A/N:

Chapter 3: Potter Say WHAT?!

"… I think the shock of it all exhausted them." a wizened voice in the darkness relied as another grunted.

"Their shock? What about mine?!" another shouted, "They weren't supposed to follow me here!"

"Oh? Did you tell them not to?" this one was female. The second person must have sighed.

"I'm going to check on the Starters. Delia, would you-?"

"Oh, don't worry! They'll be fine. The Professor and I will look after them for you." a womanly voice cut in.

"Thank you." the second voice breathed gratefully as shoes clacked against solid tiled floors and a door opened softly and closed shut.

The rustle of paper was heard as brown eyes opened to the blinding light above them. Closing the soft brown eyes with a groan, the person tried to sit up, but a gentle hand stayed the movement as the womanly voice spoke up again.

"You really shouldn't move so suddenly. Harry said your head hit the ground pretty hard." the woman said as Hermione's eyes snapped open at the mention of that name.

"Harry?!" Hermione shot up, making the woman squeak in surprise as she stumbled back from the sudden motion.

Hermione's eyes were wide open as she cast frantic glances around the room, trying to locate her wayward friend, who did not appear to be in the room. Instead, there was an elderly gentleman standing at the foot of the bed she was in, glancing over a chart with a pensive frown on his face.

"Harry? Where's Harry?" Hermione asked almost crazily as she took her new surroundings.

"He's gone to observe the Starters for the moment," the elderly man said as he didn't raise his eyes from the chart papers. He then took two steps to the right of his position to where another bed was and to her right was another bed much like her own and the one to her left. Next to her, on the left, was the slightly snoring Ron. On her right was Malfoy, tossing and turning in a fitful a sleep as she had ever seen him.

"What could be wrong with them, Professor?" Delia asked worriedly as she dabbed at Malfoy's forehead, "The girl is acting crazed, and this blond boy has a slight fever."

"Hmm... I'm not quite sure." the elderly gentlemen said as looked over the reports he had been handed when he walked in. "The only precedent we have to go by is Harry's case, and even then he appeared perfectly fine from what I was told. Though the other man-"

"What about Harry?" Hermione asked, taking a deep breath to calm her anxiety. The last thing she remembered before now was seeing an older version of her friend standing in a doorway while Ron and Draco fought atop her like she was some sort of hill for their childish squabbling.

"I'm glad to see you've calmed down." the man said, "I was afraid we might have to call Winston in to calm you forcefully."

"Or Mr. Mine." the woman added as she continued to gently dab the wet cloth Malfoy's forehead. The blond stirred in his sleep, but did not awake as Hermione watched the scene.

"Delia, if you wouldn't mind," the old man began as he walked over to a cabinet within the room, and took out a jar filled with a thick golden liquid, "please give each of them a spoonful of honey when they awake. Harry has already administered diluted doses of Full Heal and some Potion, so all that's left for them is a bit of taste stimulation to get them to come around fully."

"But what about this one?" the woman, Delia, asked as she gestured toward Malfoy.

"Harry has deemed that he'll continue the blond boy's treatment himself." the old man gave a sigh and shook his head, "You know how he can be with anything he sees injured; they're his patients, and he won't have anyone else worrying. He really shoulders too much for such a young man."

"Well, I'm younger than he is." Delia chimed in, a strange smile on her face as the man shook his head again.

"Yes, that is true." the man placed the chart of the bedside table between Hermione and Malfoy, giving Hermione a soft look, "Please try and get some rest. I'm sure this entire ordeal has weighed heavily upon you all."

Hermione said nothing as she simply stared at the man while he left, walking out of the only door to the room.

"Miss, can you please tell me where Harry-" but Hermione didn't get to finish her quickly asked request as she found her mouth stuffed filled with a spoon of sweet honey.

"Uh, uh. No talking. You and these boys need rest, so just relax." Delia said, a kind look on her face as she fed Hermione another spoonful of honey when the girl tried to protest. "I'm sure Harry will be back to see you when he gets a free moment. He's a very important person, you know. Heh, heh."

"Umm… right…" Hermione said stupidly as she swallowed the mouthful of honey. She could just hear her parents now, scolding her for having such sweets without having brushed her teeth.

"Uhh, bloody hell…" a groan to their left caught the two females' attention as they looked over to see Ron coming around to consciousness as he clasped a hand to his head. "Blimey, my head feels like pounding thunder."

"Here then, have some of this." Delia was at Ron's bed in an instant, shoveling honey into his yawning mouth.

"Wah-! Guk! Uhh… Mhmm. That's good! Is it honey? Tastes great!" Ron coughed and gagged until the taste reached his brain, and a smile broke out onto his face while Delia nodded.

"Yup, grade-A pure honey." Delia said, looking as though this was the response she wanted from her patients.

"Can I have some more?" Ron asked as Hermione sighed. Leave it to Ron to think more about some sweet than the friend they needed to find as quickly as possible.

"Ron, honestly, can you focus on anything but food for a minute?" Hermione asked as Ron turned to her quickly, the spoon in his mouth stripped from Delia's delicate grip. Ron stared at her with wide murky blue eyes.

"Mione! You're okay!" Ron exclaimed around the spoon as Delia giggled at his antics. Ron took the spoon from his mouth and gave it back to the young woman, his ears tinted pink with his embarrassment.

"Ron, we need to find Harry." Hermione said as Ron's eyes widened again, seemingly recalling that they had seen Harry before they blacked out.

"You're right! Harry's here somewhere!" Ron said, trying to get out of bed, but Delia was having none of that as she placed a gentle hand on his chest, and shoved him back into the bed as though it were nothing.

"Oh no, none of that. You three aren't leaving this room until either the Professor or Harry gives you permission." Delia said as she gave them a cutely stern look.

Before the woman could give them more stern words, a boom echoed outside the room as a voice cursed. Delia looked between the door and the three in beds. She finally seemed to come to a decision as she placed the jar of honey and the spoon on the bedside table before moving out the door.

"Stay here, and I'll be right back." Delia said, and then gave them a look that dared any of them to move from their beds.

As soon as Delia was out of the door, Hermione threw back her covers and swung her feet out onto the cold tiled floor of the room. No shoes, and no socks. Hermione was glad that they at least allowed her to keep on her normal clothes while she tried to locate her foot apparel.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked, "She said not to move."

"Oh, honestly, Ron." Hermione huffed with a roll of her eyes. She knew how cowed her friend could be under a woman's gaze, but decided not to bring it up for the sake of time.

Ron quickly began to follow her lead as he found his shoes and socks under the bed. Hermione placed hers on her feet as quickly as possible. She moved toward the door. As she was about to open it while Ron was getting off his bed, a voice behind them caught their attention and made them stop in their tracks.

"And just where do the t-two of you think your g-going without me?" a raspy voice coughed out as a feeble and pale Draco Malfoy sat up in bed shakily.

"Malfoy," Ron seethed. He glared over at the sickly blond.

"You're sick." Hermione stated as she turned back, not bothering to care too much about the fact.

"And your point, Granger?" Malfoy said, shivering as he threw back his covers, and looked for his footwear. "You're not leaving me in this place by myself."

"Bet 'cha we could…" Ron muttered as he made his way to Hermione's side.

On the other side of the door, a voice called out to another, "No, just handle it, and I'll be there in a moment!"

Hermione and Ron quickly backed away from the door as it was jerked open.

Looking to the person who opened the door, the three teenagers caught sight of a tall young man in an open white lab coat. He wore a dark green shirt, and dark trousers with polished black shoes that shone in the light. The man used his index finger to push his full-moon spectacles up the bridge of his nose and moved that same hand to sweep back his dark bangs. He kept his emerald eyes looking over his shoulder as he sighed. His gaze slowly turned onto the scene in the room, and the man's face slowly morphed from initial annoyance into an expression of sternness. A pensive frown made its way onto his face while he watched them. The man adjusted the clipboard in his other hand while holding it at his side. The scar off-center on his forehead was the only visible imperfection to him.

And it was an imperfection the three would-be escapees knew quite well.

"Ha-Harry?" Hermione breathed with hope evident in her voice. She gazed up at this man, the one who appeared like an utterly handsome and matured version of her best friend. Her uttering the name brought the man out of his thoughts. He blinked, now getting a good look at them as he took in their appearances.

"You're supposed to be in bed." the man said, his voice quiet. He stepped into the room, making Ron and Hermione step back as he closed the door behind himself.

"Harry, mate. Is that really you?" Ron asked. The man who might be Harry still didn't answer to them. He instead allowed his attention to fall onto the clipboard in his hand, and began to make a note of something with the pen from his coat pocket.

"ANSWER US, POTTER!" Malfoy yelled, but then swooned in place. The man's emerald eyes seemed to quickly glance up from his clipboard. His gaze settled on Malfoy when the blond let out a weak groan after his outburst.

"You shouldn't be moving." the man said firmly. He shot Hermione and Ron a stern look. "Back to bed, the both of you. Any escape attempts you might have thought up in trying to find me are now cancelled."

"Right, mate." Ron breathed. He and Hermione went as they were told, sitting next to one another on the bed Ron had been in.

The man, who just had to be Harry, put his clipboard down in the only chair inside the room before he walked over to Malfoy. He placed a cool palm to the blond's forehead, which made Malfoy groan at the coolness of the appendage while the man hummed in thought. Walking over to the cabinet, the man got out a bottle and equipped it with a needle as he walked back over to Draco. The green liquid within the small bottle splashed around inside of its container as the man firmly grasped Draco's arm.

"This may hurt…" the man muttered softly, but quickly injected the needle into the yelping Malfoy's arm before squeezing the nozzle on the bottle, depositing the green substance in the blond's body while said blond cursed at the odd sensation he felt from the attack.

The man rubbed Malfoy's arm with a cleansing pad, and then placed a bandage on the spot before he inspected something along the young Malfoy's shoulder.

"Your wounds are coming along better than I would have hoped." the man said to himself, nodding to the progress as he turned to Ron, eyeing his arm. "Yours as well."

Ron looked down at his arm, white bandages hiding just inside his short sleeve. He hadn't even noticed them before, but now he could feel them as he flexed his arm. They ran up to his shoulder.

"The next time the two of you decide to kill each other, don't expect me to patch you up." the man said frankly before he turned his attention to the clipboard the older gentleman had left.

A voice outside of the room was yelling for someone, "Harry! Harry, where are you!"

"In here, Delia!" the man, who they now knew for sure was Harry, yelled back as the woman from before came back in with the older man.

"Ah, I see you've made your way back to them." the older man said as Harry glanced up at him and the woman. "Now then, would you mind giving some introductions?"

"They are friends from… out of town." Harry said, adjusting his glasses as the old man smiled.

"Then why, pray tell, were they found in my supply closet?" the older man asked as Harry shrugged.

"Perhaps they needed supplies." Harry gave a small shrug to accompany his dry tone. The older gentleman nodded, chuckling a little.

"Yes, of course." the older man stepped forward with his words and a friendly smile on his face, "Greetings, I am Professor Samuel Oak, the owner of this research facility. This young woman next to me is named Delia. And as I'm sure, you three know who Harry is."

"Hello, my name is Hermione Granger," Hermione greeted, "It's nice to meet you, Professor Oak, Miss Delia."

"A pleasure, my dear girl." Professor Oak replied with a nod to her.

"Ron Weasley." Ron gave his name as Oak nodded to him as well.

"Draco Malfoy. Charmed, I am sure." Malfoy scorned the two strangers. Hermione rolled her eyes and Ron glared at the sneering blond.

"It's nice to meet you, Draco, Ron, and Hermione." Delia said, looking pleased to meet them for some reason or another.

"Harry… are you taller?" Hermione asked, moving the focus back onto Harry.

"And you look healthier, too, mate." Ron added as he seemed to notice Harry's matured looks as well. It did seem that Harry wasn't the same knobby-kneed boy as they had last seen him.

"You look older, Potter." Malfoy belittled, sitting up as some color was returning to him.

"Well, it has been some time since we've last seen each other." Harry said, non-pulsed by their observations or their constant staring at him.

"But Harry," Hermione started, giving Harry a curious look, "it's only been a couple of weeks."

Harry didn't seem too impressed by her answer, nor did he look like it was the answer he expected from her. He simply appeared detached to her words before giving a small shrug.

"Well then, how about some lunch?" Delia suggested, seeing the tension in Harry's shoulders as he stood gazing over Hermione and Ron.

"Lunch sounds… just fine." Professor Oak agreed, looking over to Harry with no small amount of concern, "Are they fit to eat?"

"They weren't really in any danger." Harry remarked, sighing. He raked a hand through his dark hair, "I just wanted to be sure they were okay."

"Well, they seem fine to me." Oak observed. Harry nodded in agreement to Oak's remark.

"Then some lunch will do us all a world of good." Harry breathed, picking up his own clipboard while taking both under arm. "Just give me a minute while I hand these off to Anthony."

Lunch was an awkward affair, Hermione found as they ate in large chunks of silence. The meal was heavy in Asian cuisine, and there were very few dishes which Hermione recognized from her reading on Asian culture. None the less, Ron dug into the meal strange meal with gusto, and so Hermione found that once she gave it a try, the meal was very enjoyable even with having Malfoy for company as he muttered things and insults under his breath.

Every so often Delia, the petite red-haired woman whom sat across from them at Harry's side, would make the fleeting comment to Harry or the Professor, or she would ask one of them how the meal was. She had cooked it. Harry ate much the same as he did weeks ago in Hogwarts, taking in his meal with a silence that suggested he was used to people either ignoring him or watching him like he was the main attraction of the day. Still, he seemed to enjoy the meal and his light conversation with the redheaded woman, who smiled at his praise of her cooking ability.

"Well," Malfoy began, throwing down the napkin he had used to wipe his mouth when the meal started coming to a close, "we've gotten all patched up, had an… edible meal, and now I think it's time we left. How do we get home, Potter? And do know that you'll be coming back with us."

Harry said nothing as he was still enjoying a mouthful of rice, chewing slowly and savoring the meal. Swallowing the thoroughly chewed mouthful, Harry allowed his gaze to rest on Malfoy as he dapped at his mouth with his napkin.

"I'm afraid this is my home, Draco." Harry said, speaking to them directly for the first time since the meal began. "And besides that, there is no way back from here."

"WHAT?" Malfoy roared, shooting to his feet. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S NO WAY BACK, POTTER?"

"Well there is none that I know of, nor none that I care to use." Harry said as he settled back into his chair while the silence reigned over the room.

Hermione didn't know what to think. There was no way back. And even worse, Harry said that this place, wherever they were, was his home now. Could they force him back? Harry had always been the stronger one, and even with Ron and Malfoy's help, Hermione strongly doubted they could defeat this older Harry or even take him by surprise. She felt numb. There was a cold lump in the pit of her stomach now where the warmth of home-cooked food had been moments before. Harry had to know of someway back home. Surely there was some way back to the Ministry. To Hogwarts. To her parents.

"So, how is it that you three know Harry here in the first place?" Delia asked in polite and sweet tone.

"We're his friends," Ron replied readily, then cast a nasty look in Malfoy's direction, "Well, at least most of us."

"Where are we, Harry?" Hermione asked politely, deciding that it was best to at least know wherever they were.

"I believe I can answer that for you." Professor Oak spoke up, while a young maid came out and cleared the dining table with two butlers. At least, that was what Hermione assumed as they all wore the uniforms of such stations. "Please, follow me to the sitting room."

They all got up, with Harry and Delia thanking the servants while helping to clear the table. Professor Oak urged the three Hogwarts students to follow him, saying that Harry and Delia would catch up in a moment. They went down a different corridor this time, Hermione observed. The research facility was surely expansive if they had an entire medical wing separate from everything else. Was this place like Hogwarts castle?

"Now then, why don't you three tell me a little about yourselves?" Professor Oak suggested as they followed him.

"Well, there isn't much to tell, Professor." here came Hermione's respect for authority. She was the first to speak, ever humble while she silenced Draco's words with a withering glare. "We come from Hogwarts, a school that must be a long way from here. We're students there, along with Harry. He disappeared a little over two weeks ago, and we came to find him."

"Two weeks, you say?" the Professor asked, stopping just short of a room filled with comfy armchairs and couches along with a television. Professor Oak turned back to them, staring at their expressions as though glimpsing into their souls. "How very peculiar…"

"What is so peculiar about two weeks, you old coot?" Draco asked rudely.

"Malfoy!" Hermione admonished, knowing that the boy could be rude, but didn't think he'd be so unclothe so early into meeting these people.

"Oh shove off it, Granger. This man is obviously a muggle if I've ever seen one." Draco sneered, but the surprising part was when Professor Oak began to chuckle at them just when Ron was about to yell for Draco to keep his trap shut.

"Muggle? Oh yes, I remember Harry using that word often a long time ago." Professor Oak laughed quietly, advancing into the sitting room and taking residence within one of the armchairs. He gestured for the three teens to do so as well, with Hermione and Ron sharing a loveseat. Draco eased himself onto a divan, looking around critically and judgmentally.

"So Harry's told you about—?"

"Magic, oh yes." Oak nodded, still smiling at them. Hermione's heart dropped. Did two weeks away from school make Harry forget how much trouble he could get into for telling normal people about magic? Had he completely forgotten about the Statue of Secrecy? "He was rather forthcoming with the information when he introduced himself to me so long ago, but I suppose it was only common knowledge by then."

"What was common knowledge?" Ron asked with a bewildered look.

"Well, that Harry was a rather extraordinary individual. When we first started working together, he told the most fascinating tales of a school and learning magic. I took it all for a bit of fun, but after a while I realized that he was being completely honest with me. Of course, I've no reason not to believe in magic, mind you." the professor said with another short chortle.

"I think we should leave things at that, Professor." Harry was in the doorway, with Delia squeezing past him to get into the room. A small coffee table separated them from Professor Oak, but now Delia had joined the man's side with Harry slowly preceding into the room as though a trap were laid. His eyes were forever focused upon the three teenagers.

"What with all the things you've shared with me, I think it's only right that I share a few of my own tales with your friends." the Professor argued warmly with a smile as Harry gave a small one back.

"Yes, but you have a tendency to share the more embarrassing stories of my travels, sir." Harry replied, to which Professor only smiled broader.

"It helps to build a sense of ease and trust." The researcher argued, but Harry gave him a deadpan look.

"No, it helps people identify me as "that magic man with the cool scar" if I recall Gary calling me for an entire month before he learned my name." Harry grouched, but Delia and Oak were laughing now.

"So these three have definitely come from your world… Right, Harry?" Delia asked as she glanced between Harry and the three strangers.

"Yeah, Delia. I went to school with them and everything." Harry sounded as though he foresaw answering this question a lot in the future.

The professor slowly shook his head, "I'd say this is highly unusual, but in the time I've come through dealing with Harry, I suppose I can't say anything is odd."

"I'm ever so glad that you find this amusing," Harry said dryly with his arms folded across his chest while the professor had the decency to look embarrassed for his comment.

"It's nothing against you, Harry." Professor Oak sniffed, "You just seem to lead a very… impractical life wherever you go. Delia seems to think so as well."

"It doesn't matter," Harry said dismissively, standing from his chair, "This phenomenon has only helped in proving my latest theory correct."

"Perhaps, but we'd need more study and more tests to say so rightfully." Professor Oak countered as Draco grew annoyed. "Do you think anyone else will come looking?"

"It's hard to say." Harry shrugged.

"What in the name of Merlin are you two talking about, Potter?" Draco asked as Harry turned his emerald gaze onto the blond, making Draco freeze as Harry gave him a frosty look.

"I'm talking about my time-space theory, in which I state that our world and this one are brother dimensions or at the very least, parallel universes." Harry said as Hermione gaped at him in shock while Draco and Ron gaped in confusion.

"You've written a scientific theory?" Hermione asked as Harry nodded curtly, sitting back down.

"Yes, and you three coming here has proven it correct." Harry said, then shot a look at Professor Oak. "How else would they have ended up in this world while trying to follow me? She said they used the same method of travel."

"Yes, but outlying variables must have been different for them." Oak countered calmly, "They did not end up where you yourself were found. These factors must be accounted for."

"Perhaps my anchor theory is correct as well?" Harry broached as Oak gave him an unconvinced look.

"I highly doubt that, Harry, but with research one never knows." Professor Oak said before shrugging causally.

"Do you think the recent events with the Pokémon League have any bearing on this?" Harry questioned as Oak grew pensive.

"Perhaps… but it's still much too earlier to tell." Oak said, "We'll need to—"

Oak and the others jumped in their seats as they heard a door bang open and a quick session of footsteps racing into the sitting room. Then, two young men no older than twelve came skidding across the wooden floor as they glared at the other.

"I won!" they yelled at the other before glaring anew, "No, I did!"

The two young boys then descended into name-calling and bickering as Professor rubbed his temples and Harry stood from his chair once again. Walking over to the two boys, Harry raised both of his fists, and dropped them down on both the children's heads as they yelped in pain.

"Ow! Ow, ow, ow!" the shorter of the two yelled as he ran in circles while rubbing his injured head. "Oi, Harry! Why'd you go and do that?"

"Yeah, man! Ouchie! That hurt!" the other boy whined, as Harry glared at the two.

"Stop all that racket, and grow up!" Harry scolded the two as they looked at their shoes instead of him.

"We're sorry…" the two muttered while Hermione, Ron, and Draco watched on.

"That's what you said last time!" Harry bellowed, the two boys flinching back from his volume as even Draco felt sorry for them.

"I tried to warn them, but you know how boys are at their age." a motherly voice came through as a young woman entered the room from where the boys had. "I'm sorry about the boys, grandpa. You know how they are when they get together."

"Not a problem, Daisy." the professor said, "Though I wish Gary would be a little less childish."

Then the taller of the two boys bowed his head even further, "Sorry, Gramps…"

"I'm sorry, too, Professor Oak… Harry…" the shorter boy said as Harry sighed.

"Really, I wish the two of you would see that acting like bratty kids isn't the way to make good first impressions." Harry spoke softly to them now, his tone kind and gentle. He gestured to the three sitting with the professor, "Did you even notice we had guests sitting with us?"

"Oh!" the short boy gasped, looking guilty. He bowed deeply at the waist to the guests. "We're sorry if we ruined some big money deal!"

"It's not a grant hearing," Harry ran his fingers through his hair, "These are my old friends from… out of town…" Hermione noticed how when Harry said this, he made significant eye contact with the young woman Daisy and Miss Delia.

"Oh, excuse us then." the young woman said, moving forward and extending a hand to the nearest of the three, which just so happened to be Hermione. "Please, forgive my little brother and his antics. Hello, I'm Daisy Oak, and this is my brother, Gary Oak. It's very nice to meet you."

Hermione smiled at the young woman as she rested a hand atop the taller boy's head. Hermione shook the hand, greeting the woman, "Hello, my name is Hermione Granger. It's nice to meet you as well."

"I'm Ron Weasley. How's it going?" Ron greeted friendly as he shook the taller boy's hand.

"Draco Malfoy. Apparently here to stay… Charmed, as I'm sure." Draco greeted with the barest inclination of his head to the group.

"I'm Ash Ketchum!" the shorter boy, Ash, greeted them enthusiastically.

"And I'm Gary Oak. Charmed, I'm sure." the taller boy, Gary, greeted in a tone of superiority much like Draco as the blond smirked at the boy in a show of approval.

"So why are you three here, Daisy?" Oak asked as Daisy seemed to just remember why they had come.

"Well, Grandpa, these two knuckleheads have it in their minds that they wanna start Pokémon journeys soon, and I told them they'd have to take it up with Harry." Daisy said with a smile.

"NO!" Harry boomed, looking dramatically stern as his hair lightly overshadowed his face. "A trainer's journey is only to begin when they have proven themselves as component enough to survive the harshness of the region. The two of you can't even survive a night camping in the backyard! Other regions like Kalos and Unova may be lax about the rules, but as long as I am stationed here in Kanto, I AM NOT!"

Hermione and Ron blinked as they found both little boys facing the corner of the room immediately after Harry stopped talking. Draco found it all rather amusing though.

"Umm, the lecture aside, Harry," Delia rose from her chair and made her way over to Harry's side. She lightly laid a hand on his arm, gaining his attention, "I think it would be best if we finally explained where we are to your confused friends."

"Wait, are they from your world?" Daisy gasped aloud as she whirled on the spot to gawk at Harry's three friends. He simply nodded while holding back the urge to sigh.

"I believe I would be best for that." Professor Oak said as he stood before clearing his throat, "Hello there! Welcome to the world of Pokémon! My name is Oak! People call me the Pokémon Professor!"

"Because you are a Pokémon Professor…" Harry grumbled with his arms crossed, but then remained silent as Oak pinned him with a stern look. Hermione, Ron, and Draco seemed captivated by his words.

"This world is inhabited by creatures called Pokémon! For some people, Pokémon are pets. Other use them for fights. As for myself… well, I study Pokémon as a profession. Your very own Pokémon legend is about to unfold! A world of dreams and adventures with Pokémon awaits! Let's go!" the professor pumped a fist into the air, eliciting cheers and whooping from the two children in the corner. Even Ron and Hermione were overtaken by the pep in the older gentleman's voice, clapping lightly as they enjoyed his antics. Draco gave a small smile at the dignified man's little bravado, but then scowled deeply as he reminded himself that he was now trapped in a strange world with creatures called Pokémon.

Professor Oak retook his seat in the comfy armchair while his grandchildren gathered around him. Ash ran up and hugged himself to Delia while the woman smiled down at her son.

"So the difference between our world and this one is that while our world is populated by magic, this one is populated by creatures known as Pokémon…" Hermione muttered, sinking deeper into the seat she shared with Ron.

"So what? Are they like Blast-Ended Skewrts and Hippogriffs? Or are they more like dogs and cats?" Ron asked with a confused look.

"Both and neither, I think." Harry said with a contemplative look overcoming his facial features. "In fact, it'll probably be better if I just showed you an actual Pokémon instead of talking around the subject."

Harry dug into his coat's pocket for a second before taking out a red and white sphere. "This is a Pokeball, a device used to capture Pokémon and keep them with you."

"Harry!" Hermione sounded completely scandalized, "That's totally barbaric!"

"Not in this world, it's not. In fact, the Pokeballs are the best thing about this world because it creates a subspace inside each that caters to the desired environment of the Pokemon based upon their mental and genetic dispositions." Harry said with a shrug, speaking his words as if he had made the same argument and gotten the answer he was now dispensing.

"I'll reserve judgement, then." Hermione's tone said that she would be barely keeping to those words as she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.

The red and white ball in Harry's hand doubled in size at the press of the center white button. It went from the size of a snitch to that of an American baseball in the span of a second. He tossed it gently into the air and temporarily blinded the others in the room as it opened with a flash of bright white light.

Draco opened his eyes after the spots left his vision. When he did open them up, his jaw dropped at the little creature that had suddenly appeared in the room.

"Vee!" cried out an adorable little thing.

The little bundle of cute had brown fur with the tip of its bushy tail and large furry collar being more cream-colored. It had short, slender legs with three small toes and a pink paw pad on each foot. The small creature sat in front of Harry, looking up at the others in the room with brown eyes. Its long pointed ears hung back as it wiggled its small black nose. "Vee! Eevee!"

"… So it's a little poof dog, yeah?" Ron asked as he stared down at the tiny beast.

"No, this particular Pokémon is known as an Eevee. They are divided into their own species. There are currently over seven hundred known species of Pokémon."

"Vee!" the small creature chirped happily, rubbing its face against Harry's pants leg.

"This is a lot to process, Harry…" Hermione gulped down the lump in her throat, "We'll need some time…"

"And you'll have plenty of it." He replied with a nod, kneeling down to pet Eevee atop of head. "But for now, let's try to get through as much of this as possible, please. When I went through this, a lot of stuff started happening as I tried to slowly adapt, and I didn't know even half of what I needed to in order to survive this world until nearly two years had passed. Heck, at one point I even got a hole through my chest because I didn't understand that a battle between two Pokémon is no place for a human at all."

"WHAT?!" Ron and Hermione were on their feet now, eyes bulged wide open as even Draco leaned forward to stare at Harry with slightly unmasked shock and horror.

"Yeah," Harry said, his right hand twitching at his side as he kept it from reaching into his pocket. "So let's just spend the rest of the day walking you through the basics. If anything happens, you'll at least have those to fall back on."

"O-Okay then…" Ron muttered, sharing a look with Hermione while Draco switched his gaze to Professor Oak.

There was certainly more to this new world than met the eye. And even more to this new Harry Potter they had found here. Whatever the case, they were on the right track, and nothing was going to stop them until they made their way home.

Nothing.

A/N: So, what do you all think so far? I know it's been an incredibly long time coming, but at least it shows I haven't given up!

Also let me know your suggestions on Pokémon that would work for each character! I have some Pokémon in mind for the characters, but when writing stories like this, I always enjoy your suggestions and writing them into the story. It helps to keep things especially interesting and shows that this is more than a simple story, it's a lot of fun!

The reason I find myself coming back to this story is because I really like seeing Pokémon interactions with humans and other Pokémon along with their distinctive personalities. Their likes and dislikes are so interesting, and it makes me want to write more and more.

I've researched lots of stories and gotten plenty of advice on how to keep this story going. All the ideas and thoughts buzzing around in my head. This story is gonna be awesome!