Peace and Quiet in a Changed World

The memories tore through his mind like shards of glass. Desperately, he tried to piece together this new life. How could changing one thing alter so much?

• Year One

Hagrid led him through Diagon Alley as they had before. Things went smoothly with little change. There was no run-in with Draco. He didn't exist. Instead, he spoke with a Ravenclaw second year while getting measured for his robes.

He still met Ron on the train. Neve lost her toad and Hermione helped her search. With no Draco to interrupt the train ride, it went rather well. He arrived without the stigma toward Slytherin, but the hat still put him in Gryffindor. This time, it almost put him in Hufflepuff with his desire for friendship.

Neve joined the group right from the beginning. She was quiet, but not nearly as meek as Neville had been. Her knowledge of the wizarding world turned out to be invaluable. They got caught sneaking out to see Hagrid by Filch. That was when they discovered Norbert and were then given detention in the forest. Hagrid also let slip about Fluffy, which led them to look for the giant three-headed dog.

Neve recognized the name Flemmel right away. The Philosopher's Stone was in Hogwarts. From there, everything else played out as it did. Granted, Professor Black was by far the best DADA teacher they had ever had. Quirrell had taught potions that year. Instead of a troll he was able to subtly poison the Halloween Feast. It turned out to be more effective. Though he was still stopped by Snape.

The year ended the same. A showdown with Quirrell. Bella was there when he woke up. She wasn't happy and told him he would have extra work over the summer.

He spent two weeks with Neve and her family. Bella showed up a couple of times and put them through a tiresome workout. Frank and Alice Longbottom were evil, evil people who made sure they practiced the lessons at least an hour a day.

• Year Two

Gilderoy Lockhart taught potions. It wasn't bad. Granted, the potions were all dealing with cosmetics, but he was much better than expected. By the end of the year, they all knew how to remove any sort of stain from various materials, as well as numerous potions to tame, style, and enhance hair. His catalogue of skin care potions was second to none.

The basilisk was set loose, but this time Harry wasn't the only one who could hear it. Cassandra, Neve, and the twins said they heard strange voices as well. Only Cassandra knew why. Neve and the twins never had much reason to talk to snakes. Well, maybe Fred and George, but their lives were chaotic enough for them to chalk it up to some random side-effect of one of their pranks.

Most notably, there was no Dobby. In fact, he had no idea who slipped the diary to Ginny. It wasn't Lucius Malfoy. The man had died in Azkaban when his 'Imperious' defense was disproven. Someone else had the diary. The name came to him slowly, through another memory that was years after that. Lord Greengrass. Father to Astoria and Daphne Greengrass. He was much worse that Lucius. Smarter, subtler, a true Slytherin. Content to be the power behind the scenes rather than in the spotlight. No one even knew he was a Death Eater until the day he died.

• Year Three

Sirius escaped. Bella caught him. Pettigrew was captured. Fudge had him kissed before they could question him. Sirius got his trial. After a court ordered recovery period he was allowed to claim custody of Harry.

Harry went to live with him that summer. A whirlwind of new spells crashed into his mind. Along with happy memories of various times with Sirius. He had never settled into a 'father' role, but he did well as an uncle. It also meant that Harry spent a lot of time with the other Black family members.

Sirius was more than happy to spend time with his 'disgraced' cousins. The fact that Narcissa practically lived with them was something no one brought up. They got married the summer after fourth year. Apparently, cousins were fine in the magical world.

Tonks had already moved on to Auror training while Cassandra spent most of her free time dueling. The few occasions they did meet were family gatherings. It wasn't until the Quidditch World Cup that they really spent time together.

It turned out that Tonks and Cassandra were amazing in a crisis. The Black Family stood as a bastion among the Death Eater attack. Bellatrix, Cassandra, Sirius, Tonks, and Harry fought them off before the Aurors could show up. Seven Death Eaters survived to be captured and unmasked. Ten others were carried away to be buried.

• Year Four

Snape was replaced by Barty Crouch Junior. No one noticed. Andromeda Tonks was brought in to teach Potions that year. She still holds the position.

Harry's name came out of the goblet. Bella took extra time to teach him spells that would keep him alive.

Facing the dragon this time was completely different. It wasn't a Hungarian Horntail. Norberta recognized him and soaked him with slobber. She pulled him into her nest to show off her eggs and was rather annoyed when she found a fake one among them.

Harry was disqualified due to exceeding the time limit. It was after midnight when Norberta finally let him leave the nest and that was because she fell asleep. Hagrid joined them after the crowd left. It was another hour before Harry was able to escape.

The second task went much smoother. Neve recognized the Mer-mish language from her interactions with them. There were some interesting magical plants that were only accessible underwater. It took a couple hours of negotiations, but the Mer-people agreed to allow Harry to use an enchanted necklace that allowed the wearer to breath underwater. Three magically maintained egg-chambers and a vast selection of new fish were well worth it.  They weren't happy that he took two hostages, but he smoothed it over with another egg-chamber.

Neve was his hostage. His past self wasn't aware that she was his daughter. Just that they had a connection and he liked being around her. She was his date to the Yule Ball. The night ended with a kiss. He was glad that he was too shy to do more, now that he knew what the connection was.

The third task played out the same. Except that Cedric survived. They met up in the center of the maze but decided to finish it with a duel. Harry won and the portkey was activated. Barty revealed himself to be the mastermind. He cut off his arm with a fanatical glee that scared Harry more than the thought of facing another dragon.

His extra training with Bella along with the freshly reborn Voldemort allowed him to cause enough chaos to escape. Their spells never collided. Instead, Harry used a chunk of tombstone to block the spell. Then transfigured the pieces into a cloud of dust to distract Voldemort for a moment. It was enough time to get to the goblet and back to Hogwarts.

He told them Voldemort was back. No one listened.

• Year Five

Snape took a year off to rest and recuperate. Umbridge 'taught' History of Magic. Things weren't as bad. The Slytherin students weren't as eager to follow the pink toad without Draco to spur them on. Her reign of terror hurt their profits. If there is one thing a Pureblood hates, it's someone that interferes with their money. As such, the Inquisitor Squads were made up of disenfranchised members of various houses. Hufflepuff more than the others.

Umbridge managed to take control of the school in all but name. She restricted the curriculum, closed off social areas, and only allowed a select few to go to Hogsmeade. Trixie's Troublemakers formed instead of Dumbledore's Army. The gathering covered practically every subject rather than just defense.

Harry was taken the evening after OWLs. Umbridge called him to her office, and he was ambushed on the way. The battle at the ministry was an all-out brawl. Bella, Sirius, Cassandra, Tonks, and a few Aurors showed up rather than just random students.

Voldemort made an appearance. If not, it looked like the Death Eaters were on the backfoot. Umbridge was later found dead. Her face was a mask of sheer terror and pain.

Reluctantly, Dumbledore told Harry about the prophecy and the horcruxes.

• Year Six

Aurors were stationed in Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.

Daphne Greengrass let the Death Eaters into the school. She used the hidden passages. It allowed them to launch an attack from various locations. Snape killed Dumbledore. Bella killed Snape. The Elder Wand found an owner.

Daphne and her sister disappeared that night. A number of other Slytherin students, and most of the Inquisitor Squad, did as well.

• Year Seven

Hogwarts became a fortress. Headmistress McGonagall vetted each professor personally. Sirius led a team of witches and wizards on the hunt for the horcruxes.

Professor Slughorn took refuge in Hogwarts in exchange for information. Classes were canceled. Instead, the students, their families, and the staff gathered together.

Hogwarts became a beacon of hope in dark times. Harry did not spend the year on the run. He and his friends stayed on the school grounds until the final battle.

• The Final Battle

Voldemort and his followers, who now numbered in the hundreds, attacked Hogwarts. Minor things changed, but it mostly played out the same. It all came down to Harry and Voldemort. The final horcrux was destroyed. Tom Riddle discovered his mortality.

• Now

Harry felt like he had fallen down the grand staircase and hit each step with his head. The rest of his body wasn't feeling all that well either. He opened his eyes, immediately regretted it, and shut them tight once more.

"Hello, lover." Bella purred.

He chanced one eye open ever so slightly. Bella sat next to his bed. Her feet were propped up on his mattress. A long stretch of her leg was exposed as her dress was bunched around her thighs. He idly noted that she wore a pair of pointed black boots capped with silver.

"How is your head?" She asked.

"The world changed." Harry croaked out.

His throat was dry. A pitcher of water floated over, filled a cup, and returned to its place. Then the glass drifted over to him. Harry gently grabbed it and drank it down in a couple of gulps.

"Thank you." He let out a relieved sigh.

"That wasn't me." Bella smiled at him.

Harry cocked an eyebrow at her.

"That was you, lover." Bella dropped her legs back to the floor.

She leaned forward and walked her fingers up his stomach to his chest. Her dexterous hands massaged the knots in his muscles.

"So much changed." Harry groaned under her ministrations. "It hurt."

"Your brain didn't melt." Bella said with a bright smile.

"I'll take your word for it." Harry sighed. "Should you be doing that? Someone might see."

"Why would that matter?" Bella asked.

"You're a professor." He said. "I'm a student."

"And my husband." Bella added.

"What?" Harry sat up so fast it gave him whiplash.

Bella let out a loud cackle that echoed through the room. Harry finally got a good look at their surroundings. They weren't in the hospital ward. This was her private room.

"That was not funny." Harry glared at her.

"Then why am I laughing?" Bella asked.

Harry slumped back into bed. He rubbed a hand through his hair.

"Get some rest, lover." Bella kissed him on the forehead. "I'll ravish you in the morning."