New Awakening

The Four of Us

Theo was in the Great Hall chatting fervently with his friend Neville Longbottom when a bird shaped origami flew and landed in front of him. He could recognise this muggle technique anywhere. It was one of his mum's favourites, a way of sending messages when she was too close to use owls. But she couldn't be at Hogwarts, could she?

He was not a very patient boy, so he tore the paper open quickly but carefully to read the message.

Teddy,

I need you to meet me outside the Great Hall, it's important. Dad and I have a surprise for you.

Love,

Mum

So she was here! He hurriedly gave an excuse to Neville and got up out of the Gryffindor table, waving at Ron (his other friend) and Neville and making his way to the huge doors.

"Mum!" He almost shouted when he saw her. He would never admit it, but last night it took him some time to get to sleep. It was silly of him, of course, but knowing his mum and dad weren't in the bedroom beside his of even in the same place made him appreciate and miss their presence more than ever. Sure, he had had sleepovers at Neville's and Ron's before but this was different. Yesterday was just the first night and he would stay here for almost the whole year. Still, this is Hogwarts and he was determined to make this work.

His mum gave him a long and warm hug - squeezing him slightly before letting go - and looked him over.

Theo James Potter looked like a mix between his parents. He had his mum's dark red hair and almond shaped eyes but the colour was the same as his father's: hazel. He didn't wear the trademark Potter glasses and was about 5' (155cm). He was eleven and was sorted into Gryffindor - the same house as his parents.

"I've missed you, darling." Lily said cupping her sons face with her hands.

"Merlin, mum! It's been a day since you last saw me!" He said seriously before grinning at his his mum's knowing look. She could read him like a book. "But, why are you here? You know parents can't come to Hogwarts!" He said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Something big happened, and we needed to talk to you." Lily said running her hands through her son's red locks before leading him to a room just behind the Great Hall.

"'We' as in you and dad? Is he here too? Where is he?" Theo said with a huge smile on his face looking around the room for his dad.

"He's in the Hospital Wing with Harry."

"Wait! Who's Harry? Mum, what's going on?"

"Theo, have you ever wondered if there is a universe just like ours but different at the same time? Where there are other James and other Lilys, living their lives parallel ours?" She said holding her son's hand in hers.

"Wait, mum! That's just- you're not telling me this is possible, right?" Theo said looking into his mums eyes.

"It is extremely rare. It has only happened twice. Well, thrice, now. There aren't many books on the subject, but from what I've gathered and from what your dad knows from his work in the Department of Mysteries, there are conditions for it to happen."

"Blimey! What are the conditions, mum?"

"The first one is that the person must have endured lots of p-pain and hardships," Lily said her voice breaking "so that his or her magic reaches a point which it's wild and scales beyond control in a protective manner. The books call it Auto-Preserving Effect." Theo looked down and squeezed his mum's hand. "The second is that there must be a portal between worlds, and to make that portal appear the wild magic of the wizard or witch must clash with the magic of the place he or she is in. Making some kind of bridge between the two universes. And the third one is that the person" Lily took a deep breath. "The person must be in a life and death situation, so that his or her soul is floating between the worlds of the living and the dead making it possible for the Fates to interfere. And the person must want to escape."