Archive of Our Own ^beta

Harry was looking at his arm. 

He knew he should heal it, but honestly, there was something almost mesmerizing about the pattern of blue, purple, and yellow bruises staining his skin. 

Maybe he should have started from the beginning, but honestly, Harry had no idea what had happened. 

He'd been back from his Auror training, and was waiting for Ginny to return from her Quidditch tryout training, when two giant men in flannel appeared in his house and demanded to see him.

 And then they loaded him into a car. 

"Sorry for that, Hazza, but we had to move," the shorter of the two said, glancing at Harry. "I'm glad Rowena managed to get us here." 

"Sorry, but who the hell are you?" Harry asked. 

He thought he was calm enough, but he'd seen that the two of them had guns and didn't think he'd be quick enough to take care of one before the other fired. 

Besides, they seemed trained to tear people apart, and Harry wasn't big enough to stand up to them. 

"This isn't funny, Harry." The taller of the two glanced at Harry, looking hurt—for some reason—at Harry's hair. "Dude, did you cut your hair? You could have told me you didn't like the long style!" 

Harry frowned. "I could have told you, but I don't know who the hell you are, so I think it would be quite hard to do so." 

"This isn't funny." The shorter one said. "Come on, we have to get home." 

Harry sighed, waving his wand and freezing the car's tires. "I don't like kidnappings, and I've got enough to do at home. So, who the hell are you? Friends of Death Eaters? Although I thought they thought it better than asking Muggles for help." 

"Muggles?" The taller one frowned. "Since when have you been calling them Muggles?" 

"Since... always?" Harry replied, frowning in return. "Dude, who the hell are you?" 

"We're your brothers. Dean and Sam Winchester." The shorter one said, pointing first to himself, then to the giant beside him. "This isn't funny." 

Harry frowned, before speaking carefully. "I have no idea who you two are, but you seem... genuinely convinced that I'm... the person you're looking for. Why do you think I'm the person you're looking for?" 

"You're our younger brother," Sam said. "You don't know us?" 

"Nuh." Harry shook his head. "Maybe... ah... you have the wrong person?" 

"Could be." Sam looked at Dean, then said. "We could have ended up with the person who looks like our brother, but he's not." 

"You mean..." Dean replied, staring at Harry almost hungrily. "That in this universe, Harry doesn't know he's a Winchester?" 

"It doesn't look like it," Sam admitted. "Who are your parents, Harry?" 

"James Potter and Lily Evans." Harry answered. "And I'm telling you, whoever you think this Harry is, my parents will always be James Potter and Lily Evans. They gave their lives for me." 

"No one disputes that, but in our world... you've accepted more siblings." Sam murmured. "Look, we need a hand... Can you help us find our Harry? He fell into this universe and..." 

Harry was silent. Then, very slowly, he said. "Do I have a choice?" 

"Of course you do," Sam assured him. "No one's forcing you to do anything, Harry." 

"So I can help you find your Harry, and then you can leave?" Harry insisted. 

"Sure." Sam nodded. "Can you help us?" 

"Okay." Harry sighed. "Let's go to my house, it'll be quicker." 

***

"Lebanon, Kansas." Harry read the map. "Why did my other universe self fall in America and you fell in England?" 

"I don't know; you know witches, they're crazy." Dean snorted. 

Harry stood still, before looking hesitantly at Dean. "You don't have magic. And you hate witches." 

"I don't hate my brother," Dean said quickly. "As if I could ever hate an angel like you, Harry." 

Harry swallowed, fighting back tears. "Well, uh..." Harry coughed slightly. "I'll give you a Portkey to get there. Quickly and without wasting time." 

"Nice." Dean nodded. 

****

And there they were, with Harry looking at fresh bruises, Dean and Sam hugging another version of him—taller and bigger, the bastard—and other versions of Sam and Dean, with other people Harry didn't know, staring at him hungrily. 

"I thought you said I had a choice whether or not to come," Harry said dryly. 

The other version of himself looked at him sadly. "You should never trust Dean and Sam. They're frighteningly codependent, and they don't know how to set boundaries." 

"Cool." Harry snorted, clearly wondering why this had happened to him. 

"Sure, you could have at least warned Fred and George..." Harry 2 shot a venomous look at Dean and Sam, but Harry didn't listen to the rest of the scolding. 

"Is Fred alive?" Harry asked, his voice dry, pained, his heart broken. 

"Is Fred not alive?" Harry 2 looked at him, heartbroken. "What about George? Sirius? Remus?" 

"They..." Harry shook his head. "George is alive, but... they..." 

"No." Harry 2 shook his head.each. "But... You... how? The Horcruxes?" 

"I only found out in seventh year, and we didn't know where to look, because Dumbledore, he was..." 

"Dumbledore's dead?" Harry 2's eyes widened. "How?" 

"Snape killed him, under Dumbledore’s orders. Dumbledore was supposed to stop the Elder Wand from being dangerous, or something." Harry swallowed. "And then... Dolohov killed Fred. Bellatrix killed Sirius. Wormtail killed Cedric. Ronkwood killed Remus and Tonks." Harry smiled slightly. "Mrs. Weasley killed Bellatrix." 

"Mrs. Weasley's tough." Harry 2 nodded. "Umbridge?" 

"They arrested her, but some creatures took her," Harry said. 

Harry 2 frowned. "How did they know which way she was going?" 

"I told them." Harry admitted. 

"Good." Harry 2 nodded. "Fudge?" 

"Probably dead. Voldemort didn't like cowards." Harry muttered. 

"I don't understand why Dumbledore kept so many things a secret." Harry 2 complained. "It's like they're treating us like children!" 

"Yes." Harry nodded. "Fred would at least be alive." 

"You can bring him back." Harry 2 decided. "Are the Hallows still yours?" 

"Yes." Harry said, staring at his other version. "Can I really... bring Fred back?" 

"Yes." Harry 2 nodded. "So at least you'll have both your boyfriends, huh?" 

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked. "I'm with Ginny." 

"Ouch." Harry 2 grimaced. "Why?" Then, understanding dawned on his face. "No one told you it was okay to be attracted to boys, did they? Damn. I can't believe I'm more functional having lived with Dean and Sam, the living definition of dysfunctional." 

"Hey!" Dean groaned, but Harry 2 snapped his fingers, stopping him from talking. "We'll talk about your sexuality, another version of me, while I show you how to bring the older twin back to life." 

Harry smiled. "Fine. And maybe you can give me some advice on how to keep Ginny from killing me." 

"Great idea." Harry 2 nodded. "Hey, have you ever tried setting something on fire?" 

"I wouldn't say so..." Harry muttered. 

"Oh, man, I know what to teach you." Harry 2's eyes lit up. 

Wow, Harry now understood why people thought he was crazy. 

He didn't inspire much confidence, with that crazy smile.