Harry woke up the next morning. He took some extra time to enjoy the bed. Hogwarts had the best beds. He had no idea how they did it, but they were amazing. Even with his new bed at the Dursley's it was still better. His old bed, in the past… or his future, whatever it was, wasn't bad. Ginny was hard to share a bed with. She hogged the covers and constantly pushed him further toward the edge of the bed. Except for when she was pregnant. The memory fracture and shattered. Nights with Hermione cuddled against his chest overtook the false images of Ginny.
He sat up, swung his legs over the edge of the bed, and held his head in his hands. They had stolen his life. What happy memories did he have that were true? How often did they mess with his mind? What other parts of his life would just melt away when he thought of them?
Harry took a deep breath, focusing on how the air felt in his lungs. He let it out, shifting his attention to the room around him. That hadn't happened yet. It wouldn't happen this time. Better to leave the country and let it burn than to have his life stolen again.
Harry trudged to the bathroom. The last embers of his good mood rekindled under the hot water. He found a fresh set of clothes waiting on a stool nearby when he got out. Dobby appeared as he finished getting dressed.
"Where is Boss' Rook?" Dobby looked quickly around the room.
"Turns out he is Sirius Black." Harry shook his head.
The elf let out an exaggerated gasp. "Dobby had no idea."
"How long have you known?" Harry chuckled.
"Dobby just said that Dobby had no idea." The elf looked up at the ceiling to avoid Harry's eyes. "Harry Potter sir might need to have Madam Poppy check his ears."
"You don't say." Harry felt a swell of warmth for the elf.
Dobby started to squirm.
"What did the goblins have to say about-"
"Dobby is sorry, Harry Potter sir." The elf leaped forward, pulling Harry's legs into a hug. "Dobby knows that Rook is Sirius Black. Dobby saw Sirius Black at Dursleys house, but Sirius Black ordered him not to say anything to Harry Potter."
Harry returned the hug. "Dobby."
"Yes, Harry Potter sir?" Dobby still wouldn't look at him.
"Look at me, Dobby." He said gently.
The elf looked up at him. His big eyes were full of tears.
"Do I look mad?" He asked.
Dobby shook his head.
"Do you know why?" He asked.
Dobby shook his head again.
"I trust you, Dobby." Harry gave the elf another hug. "If Sirius Black had any sort of evil plans for me, I know you would have told me."
"That is true, Harry Potter sir. Dobby would have told you where Sirius Black was buried."
Harry let out a loud laugh. "You're a good friend Dobby."
Dobby wiped his eyes on Harry's pant leg. "Harry Potter sir really isn't mad?"
"Now I am." Harry scoffed. "Look at my pants, they've got Dobby snot on them."
Dobby snapped his fingers. "Harry Potter sir is very dramatic."
"I'm dramatic?" Harry's jaw dropped.
Dobby cackled as he disappeared with a pop.
"That's it." Harry grumbled. "You're getting a day off tomorrow. With pay."
Dobby popped back in front of him. "Harry Potter sir isn't being fair. Dobby has laundry to do. Harry Potter sir has a lot of summer clothes that are smelly."
"Nope." Harry crossed his arms and turned his head away from the elf. "You brought this on yourself. Day off with pay."
Dobby muttered before disappearing again. Harry shook his head. That was one strange elf.
With his good mood firmly in place he headed down to the Great Hall. Today was the first day of the new school year. He'd be getting his schedule, again. Not that he could remember what it was supposed to be this year. He stopped when he entered the Great Hall. The Gryffindor table was mostly empty. Over the summer he had gotten into the habit of waking up early. This prevented Dobby waking him up from sneaking in his room after cooking breakfast to play Street Fighter. It also gave him time to handle some of the fan mail each morning. The backlog, even with love potions, marriage proposals, and scams filtered out was imposing.
Harry moved beyond the table to get a look at the other houses. Sitting alone at the Ravenclaw table, he found Luna. Even in the school uniform there was something about her that was almost mystical. She looked like she should have a set of iridescent wings and a dress made of moonlight. In his old life he didn't meet her for a few more year. That would have to change.
As he got closer to her, he noticed that she was wearing a robe that was too small. As were the rest of her clothes. She was a wisp of a girl, but the uniform looked like it was supposed to be on a doll rather than a second year.
"Good morning." Harry stood across from her. "May I sit?"
"Of course, Mister Potter." Luna smiled up at him.
"Thank you." Harry took up a spot on the bench. "Mister Potter?"
"That's the proper way to address adults." Luna plucked a powdered donut from a nearby platter.
"And I'm an adult?" Harry asked.
"You were." Luna took a big bite. "Time travel leaves all sorts of Gibbles and Whangdoodles around people. Not as much as you. They are just swarming all over you."
"That makes sense." Harry set himself up with a plate of eggs, bacon, and some biscuits. "Why is your uniform so small?"
"Vermicious Knids." Luna said between bites. "They keep shrinking my clothes. Odd that. They usually stick to the jungles. Much too cold for them in Scotland."
Harry waved his hand in front of her. Her uniform adjusted to fit.
"Thank you, Mister Potter." She plucked another donut from the plate and offered it to him.
"Call me Harry." He took the offered treat. "Let me know if it happens again."
"Thank you, Harry." She bopped around in her seat. "Are we friends again?"
"I would like that." He found himself smiling broadly.
"Mister Potter." Professor Flitwick stopped beside him. "I don't have your schedule."
"Of course not." Luna shook her head. "This is still his dimension."
The half-goblin nodded before turning to Harry. "You need to head back to the Gryphindor table for now. It is nice to see Inter-House Comradery again."
"Thank you, Professor." Harry waited for Flitwick to move on. "Could I convince you to start up a dueling club this year? A grandmaster such as yourself would draw quite a few interested students."
Flitwick stopped mid-stride. "Mister Potter, how would you know that?"
"I spent the summer catching up on my reading." Harry gave a small grin.
"We will see." The professor continued to hand out the schedules.
Harry made it back to the table from McGonagal to give him his. He let out a long sigh.
"I forgot about divination." He muttered.
"Isn't it wonderful?" Parvati cooed from nearby.
"Two galleons says I have my death foretold at least once." Harry shook his head.
"I wouldn't take that bet." Fred said. "Harry almost dies at least once a year." George continued. "Saying he's facing death isn't reading the future." Fred added. "It's just facts." The twin said together.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Harry chuckled.
"We do need to talk." George leaned in, speaking low. "Managing Mischief and such." Fred matched the hushed tone.
"Agreed." Harry held up his schedule. "I can talk after Moony's class."
The twins stared at him. "Moony?" Fred gasped. "As in Moony, Padfoot, Prongs, and Wormtail?" George spoke faster.
"Remus Lupin." Harry motioned to the professor. "His name is basically Moon Moon. Not that hard to figure out."
The duo stared up at the professor in awe. They sat back down and started to speak in overlapping whispers.
Harry sat back with a satisfied grin on his face. This was going to be a fun year. His mirth was interrupted by a letter falling on the table before him.
Mister Potter,
I request an audience this afternoon after classes.
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore
P.S. I do so love luminous lollies
"It was going to happen sooner or later." Harry mumbled.