Wayfaring Stranger

I stepped out of my compartment just in time to see Snape practically run out of his. Cautiously walking forward I peered inside and saw Lily Evans sitting alone, mouth agape in shock. 

"Excuse me," She looked my way. "Do you mind if I join you?" 

I sat down just as she nodded, she still looked a bit shocked so I reigned in my power a bit more. Trying to put on a friendly appearance I stuck my hand out for a handshake. It took her a minute to seemingly 'reboot' before she took my hand and replied. 

"So, Lily Evans, what year are you in?" 

"What? Oh. Um. This is going to be my sixth year. What about you?" 

"This will be my sixth year as well, anything I should know about Hogwarts?" 

She perked up a bit, "Well we're sorted into houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. There's also ghosts in the school." 

I smiled at her enthusiasm. "And what house are you in, Miss Evans?" 

"Please just call me Lily, 'Miss Evans' makes me feel old." 

"Noted." I stayed silent encouraging her to continue. 

"And to answer your question, I'm in Gryffindor." 

Seeing that she was a bit more comfortable I continued to ask her about Hogwarts. I was really just fishing for information if anything had changed or if I was in a non-JKR canon world. 

"Tell me about the different houses, if it wasn't obvious already I'm a transfer." 

She laughed before explaining the houses to me, I stayed silent and only spoke to ask questions on the various professors and courses. So far nothing had been too surprising, Quirrell was still the muggle studies professor, Dumbledore was still headmaster, McGonagall was still deputy head. The only big shocker was the fact that the Black sisters were still in school. 

Canonically Bellatrix should have 'graduated' back in sixty one that is, if the wiki pages I read were to be believed. Only Narcissa should still be in school with Malfoy. Andromeda was also apparently still in school, she was in her seventh year, along with Bellatrix. Narcissa was in the same year as Lily and I.

By the time she finished explaining the social hierarchy of the school we were already pulling up to Hogsmead. She bid me a friendly wave goodbye before heading off to look for Snape. 

Aside from the Black sisters still being in school I also learned another big change to the story.

The Marauders, who originally consisted of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, stood a few dozen feet ahead of me by a carriage. 

Only instead of Sirius, there was a girl I did not recognize. She certainly had the looks of a Black, thick wavy hair, gray eyes, high cheekbones. 

I made another note of the possible divergence in my mind before joining the first years. I got into a boat on own after some words with Hagrid.

I was tempted to pose like George Washington at the front of my boat but decided against it. Instead I sat down and looked at the sights around me. 

Nothing could beat being at Hogwarts in person. Not the movies and definitely not the books. The castle, despite being made of stone, somehow looked warm and inviting.

I attributed this to the natural magic surrounding it. The first years in the other boats 'ooh-ed' and 'ahh-ed'. I couldn't help but smile at the wonder in their faces. 

It made me think back to my own children and grandchildren. Despite the centuries that have already passed I still missed them. It was one of the major downsides of my life even before I became immortal. 

All the connections I've made, the people I've met. They were all grains of sand in the great desert that is life. 

I beat down the gloomy thoughts as we finally reached the other side of what I assumed was the lake.

Hagrid passed the first years off to McGonagall and I silently followed behind observing the stern woman.

She was much younger than the movies had depicted. Though she seemingly already had the permanent scowl. 

As the first years trickled in behind the doors to the great hall she turned to me, "Mister Dimiourgos?" 

"Yes ma'am." I said with a small grin. 

McGonagall nodded, "You'll be going in before the first years." 

"Understood." 

I didn't have to wait long, the doors opened and I could see the tables already filled with the upper years who had arrived on the carriages earlier.

The sorting hat was brought out and set on a stool. Many older students looked at the arriving students excitedly. I scanned the head table and sighed.

Even though I was relatively knowledgeable on the Harry Potter world, I wasn't quite familiar with the professors.

Especially since other than the books, the other stories I've read had many conflicting details. My eyes eventually found the Black sisters. 

Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa were sitting together talking in hushed whispers. I spotted Lucius Malfoy almost instantly with his ridiculous long bleach blond hair. With him were two burly students who looked like Crabe and Goyle senior.

Sitting across from the future terrorists were more future terrorists by the name of 'The Lestrange Brothers'. I did my fair share of research at Gringotts. Turns out being identified as a god gave me certain perks and advantages with the otherwise not so friendly goblins. 

The hat finished with its song, and waited for the cheers to die down. I stepped forward knowing that I would be called forward first. 

"DIMIOURGOS THESEUS!" 

Walking forward, I ignored the various looks thrown my way. As soon as I sat down McGonagall set the hat down on my head and I waited. 

'Interesting.'  

'What, the fact that I'm a god or the fact that I know things I shouldn't know?'  

'I'd say both, I don't need to remind you that you can save a lot of people with a simple snap of your fingers.'  

'I could, but I am trying to enjoy myself here. A small vacation if you will.'  

'Don't lose sight of doing what needs to be done Lord Theseus.'  

'Believe me, I don't intend to let the innocent get hurt.'  

'I shall put my faith in your then, now, where should I put you?'  

'Are you asking for my opinion or just thinking out loud?' 

'Yes.'  

'You are a cheeky piece of headwear you know that? Who enchanted you, was it Rowena?'  

'All four founders Lord Theseus, though it was Helga who had the most input on my personality.'  

'That would explain it. She seemed like a fun woman.'  

The hat seemed to ignore my comment on the founder of Hufflepuff. Around me I noticed students' faces filled with anticipation. By my calculations I had been sitting on the damn stool for nearly five minutes now while the hat looked through my memories. 

'I have never met someone so difficult to read. Then again it's expected of a being such as you.' 

'Met many gods have you?'  

Again the hat ignored my jab. 

'You have no shortage of loyalty and the drive for knowledge, yet these are overshadowed by your ambitions and bravery at the face of the impossible. You would be a great fit for all of the houses. Yet I'm sensing you wish to be placed somewhere specific?'  

'Just somewhere where I can keep an eye out for everyone whilst enjoying myself.'  

'Very well.'  

I waited not a moment longer before the hat shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!" 

The hall burst into cheers and polite clapping. My robes changed to match my new house as I made my way to the Gryffindor table. Lily waved at me beckoning to an open spot next to her. 

"I see you've made it to my house." 

"Surprised?" 

"Not really, you seemed really bold and brash earlier today."

"Bold and brash?" 

She nodded, "Very Gryffindor." 

I sighed before giving her a small smile. "Then you wouldn't mind giving me a tour later?" 

"Too good to go with the firsties eh?" 

"Nah, I'd just rather be escorted by a gorgeous woman rather than a pimply prefect." 

She blushed and smacked my arm playfully. I grinned until I felt a spell heading my way. I vanished the colorless spell with a nonchalant wave of a hand. Before turning around and facing a scowling James Potter. I raised an eyebrow at him as he sent another spell from under the table this time. I also vanished the spell before grinning at him. 

"Having performance issues?" 

Peter and Remus hid their laughter while Lily giggled behind me once she noticed what was going on. James frowned before standing from the table and stomping over to me. 

"She's spoken for." 

"Oh? By who?" 

"I most certainly am not spoken for, James Charlus Potter!" 

I couldn't help but smile a little as Lily stood up and turned to James. Genderbent Sirius looked like she was about to say something when McGonagall shouted at them to stand down at the threat of losing house points. Everyone grumbled at the lost entertainment and retook their seats. Lily plopped next to me with a huff. 

"What a prat." 

"You know, boys usually pick on girls they're interested in." 

Lily looked like she was going to be sick, "Please don't joke about that. Let's just get this over with." 

"You trying to get rid of me already? You wound me."

"Oh stuff it, Dumbledore is about to speak." 

As soon as Dumbledore made his closing remarks and assigned the prefects to guide the first years around Lily and I stood and left the hall. Following close I looked around and marveled at the magic saturating every stone. 

Around me paintings moved about in their frames greeting passer-bys and generally being an entertaining feature of the castle. Magic was thick in the air, various rooms with miscellaneous enchantments, enchanted corridors and stairs. As a kid growing up having seen the Harry Potter films it was a bit surreal. 

Lily showed me around to the owlery, the various classrooms, and finally to the Gryffindor common room. We arrived just as the first years were led inside by the prefects. Their faces in various states of awe and wonder. 

"Well, we've got classes tomorrow so this is where we part Mister Dimiourgos. I have some reading I'd like to catch up on. The boys' rooms will be through the staircase on the right." 

"Why, thank you Miss Evans. The tour was quite informative and dare I say… fun." 

Lily giggled at my overly pompous imitation of a British accent before waving and disappearing up the left side staircase. Just as I was about to go up the stairs to my new room I felt four magical signatures approach me. Turning to face the Marauders I grinned at the frown James Potter sported. 

"You'll stay away from Lily Evans." 

"Why should I?"

"She's mine." 

"Does she know that?" 

"I, what? No, but she wi-" 

"Listen James Potter, I don't give a rats ass what you or your merry band of animagus friends do." Their eyes bulged in shock at my casual revelation that I knew their secret, "All I want is to be left alone so that I can enjoy my time here at Hogwarts." 

"Ho-"

"How do I know? The same way I know about Mister Lupin's 'furry little problem'." 

The quartet looked around the common room, their eyes looking at the time locked students in fear and awe. I had frozen time around us to the point that a fourth year was hovering midair as he had apparently leaned his chair too far back. 

"As you can see I have absolute control over the world around me. I can shape reality to my whims." I created a clone of James next to me before sending the clone forward to stand in front of the real James. 

"Who the hell are you!" The clone shouted pointing a wand at James who was frozen with a look of disbelief on his face. 

The rest of the marauders drew their wands and pointed them at the clone. 

"What is this?" 

"This is an exact replica of James Potter. Everything from the memories down to the last freckle on your ass. Why don't you introduce yourself James." 

James and his clone turned to me, "Which one?" 

"Stop that!" 

"No you stop that!" 

"Stop copying me!" 

"You're copying me!" 

"I'm not a clone so you're copying me!"

"How do you know you're not the clone?" 

James was gobsmacked. Female Sirius had fallen on the floor wheezing with laughter, Remus hid his laughter better while Peter had a look of awe in his face. With a snap of my fingers I erased the clone who flipped James the bird before disappearing. Genderbent Sirius continued to cackle.

"How?" 

"What do you mean?" 

"How did you do- STOP LAUGHING YOU BINT!" James shouted as female Sirius shakily stood up wiping away tears while still snickering. 

"Simple, I'm a god." 

"A god?" 

"Yup"

"You?" 

"Did I stutter?" 

"It's just hard to believe." 

"Believe what you want Prongsy, I'm going to bed. Though I wouldn't mind having you all as friends you can never have enough friends after all. Also lay off Severus Snape, if you ever want Lily to look at you without wanting to vomit you'd do well to remember that." 

With that I teleported myself to my estate. Just cause I went to school now didn't mean I would subject myself to sleeping in a used bed surrounded by hormonal teenagers. The next day would be a whole different adventure and I for one was excited to see what Hogwarts had to offer.