Ep 6: Echoes of Gryffindor

Chapter 1:

In the comfort of his home, while seeing harry potter on the Netflix home page, Shannon felt a longing. "ORACLE," he mused, "Is there a way... a way to meet the real Harry Potter? Not Daniel Radcliffe, but the real Harry Potter, from his universe?"

ORACLE paused, its processes analyzing the depth of the request. "In theory, if there are infinite universes, the one with Harry Potter might exist. But accessing it... that's an experiment unto itself."

Chapter 2:

Weeks turned into months as Shannon and ORACLE collaborated, drawing on quantum mechanics, multiverse theories, and the time machine's astro-travel capabilities. Together, they built a prototype portal: a bridge to alternate realities.

Chapter 3:

With the portal complete, Shannon took a deep breath, the weight of the moment pressing on him. As he stepped through, he felt a disorienting pull, like being stretched and condensed simultaneously.

Chapter 4:

As Shannon blinked away the disorientation from the portal jump, he found himself amidst the vast greenery surrounding Hogwarts. 

Shannon's eyes blinked open to the sight of the towering spires of Hogwarts Castle. Before he could take it all in, a voice interrupted, "Lost are you?" 

Shannon turned to see Harry Potter, the very face he recognized from countless book covers, albeit more wary and inquisitive in real life.

"It's... complicated," Shannon began, then, realizing the absurdity of his own truth, he hesitated, "I'm straight up from another universe."

Harry raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Another universe? Surely you jest."

Determined, Shannon pressed on, "I know it sounds unbelievable. But there's an AI, ORACLE, and a time machine, and—"

Harry interrupted with a chuckle, "Alright, alright. There's a simple way to settle this." With a swift flick of his wand, he chanted, "Legilimens!"

Images, sounds, and emotions flowed from Shannon's mind like water from a faucet. Harry saw the AI revolution, Shannon's rise to leadership, the curious discovery of the time-travel machine, and his journey to the wizarding world.

The spell ended, leaving Harry stunned. "I... I believe you," he said, slightly breathless. "Those memories... they're far too intricate and personal to be a mere illusion."

Shannon, still reeling from the intrusion, nodded. "Thank you for understanding."

Harry, with newfound respect and curiosity for Shannon, responded, "How about we start afresh? I'd love to hear more about this ORACLE of yours."

As night descended on Hogwarts, two figures sat amidst the castle grounds, embarking on the beginning of an unlikely, yet profound, friendship.

Chapter 5:

The sun cast its golden hues over Hogwarts as Harry led Shannon down a winding path, away from the castle. The chirping of magical creatures echoed through the forested grounds.

"Where are we going?" Shannon whispered, sensing the urgency in Harry's pace.

"To someone who knows how to keep secrets," Harry replied, casting occasional glances over his shoulder.

Soon, they reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where a quaint wooden cabin stood. The door swung open to reveal the towering figure of Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts.

"Harry! What brings yeh 'ere at this hour?" Hagrid boomed, his bushy beard moving with each word.

Harry motioned to Shannon, "Hagrid, this is Shannon. He's... not exactly from around here. Can he stay with you for the night?"

Hagrid's beetle-black eyes studied Shannon. "From another universe, yeh say? Sounds like one of them tales from The Quibbler. But if Harry trusts yeh, so do I."

Inside the hut, Shannon was introduced to a world unlike any other. Creatures of every shape and size squawked, slithered, and roamed. A massive boarhound, Fang, quickly took a liking to him, resting his heavy head on Shannon's lap.

As the evening wore on, Harry explained to Hagrid the circumstances of Shannon's arrival, and the importance of keeping him hidden for the time being. Hagrid, always one for a good tale, listened intently, occasionally interjecting with his own stories of magical creatures and adventures.

The hut was warm, filled with the aroma of Hagrid's questionable cooking and the soothing sounds of magical beasts outside. With Fang snuggled beside him and the promise of Harry's return in the morning, Shannon found himself drifting into a peaceful sleep in this strange yet comforting new world.

Chapter 6:

In the morning, Harry led Shannon through the cobbled streets of Hogsmeade. Their destination was not mentioned, but the familiar chime of a bell as they entered a shop revealed it all: Ollivanders.

"Every wizard needs a wand," Harry remarked, his eyes twinkling.

Mr. Ollivander, old as ever, eyed Shannon curiously. "Not from around here, are you?"

Shannon chuckled, "You could say that."

Ollivander moved about the store, pulling boxes seemingly at random. Each time Shannon took a wand in hand, there was a moment of anticipation. Some wands simply did not respond. Others had adverse reactions—one even singed the tip of Shannon's hair. But then, it happened. A wand made of rewarewa wood with a core of kiwi feather chose Shannon. The air pulsed with warmth, and golden sparks flew.

"Ah," Ollivander said, nodding appreciatively, "A unique wand for a unique individual. Very fitting."

Harry grinned, "Welcome to the world of magic, Shann."

Chapter 7:

"Ready for a tour of Hogwarts?"

Shannon hesitated, eyeing the distant castle with apprehension. "Won't I stand out? I'm not a student here."

Harry waved him off dismissively, "Not a problem. Ever heard of Percy Weasley?"

Shannon shook his head.

"He's one of Ron's older brothers. Finished Hogwarts a few years back. With a bit of magic, you'll be his spitting image." Drawing his wand, Harry intoned, "Polyjuice mutatio!"

A tingling sensation enveloped Shannon. Moments later, he gazed at his reflection in a puddle: a lanky, red-haired figure with horn-rimmed glasses stared back.

"Percy Weasley, in the flesh," Harry announced with a grin. "Now, let's explore."

The duo roamed the grand castle. The talking portraits, shifting staircases, and myriad of secret passageways left Shannon in wonder. In the Great Hall, the enchanted ceiling showcased a brilliant blue sky, while in the library, books whizzed around them, eager to share their contents.

Throughout their journey, Harry recounted tales of his adventures in each corner of the school – from narrowly escaping the jaws of Fluffy, the three-headed dog, to sneaking into the Restricted Section under the veil of his invisibility cloak. Shann would say, “Wow, just like the movies.”

Masquerading as Percy, Shannon was met with respectful nods from students and friendly waves from teachers. The guise was perfect.

As they concluded their tour at the top of the Astronomy Tower, with the vast landscape of the magical world before them, Shannon turned to Harry, gratitude evident in his eyes. "This... This is way beyond what I was thinking it would be, bro. Thank you bro."

Harry clapped him on the back. "It's been my pleasure. Everyone should witness the magic of Hogwarts at least once."

Chapter 8:

In the evening, after a hearty dinner at the Great Hall, Harry beckoned Shannon towards a secluded corridor. "Fancy a little mischief?" he whispered, a grin playing on his lips.

With the Marauder's Map as their guide, the duo sneaked into Professor McGonagall's office, where the Sorting Hat rested on its shelf. Harry placed it gingerly into Shannon's hands. "Ever wondered where you'd fit in at Hogwarts?"

Shannon hesitated for a moment, then set the hat onto his head. The brim covered his eyes and, for a few moments, there was silence. Then, a deep, contemplative voice echoed in Shannon's mind. "Ah, another tricky one. Bravery and courage, mixed with a dash of intellect. But above all, a heart that values friendship and unity..."

The room was still, the air thick with anticipation.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry clapped Shannon on the back, his face glowing with pride. "Knew it! Welcome to the house, mate!"

They carefully replaced the hat, leaving the office as undisturbed as they had found it, their laughter echoing through the corridors of Hogwarts.

Chapter 9:

On Shannon's last evening, he and Harry sat on the steps in front of Hagrid's hut, gazing up at the starry sky of the magical world.

"It's strange," Harry mused, looking at the distant constellations, "Knowing there's a whole other universe out there where I'm just... fiction."

Shannon chuckled, "Bro, you’re famous as. And the guy who plays you.”

“Daniel Radcliffe?” Harry questions.

“Yeah. He's famous as too. I should bring him here."

They sat in silence for a while, then Harry broke it, "Promise me something?"

"Yeah bro anything."

"Can you bring me a copy of the movies when you come back?"

Shann laughed, "Yeah bro, course. I'll get those for you asap."

Chapter 10:

Hagrid walked Harry and Shannon to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where the portal shimmered, signaling Shannon's time to depart.

Harry, his eyes filled with a mix of amusement and nostalgia, said, "It feels strange to be going home, doesn't it?"

Shannon paused, locking eyes with both of them. With a knowing smirk, he responded, "I'm not going home." He let the moment linger, then added with emphasis, "Not really."

Hagrid and Harry waved goodbye as Shann walked into the portal.