"If it is not too much trouble, may I ask you a question." Harry shrugged, before nodding and continuing to pick at the food that had been bought for him. "What is your name? You have more than a slight resemblance to a former student, but I do not recall him having any sons."
What was he supposed to do? Try and explain to an entirely different Dumbledore what happened? Attempt to convince her that he was someone who probably didn't even exist up until an hour ago? Not for the first time did he wish Hermione was with him, to give him some guidance, to figure out what was happening and try to explain it in a way that would still go completely over his head but give him hope that at least someone understood what was going on.
But Albus Dumbledore was always one of the few people he trusted, and if this woman was a mirror image, then maybe she could clear things out as well, help him get back. 'Get back' that thought froze the blood in his veins. He had been in the middle of a battle, what if his friends needed his help? What if Sirius was still fighting for his life?
"Are you alright?" The woman queried, clearly noticing his change in mood, and looking as if she wanted to reach out to him yet holding back.
"I need to get back."
"Back? Back to where?"
"Where I came from, my world or whatever you want to call it."
The woman frowned but leaned forward and did a subtle gesture that wrapped privacy Charms around them. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm not from here, this time or this place. I was fighting, in the ministry against Death Eaters with my friends and Sirius was almost hurt but I fell through the Veil instead and then I woke up here, but I need to get back! I need to help them!"
Dumbledore said nothing, merely staring back at him with an unreadable expression until it softened, "I'm not sure if that is possible. The Veil is not something to be taken lightly, it is where the worlds of the living and the dead are at their thinnest, and no one has ever emerged from it."
"B-but I…"
"What is your name?" She repeated but it seemed so pointless now. Who cared what his name was when there were lives at stake!
He pushed back from the table, sliding back and his chair and standing, nearly trembling in stress and adrenaline. All he could see was his friends in pain, his friends needing him. "You aren'tlistening to me! My friends are in danger, Sirius is in danger! I need to help them!"
"Sirius Black?"
"Yes!"
The woman turned and nodded out the window, drawing his attention. Across the street he saw them once more, James and Lily Potter, but they were talking with another man, one who was gesturing about excitedly.
Sirius Black
Harry fell back into his chair, staring outside as if in a daze. "I-I need to get back."
"What is your name?" Her voice was just as gentle and soothing as before, and he answered without thought.
"Harry Potter"
Dumbledore smiled softly but sadly, "I don't think you can go back Harry. Even if you were to survive through whatever means you did the first time there is no reason to believe you would end up in the same universe that you came from, or even the same time."
He turned towards her, "But… they believed in me…"
****
Harry hadn't been in the mood to eat after that, and instead had been led by the aged Witch towards the nearest Floo. "Perhaps it would be best for you to stay at Hogwarts, until we can figure out what to do next."
He hadn't protested, lacking any strength to do so, and as they neared another woman stepped out, one with black hair, a few silver streaks in it, which was neatly tied up in a bun. Her robes were pressed and flawless her posture uptight and formal.
"What perfect timing, Harry I'd like to introduce you to one of the professors at Hogwarts." Dumbledore noted as she gestured towards the approaching adult. The pre-teen looked up towards the Witch and despite feeling as if they had met before, couldn't quite place her. "This is our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and head of Slytherin House, Grace Riddle."
Riddle
Harry's eyes widened as he took a step backwards on instinct.
Riddle
His pulse quickened, heart pounding in his chest.
Riddle
"No..." He shook his head in disbelief, earning a confused look from the younger of the two and one of concern from the older. "You aren't here... you can't be." Not only was Voldemort alive but she was teaching at Hogwarts.
All the stress and confusion of the past few hours caught up to him at once as his vision blurred and darkened.
Once more Harry Potter awoke in confusion. This time, however, he was in a place he knew all too well, the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. Sure enough Madam Pomfrey came walking over to his bed moments later. "I must say I'm impressed. I think you have officially set the record for earliest admission."
Harry grinned before coughing a bit, his body, including throat, sore. "I had the strangest dream, I woke up and it was ninety-one again and my parents were alive, then Dumbledore was a woman and Voldemort was a teacher!" He gave a bit of a pained laugh as the woman merely smiled before handing him over a small cup of potion.
Seconds after drinking it down his smile fell as he noticed the normal humor in the Witch's eyes were missing. "It... wasn't a dream, was it?"
"I'm afraid not Mr. Potter." A voice called from nearby as a very female Dumbledore walked into the room. "I took you back to Hogwarts, it seems you had a bit of a panic attack. Considering everything that has happened today I'm not surprised. You need to get some rest."