Harry remembered asking Hermione "Why?" as he tried to figure out what was happening to her. The last words Hermione had ever said to him were "Because she hurt you."
It took Harry three months of research before he figured out what spell she had been hit with. A dark spell that caused the internal organs to begin to break down and liquefy if the counter-curse wasn't applied in time.
Harry shook his head quickly bringing himself out of those memories even as he felt a surge of anger rise inside of him again, that just seeing Bellatrix's hated face caused him.
Just as startling he felt the magic inside him respond, boiling with his anger and the clamor for release got louder. He took a breath and calmed himself, willing his eyes to focus on the article beside the wanted poster. Blowing up the street as an outlet for his power seemed like a phenomenally bad idea.
He skimmed the article after he glanced at the date. It had been written over a year earlier, if the paper Hedwig had brought him earlier was to be believed. He felt her talon's squeeze his shoulder slightly as if she was sensing his doubt.
The article warned about Bellatrix being out and dangerous. It listed several of her crimes, including the murder of several wizards, muggle-baiting, torture, and destruction of property.
His eyes froze when he got near the end of the article. The last section caused his entire body to stiffen.
"Senior Auror Sirius Black had this to say. 'Bellatrix is extremely dangerous, and unpredictable it's best to assume that my cousin is armed at all times. She wasn't entirely sane when she went into Azkaban in the first place. There's no telling what 13 years in there did to her.'
The Daily Herald reminds readers that Sirius Black III, current Head of the Noble and Ancient House of Black, is the son of Orion and Walburga Black. Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black is the daughter of Cygnus Black and Druella Black nee Rosier. Cygnus Black and Walburga Black were siblings, making the escaped Bellatrix Lestrange and Auror Sirius Black first cousins.
Senior Auror James Potter had this to add. 'Anyone who thinks they spot Bellatrix Lestrange. Do not attempt to apprehend her. Do not attempt to follow her anywhere. Leave the area as soon as possible, and contact the Department of Magical Law Enforcement immediately."
Harry's entire body was frozen stiff. Senior Auror James Potter? His father? Alive? Sirius an auror as well? What the hell was going on? He took a moment to pinch his own hand several times. No, this definitely wasn't a dream. A hallucination maybe? Was he trapped in some sort of spell?
He was trying to think of all the ways this couldn't be real, but one thought just kept intruding in his mind. If his father was alive, did that mean his mother was alive as well?
Suddenly coming to a decision, he spun rapidly, to turn and make his way down the street, with one store in mind. His stride was now determined and purposeful, and if the situation weren't so serious he would have laughed, Hermione would have done the exact same thing.
Harry easily found the book store, right where he remembered it. Above the door was a maroon crest with two feathers. The sign was worn and a little faded but it proudly proclaimed the store as being Flourish and Blott's.
Harry entered the bookstore, and looked around, it was familiar to him, and most everything seemed in relatively the same place. Well, same place being a relative term as there were shelves and stacks of books everywhere.
Harry didn't spare anyone a glance as he went to the history section and skimmed titles until he found three books that he was fairly certain would be there. Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century.
Harry glanced around the store looking for a chair before he realized his mistake. They weren't going to leave furniture out for people to sit and read instead of purchase. Harry felt his pockets and was relieved to find that, for once, his less than meticulous nature could at times be a boon. He pulled out a few galleons. It wasn't the cost that was the problem, he just didn't really feel much like going through the process of enlarging his trunk and opening it for a few galleons.
Harry made himself a mental note to get some galleons out the next time he had some privacy. He double checked his glamour before he made his way up to the clerk with his three purchases. The clerk barely spared him a glance as he bought the books, though it only took a few galleons.
When he left the store, he wasted no time in finding a quiet place to read. A few shops down was Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. Harry took a seat in one of the outdoor tables. A memory flash hit him from the summer before his third year in school, when Florean had given him free ice cream sundaes and had helped him with his History of Magic summer homework.
Once again shaking his head out of the reminiscence of the past he opened the top book, which happened to be Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century. Flipping quickly through the book he skimmed to the latter part of the book. He couldn't resist a snort at the title of the chapter. "The Rise of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
He flipped through the pages, one more chapter and stopped and stared. The next chapter was titled with a much larger mouthful than the previous one. That wasn't what stopped him in his tracks.
"The Fall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the Triumph of Iris Potter, the Girl-Who-Lived."
His eyes devoured the script beneath the title, though it was relatively short, it was an account of that night.
"On October 31st, 1981; parents James and Lily Potter left their three daughters; two year old Iris, and one year old twins Azalea and Ivy in the care of James' parents; Lord Charlus and Lady Dorea Potter.
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named breached the wards on the home at Godric's Hollow, and attacked the head of Ancient and Noble House of Potter. In his youth, Charlus Potter had been quite the feared dueler and had fought in the war against Grindelwald and his army. However, despite the significant damage to the home which suggests Lord Charlus put up quite a fight, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named ultimately triumphed. The attack left both Lord Charles and Lady Dorea dead.
At that point He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named turned his attention to the children in the house. We can only speculate what occurred that night, but it is believed he attempted to cast the dreaded killing curse at young Iris Potter. However, something occurred which caused the killing curse to reflect back upon the caster.
Experts still debate what occurred that fateful night. However, the fact remains that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was killed by his own killing curse, and Iris Potter was left with only a scar on her forehead.
It is unclear why He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named chose that evening to attack the Potters, a pureblooded family. However general speculation is that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named expected James and Lily Potter to be home instead."
Harry sat back in his chair, slowly, trying to process what he'd just read, several thoughts rampaging through his mind. If he wasn't hallucinating, or under some sort of spell the likes of which he'd never seen or imagined, then there were four facts he couldn't get away from.
He was in the past, before things had gone to hell.
This wasn't his world. So he had no idea if events had followed events of his world or not.
He had no fucking clue what to do.