gray."
"Piss off Moony, and stop giggling Prongs."
"Gentlemen, and Sirius," he glared at me. Fighting my grinning, I turned to Vela. "Please continue, before these idiots get sidetracked even further."
"What? Oh, yeah. So Voldemort, wand pointing at me, vanished. It wasn't like apparation, no pop or squeezing. One moment I was in a cell the next I was in my room, or I guess Sirius' room at Grimmauld. Kreacher popped in and recognized me as a Black somehow helped me out afterwards.
"I tried looking for you. People told me you were dead that Voldemort had gotten you on Halloween night of 1981. That's when I knew something was off. I went to Diagon Alley after, tried to get into Gringotts. The goblins recognized me as a Black too but couldn't give me access to the vaults seeing that I wasn't off age. They told me that Lord Black was imprisoned in Azkaban, for apparently betraying you and Lily to Voldemort. I went back to Grimmauld after, I didn't know how to get back. I've been here for almost two months now."
Time did flow differently here. Almost a week per day my calculations were right. Seven days here was only a day back in the other world. That meant we'd only been gone for a day at most.
"It's fine Vela, we're going back after I deal with some things here. All of us, Sirius and Harry included."
"What?" "Really?" The two 'locals' said at the same time.
"Yeah, I take it there isn't much left for you guys here anyways and I didn't rescue you from the Dursleys just to abandon you Harry."
"Still can't believe that old goat bastard left you with those vile muggles."
"Guys, getting side tracked again."
"Thanks Lily." She nodded at me. "Right, so once I deal with Ol Dumbledore and Voldemort we're going to go back. Seeing as I have to deal with his soul phylacteries here too this may take a while so Vela will be attending Hogwarts too."
"What!"
"You'll be going back to school."
"But I got kidnapped, and- and I'm so tired. Can't I just stay home?"
"Stop being a drama queen, just think of all the pranks we can pull."
James did his best to ignore the scathing glare Lily sent his way. He failed to avoid the punching hexes that Narcissa and Bellatrix cast at him.
"Ow! Really?! Both nipples."
I have never wanted to put my palm through my face so much as I did at that one single moment. "Oh for fucks sake, that's enough. You're all going to Hogwarts and that will be that."
Everyone turned to look at me eyes wide with shock at my sudden outburst. I felt my eyebrow twitch in annoyance before I let out a sigh.
"While you guys are at Hogwarts I will be dealing with the things I mentioned. Once I get through it, I might join you though I don't know to what capacity."
"What do you mean join us?"
"Seeing that I burned a few bridges in the last world I doubt I'll be able to continue my magical schooling and seeing that I actually want to enjoy the experience of going to Hogwarts that's a problem for me. Once I finish dealing with Tom Riddle I am contemplating on joining you at Hogwarts."
"I think you should do it." I glanced at Lily who shrugged. "What? I think Hogwarts is a great place, all things considered. Besides, I don't mind your company."
James snickered causing Lily to blush. I didn't miss either of these reactions. Rather I was curious as to why Lily reacted the way she did. I hadn't spent much time with her besides the conversation we had at the Hogwarts Express.
'There's no reason for her to have developed feelings for me, is there?'