I do not own anything even remotely Harry Potter recognizable.
This is a reading the books story with both Next Gen and Marauders Era characters in the present (5th year) Harry Potter Hogwarts. So, be warned of characters that wouldn't interact with each other sitting on the same bench and things like that.
Dolores Umbridge has had enough. It was one thing for the Minister to place her in that dratted school to begin with. It was another to have to put up with Dumbledore as her superior. She had thought she would have lost it if she had to listen to that old man one more day. He was clearly off his rocker, completely mad, and yet people still looked up to him, ignoring the wisdom of their Minister.
But she had been wrong.
The last straw, the very last test of her patience, had been in the form of an attention seeking, no-good, famous boy. That blasted Harry Potter. He thought he could make up lies, outrageous and dangerous lies, to try and usurp the Ministry. On behalf of his precious Headmaster, no doubt. He was nothing more than a pampered brat who thought he could do anything, so long as he got all the attention and credit for it. He thought just because he was famous when he was a baby, he was untouched by law.
Well, she planned to prove him wrong.
It was clear the Quill was not doing its job properly, so she was going to have to resort to drastic measures.
Her thin lips curled up in a sickly sweet smile as she plotted her plan. It was going to be perfect, and Harry Potter was going to be revealed as the attention seeking liar he was.
She just needed help, and the perfect audience.
Umbridge laughed, a deep, horrible cackle, her toad-like face twisted into a cruel look of victory. She had won this time.
..
Harry Potter was one of the last people in the Great Hall. Next to him, walking towards the Gryffindor table, were Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The rest of the D.A. had already arrived and were sitting at their respective tables. They had been in the middle of a meeting when the announcement had played over the school, calling all teachers, students, and staff to the Great Hall immediately. They had to leave in small groups as to not raise suspicion, but it was hard to get everyone down from the Seventh Floor in a believable amount of time.
They had to leave quickly, no questions asked, and now everyone was concerned. Harry could feel the eyes of the D.A. members from every direction, every table, bar Slytherin, pleading for information. He wished he could tell them something, but he was just as clueless as the rest of them. He had no idea why Umbridge would call the whole school down, nor why it could be so important that she called the Minister of Magic to Hogwarts. But there he was, sitting next to the Headmaster's seat in the middle of the long table at the front of the Great Hall. A chair had been pulled up next to the much more ornate seat, and the Minister sat in it with a grumpy expression on his face, angrily aware of this fact. The other teachers looked just as uncomfortable having to share their table with him as he did sitting there.
Harry hadn't the faintest idea what he had done this time around, but he must have done something, because Umbridge was standing behind the Headmaster's podium, the one Dumbledore used for Start-of-Term speeches and any important ones there-after, staring at him with a cold look, as if he was everything wrong in the world. In her eyes, he probably was. And although her head just barely poked out from the top of the stand, the intensity and pure hate in her stare made her seem absolute and giant. Harry wanted to shrink back; he was used to the small glares he'd get from her and a handful of students who believed the Daily Prophet, but this was different. This one was a cruel, victorious smirk, a proud gaze he'd seen in small portions numerous times, but never so out right. It unnerved him.
..
No one had dared say a word from the moment they stepped into the Hall. Everyone knew that whatever they were called here for would be terrible, for it was never anything different when Umbridge was involved. Normally the Slytherins would be smirking where they sat, glaring at everyone, silent laughter in their eyes at the other students discomfort, because if it had anything to do with making the school life miserable for others, they would have been told. This time, they were in the dark as well, as clueless as a common Hufflepuff.
Umbridge interrupted the silence with a shrill, "Hem hem."
No one moved, everyone had already been looking at her, dreading whatever was about to come out of her mouth.
"It has come to my attention that a certain Harry Potter is still spreading about lies, and that fact alone must be dealt with."
Before she could even finish her sentence, the Hall erupted in chaos. Half screaming at her for calling Harry a liar, the other half yelling at Harry for all the lies he's spread in this year alone.
She smiled at the hate the boy was getting, relishing in the half that was finally realizing the boy's lies. She didn't even wait until it was quiet once again before she continued.
"This time, we will hear it all. I have uncovered a way to find out the real truth, the truth Mr Potter seems so intent on hiding."
Harry paled. It wasn't like he was hiding anything, but if she was so intent on getting what she thought was the truth, Harry shivered, there was no telling what it was she was planning on doing. Harry clenched his left hand by his side. She's already used the Blood Quill; she's not against anything illegal.
But she wasn't nearly done yet.
"I have gathered books, describing Mr Potter's life from the time he started Hogwarts to now, which will unveil his every misstep, his every mistake and his every lie. And we will read them, for however long it takes, to expose all his lies and deceits."
No one spoke, too shocked or outraged or disgusted about this revelation to make any sort of response. Silence was obviously not the reaction Umbridge had been expecting, been hoping for, but she didn't let it faze her as she waved her stubby wand around the room quickly, muttering a few incoherent spells as she did.
"With a little bit of help, I have set up spells around this room. For as long as it takes to reveal his lies, the outside world will not feel a second. No time will pass outside this room and no one will be able to enter or exit those doors."
But, of course, that's when the doors to the Hall burst open and four figures ran in, slamming the doors behind them.
..
James Potter was in trouble this time. He knew he shouldn't have ticked off Filch that far, but Sirius had thought it would be funny and, well, James couldn't say he wasn't right about that. Just don't ask Remus about it, he'll start talking about how the joke went too far, but honestly, he was being a killjoy. They wouldn't even have gotten caught if it wasn't for Remus being the no-fun respectable one. But now they have been caught, and the only nights they don't already have detention are Quidditch nights. Neither Sirius nor James would risk losing that and Remus didn't want to be the one responsible for them missing a match. Peter had extra work to do so he was up in the Common Room, but the trio were wishing he were here right now, they needed someone to take the blame. They didn't like thinking that, he was their friend after all, but they also knew the teachers would take pity on Peter and no punishment would fall on him.
Now James ran up the hall on the sixth floor, Sirius and Remus behind him. No one usually came up this high in the castle this late at night, so they were all surprised when James ran into someone at the end of the hall. The other figure fell down to the ground as Sirius and Remus caught up to James, staring down at the red-head on the ground.
"Lily!" James smiled. Sirius and Remus laughed quietly behind him. Lily did not find the moment so amusing.
"Watch it, Potter."
"What are you doing all the way up here?" James asked her, the smile still on his face.
"Answer that later." Sirius cut in. "Run!"
..
Lily Evans didn't know what was happening, but suddenly she was being pulled along various hallways and up a flight of stairs to the Seventh Floor. Their route seemed random, but the three boys ran fast and with a purpose like they knew where they were going. Then without warning, the boys snapped around and ran down the hall in the direction they just came from. They almost made it back to the end before they turned once more and ran towards the middle of the same hallway.
Where there had been smooth wall moments ago, now stood a great pair of doors. Lily had just enough time to think that the doors looked slightly familiar before James took a hold of her arm and ran towards them. The four students ran inside and pushed the doors closed once again.
..
Umbridge wasn't just shocked, she was furious. She had just told everyone the biggest news of the year: that she could, and will, expose all of that Potter boy's lies, and made it very clear no one would be coming in or out of those doors, only for them to go and burst open. Four students, four extra students mind you, went ahead and broke her spell, a spell she was promised would work, that lying rat. And the students weren't even attempting to break it; they weren't gloating about it or cheering about it at all. They didn't even have their wands out! She would not stand for this.
The three Marauders and the person they kidnapped were leaning against the door, their breathing laboured. Sirius Black fought the urge to laugh at his friends; Remus Lupin fought the urge to call out 'I told you so'.
James still held on to Lily's wrist and he was well aware of this fact. He took it as personal pride that she hadn't pulled her wrist out of his grip yet. It had to mean she was not as repulsed by him as she liked to portray.
Lily, in actuality, was too distracted by their new scenery to pay much attention to the idiot next to her.
Umbridge cleared her throat, partly to get the attention of the four new brats, partly to get the attention of the room full of familiar brats. She had the proof she needed to expose Potter, she would be damned if she let four kids upstart her by merely walking into the room.
Everyone's head snapped around and they straightened up, as if afraid to be caught looking anywhere other than her. Lily faced her as well, though she looked confused rather than nervous.
The three Marauders turned to her, horrible excuses ready to roll off their tongues. Words were out of their mouths before they had even looked at her, vague and inexact sentences mixed in the air before falling flat at the unfamiliar face.
"Who are you?" Lily asked Umbridge bluntly. James looked at her, a large grin taking over his face.
"Evans!" He called out, laughing. "That was almost mean! I knew we were getting to you."
She just scowled at him, displeased at his enjoyment.
Umbridge, with an equally displeased scowl, answered with a biting tone, "I'd watch it if I were you, you are talking to the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, Dolores Jane Umbridge."
Lily did not understand what that title entailed, but the woman, Dolores Umbridge, had said it with pride in her voice and her head held up high, so it had to have been important. She nodded as if she understood and looked around the room. She now recognised it as the Great Hall but it seemed off somehow, different from when she saw it the previous morning. The castle walls seemed light and the Enchanted Ceiling was clear and bright, but the room itself seemed dark and weighted, and Lily felt angry. The shock was wearing off, everything was catching up to her, and she felt angry.
She curled her fists and ripped her wrist out of the grip of the one to blame. She turned on him.
"This is your fault, Potter."
"A lot of things are, Evans, and I take credit for a lot of them. But this," he gestured to his surroundings with a shrug, "this one isn't mine."
She glared, accusing him of something. "Potter." She warned. He grinned lazily back at her.
"You know me, Lils; I'm not smart enough for something like this. But you are. Maybe this was all your doing. To get us alone." It didn't make any sense, even to him, but it would get a reaction out of her and that was all he lived for. "After all, students don't usually hang around the sixth floor at night for fun. What were you doing up there all by yourself?"
"Sev." Was her reply and it wasn't the answer James was looking for. He looked at her confused, his cocky attitude dropping.
"I was meeting Severus. I'll have missed it now."
James rolled his eyes, his attitude back. Of course it was, it was always Sev. He was the thing in between James finally getting Lily. Dozens of biting remarks made their way to his mouth and he rolled them around with his tongue before choosing the perfect insult.
But Lily wasn't finished.
"How am I going to explain to Severus that I missed our meeting because I became an unwilling accomplice with three/fourths of his bullies, running to a random room on the Seventh Floor and ended up in the Great Hall the next day?" Lily demanded, not bothering to lower her voice as she knew the whole school was used to her outbursts at James Potter and his gang.
James was surprised to see that the Enchanted Ceiling did, in fact, show a bright blue daytime sky, but would never let that show on his face. He loved his Lily-flower, but she could be a nightmare when she found out she knew something he didn't.
"Tell him you didn't want to meet up with him, so you skipped it. That's what anyone else would tell that greasy-hair git." He told her easily.
..
If Severus Snape had been paying attention to James, he would have replied in a way that would have gotten him expelled when he was at school. But since she stepped through the door, Snape had not taken his eyes off of Lily Evans. It couldn't actually be her, he knew. Someone was bound to be pulling a prank on him, and he would punish them later for it, absolutely. But for now, he would enjoy seeing his Lily once more, when she didn't hate him.
Professor Minerva McGonagall, on the other hand, wasn't going to let the comment slide, even if it was meant for twenty-five years prior and the commenter was, in fact, dead.
"James Potter, you do not talk about your fellow students that way!" She yelled at him, paying no mind to the confusion that surrounded his name. She could almost remember back when James and Lily were at Hogwarts. She could almost pretend like they were really back, arguing like they did in school. Though she knew it was too good to be anywhere close to the truth, she would enjoy pretending for now.
"What have I done now?" Another voice spoke up. It was another boy, and if it weren't for the lack of glasses and slight red tint in his hair, he could have been a clone of the boy at the doors to the Great Hall. "Come on McGonagall, term just started I couldn't have possibly done anything yet."
While people were startled by the new voice, they were even more surprised to find the owner was currently sat at the Gryffindor table.
A redheaded girl sitting a few seats down from him seemed to find the comment funny. She snorted a laugh before she spoke.
"That is a blatant lie James, and you know it. You got yourself a detention before the Sorting was over last term."
"Not fair Lily, Al made me do it and you know it." He replied, seemingly ignoring the startled looks sent his way.
There was a groan from the Slytherin table and heads whipped around to find a black-haired boy looking remarkably like the Boy-Who-Lived shaking his head.
"I was across the bloody hall, don't you dare blame your mistake on me."
..
James Sirius Potter was kind of freaking out. He was seventeen, which means that this year would be the start of his seventh year- his very last year- at Hogwarts. He wasn't sure he was ready to leave yet. When his father told him that Hogwarts felt like home, James had laughed- it was school, how could anyone, besides his Aunt Hermione, enjoy school? But he understood now. Hogwarts has become his home away from home, a place where he could make a name for himself beyond his last name, and yet feel close to his family and everything they've done.
But now his time was running out.
Not only was he going to lose one of the best places in his life, he had yet to leave his mark (although if you ask Headmistress McGonagall, she'd tell you he'd left a few too many marks).
But he needed to do something big, like his Uncle George told him he did with Fred. And it would have been. He had planned out all the steps, all the little pranks and schemes that would lead up to the big finale at the end of the year.
What he hadn't planned on, was Lily.
He loved his little sister, but she could be bloody little menace. She had found his stash of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products and set off a third of them on the train ride to Hogwarts. James was careful about having them and knew that the commotion couldn't be traced back to him or Lily (the products were too popular nowadays, as common in school trunks as ink and parchment), but the loss set his plans back nearly two months.
He knew he had to do something to make up for his set-back and he had to do it fast. He had to make sure Lily helped him, too. She was the reason his plans were ruined after all. Maybe he'd rope Al into helping him as well. The kid just had to help his big brother, right?
As James sat picking at his dinner, he heard something he was rather quite familiar with: Headmistress McGonagall yelling his name.
"James Potter, you do not talk about your fellow students that way!" She exclaimed.
James was so startled by the unexpected outburst he didn't seem to remember that he hadn't spoken out-loud all dinner, nor did he notice she wasn't actually looking at him. The excuse slipped out of his mouth naturally.
"What have I done now? Come on McGonagall, term just started I couldn't have possibly done anything yet."
Lily apparently thought this was funny as she laughed at him from her seat across from him.
"That is a blatant lie James, and you know it. You got yourself a detention before the Sorting was over last term."
Well what did she know? She was only 13 after all.
"Not fair Lily, Al made me do it and you know it." He replied.
Over at the Slytherin table Al groaned. James grinned; he loved getting a rise out of his younger brother.
"I was across the bloody Hall; don't you dare blame your mistake on me."
Well what did he know? He was only a Slytherin after all.
..
James Sirius stood up and was turning to face Al when something at the Head Table caught his eye. He paused and looked closer. No, it couldn't be.
"Is that-" he paused not wanting to sound entirely loopy but sure what his eyes were showing him couldn't possibly be true. "Is that Dumbledore?"
He turned to Lily Luna with confusion in his eyes. "Lily, does that look like Dumbledore to you?"
"Don't be daft James, you know it can't be." She replied. Never the less she did raise out of her seat and turn to look at the Head Table to see what James meant. Her eyes widened. Facial hair was a popular statement among older wizards, but no one else and anything close to that long silver beard.
"Holy-" she breathed. "James, that's Dumbledore! But that's not possible! James! Dumbledore!"
The man in question too rose from his chair and addressed the two siblings standing in awe at the Gryffindor table. "I assure you miss, I am in fact Albus Dumbledore. But I must admit, I don't know who either of you may be."
James Sirius stuttered out an answer, the first time he was truly nervous around a professor. "My-I-er-I'm James Potter, sir. I-I can't believe that you-how are you even-I-I don't understand."
Dumbledore looked towards his colleagues, mirroring the looks of confusion spreading around the Hall.
"I'm afraid I'm not sure I do either." He shoots a look towards Lily Luna. "And you might be?"
"Lily." She replied, voice shaking a bit. "Lily Potter."
"I see."
Muttering broke out among the students in the Hall and Lily Luna took a nervous glance around. She calmed only slightly when she saw few familiar faces: Rose Weasley a few seats down at the Gryffindor table, Hugo Weasley at Ravenclaw, Scorpius Malfoy at Hufflepuff, and her brother Albus across the Hall at Slytherin. But her breathing quickened as she realised she didn't recognise anyone else.
"Silence!"
Noise throughout the Great Hall ceased. People looked away from the newly proclaimed Potters and towards the pink menace still standing in front of the Head Table. Umbridge took a deep breath and put on a false smile.
"Now I have had just about enough of these disruptions. The two of you will stop this foolish game you are playing and sit back down or you both will be severely punished."
"Oh, believe me, I wish this was a game. It'd be a lot less terrifying than whatever the hell is actually going on." James Sirius chuckled nervously.
"I said enough-" Umbridge's rage was cut off by a figure standing up from across the Hall.
"I hate to back James up, but I'm afraid he is telling the truth this time. If I were you, I'd cherish it, it's likely the first time he's ever been so honest with a professor." The figure ran his fingers through his hair and looked up. Gasps ran around the room as the familiar face of Harry Potter gazed around from the Slytherin table.
Harry himself stood from his spot and stared at the other boy. Heads moved from one end of the Hall to the other, startled by how similar the faces were. Looking the same age, the only differences between the two was a lack of scar and glasses on one of the boys. That and the fact one of them stood proudly in Slytherin robes while the other wore Gryffindor.
The Slytherin boy broke the staring match by looking around the Hall. "My name is Al Potter."
The silence stretched on as no one knew what to do or say regarding these new revelations. James Sirius seemed to find something however.
"Hey Al, do you think it would be better or worse if you told them your full name?" Lily Luna reached across the table to smack the back of his head, but the damage was already done.
"What-" Harry stuttered. "What exactly is your full name?"
Al seemed hesitant and glanced around at all the students looking at him expectantly. His eye caught blond hair over at the Hufflepuff table and his best friend Scorpius gave him a little smile, a sign of encouragement. Al sighed.
"Albus. My full name is Albus," he paused, contemplating actually saying it. "Severus Potter." Guess he was.
Expressions quickly turned surprised and horrified. Al snorted.
"Yeah, I know. I've been mad at Dad for it as long as I can remember. How he managed to get Mum to agree to it, I'll never know."
Once again, no one seemed to know what to do.
Ron and Hermione were among the most confused and stared at Harry as if he'd have an answer. Al looks too much like Harry for the name 'Potter' to be any sort of coincidence so Harry had to be the Dad Al referred to. Somehow. Harry, like the rest of the Hall continued to watch Al, taking in how much they looked alike and trying to figure out how any of what's going on makes any sort of sense. Snape for his part, contained his shock rather well and instead merely narrowed his eyes, watching to see if someone was playing a prank on the Hall. A rather elaborate prank at that, for Snape had not forgotten the woman who looked so much like his Lily who barged in with others not too long ago. The four of them had remained silent at the doors this whole time.
"Rose Weasley!"
People were startled out of their stupor by a girl rising from her seat near Lily Luna. She played with the end of her Gryffindor tie as people turned their attention on her.
"That's me, hello." She waved and bit her lip. Al shot her a grateful look and she nodded at him. Rose wasn't the biggest fan of attention but it beats people staring at her cousin like a freak.
The other Weasley children looked at each other, silently trying to decide which of them would end up being her parent.
A young boy rose from the Ravenclaw table so suddenly, the kids sitting near him jumped and scooted away from him.
"I'm Hugo." He said. Almost as an afterthought he added, "Weasley. Rose's brother."
Whoever the father was, the Weasley's decided, Hermione was almost definitely the mother.
"I think that makes it your turn Scorp." Al called out. An answering groan could be heard from the Hufflepuffs. Several of the students sitting next to the groaning boy recoiled when they saw his face.
"Thanks Al." He sighed, running his hand down his face before standing up. The shocked silence was back as students looked from the Hufflepuff boy to the Slytherin with the same face. This Hufflepuff looked just like Draco Malfoy. He sighed and nodded as though confirming the questions running through people's heads.
"My name's Scorpius. Scorpius Malfoy." It was said so similarly to the way Draco introduced himself to Harry all those years ago, and yet it held none of the same arrogance, the ingrained superiority, Draco's had. It was simply a fact. His first name came first because that was what mattered; who he was, not who his father was.
Scorpius saw many glances down at his chest where his yellow Hufflepuff tie was on display. He glared. "Say something about Hufflepuff. I dare you."
No one took him up on his dare.
"Wait a moment!" Sirius called from where he stood at the doors of the Hall. "Are we just going to ignore the Potter who just said his middle name was Severus?" He laughed a little confused laugh. "As in Severus Snape?"
Neither James nor Remus made any movement while Lily smacked him lightly. She was confused as well, however. Why would James, or any relatives of his for that matter for Lily knew he would most likely instil a hatred for the man in any of his kids, willingly name their child after Severus?
"My father seems to have a rather unpopular opinion of Snape." Al shrugged. "Something changed Dad's mind about him. He's never quite told me what that was though."
Although Al's response provided next to no answers, Sirius seemed to move past it.
"And the four of you," Dumbledore addressed, "just who might you be?"
They turned and looked at each other. It was Lily that spoke up.
"Professor? You know us. What is going on?"
"I am afraid the people you appear to be simply cannot be here, so I'm going to need you to tell us who you really are."
"Dumbledore? It's Lily Evans. You know me. And there's no way you've possibly forgotten who they are." She nodded back towards Sirius, James, and Remus.
"Ah, yes, Lily… Evans." Dumbledore paused before her last name. "How could I ever forget?" He fixed his gaze on the three boys. "And I suppose that make you…"
"James Potter." James confirmed glancing over at James Sirius, the boy who also called himself 'James Potter'. "This is Remus Lupin and Sirius Black." He gestured to each respectively.
There was sudden noise at Sirius' name, louder than just whispers but not quite loud enough to make out any specific words. Dumbledore silenced the Hall once again.
"Miss Evans if you could, can you please inform me of the year." The pause on her name was less noticeable this time but still very much present.
"Professor, are you feeling well?"
"Humour me." When she still seemed hesitant he added, "Please."
"1975." Her statement turned into a question when muttering broke out immediately.
Dumbledore looked thoughtful if a bit wary.
"But-" Hugo faltered at the sudden attention his outburst brought. "But that was nearly fifty years ago." He gulped as the stares intensified. "Forty-six if you want to be technical, but nevertheless…"
He could see James Sirius trying to count the years himself but Hugo was too busy trying to understand just what was happening here to find it amusing.
"Is that so, Mr… Weasley was it?" Hugo nodded slowly. "And could you please tell me the year as well?"
"I'm sure we both know we'll have very different answers to that question."
Glances were thrown around the room. James Sirius and Lily Luna shared looks with each other and the other members of their family. Harry turned back to glace at Ron and Hermione and the three of them glanced towards the doors at the people who were supposedly Harry's parents. Friends shared worried looks with each other and Professors stared at Dumbledore, having an idea of where this was going and fearing they were right.
"Then you know how important it is that I know."
"2021."
"As I suspected." Dumbledore sounded much too sure of himself for someone who was just as confused as everyone else a few minutes. He faced the group at the doors again so they knew they were also being referred to. "I'm afraid I must inform you, the year you are currently in is 1996." Slow nods around the room confirmed Dumbledore's date.
The Potter kids looked at each other. Al appeared to be thinking.
"'96? That would make it Dad's what? Fifth year? Sixth?"
It took a beat before Harry realised Al, and most of the Hall, was waiting for him to answer.
"Fifth." He managed. It's weird to think of himself as a parent while he was still a teenager, much less when he had his actual kids standing in front of him asking him a question.
Lily and the three Marauders jumped away from the doors to the Great Hall. It became apparent why when one of the doors began to open. It opened slowly and a conversation could be heard from behind it. A man became visible pushing the door open and, try as they might, no one closest to the door could make out anything else beyond. Just vague, blurry shapes and a very bright light.
"I'll be back soon, I promise. I love you." The man yelled back into where he came. A female voice replied in kind and he closed the door. Though his face was still unknown, there was only one person who kept their hair a vibrant turquoise.
"Teddy!" The man in question jumped and spun around, his hair going stark white from the surprise. His hand when to his chest to even out his breathing as colour trickled back into his hair. "Quick, Teddy, what year is it?" Al asked him.
"What? 2021, but-" He glanced back at the doors he just came from. "I just left Victoire's, how am I at Hogwarts?"
He looked around, eyes finding the Al look-alike at the Gryffindor table, the Scorpius look-alike at Slytherin, and the very much alive Albus Dumbledore. "What's going on?"
"We aren't quite sure of that either, Ted." James Sirius told him. He then spoke to the rest of the Hall. "This is Teddy, by the way. Teddy Lupin." At Teddy's bewildered look he shrugged unapologetically. "If we had to go through awkward introductions then so do you. You do not get a free pass just because you were late."
"Lupin?" Teddy turned to the sandy haired kid who spoke. He had scars across his face and he fiddled with the sleeve of his sweater. He looked vaguely familiar to Teddy, though he could not place where he might have met the boy. "Your last name is Lupin?"
"Yeah." Teddy replied, confused. "Why?"
But Remus seemed to be too deep in thought to respond. Remus wasn't stupid, he knew what that implied, that Teddy was related to him in some way but he never imagined ever getting married let alone having kids. With his condition, he'd never allow the possibility.
"Enough!" Umbridge had finally snapped. Her chest heaved as she breathed deeply. "Now I don't know what game you're trying to play here-"
"We're telling the truth-"
"Silence!" Lily Luna looked pained but did quiet down. "As I said, I don't know what game you think you're playing at but I will not tolerate it. Now, you will all sit down this instant."
The people who had stood up at one of the house tables sat down quickly, Hermione pulling Harry down when he didn't sit straight away. The five at the doors lingered, however. They didn't know where to sit, as it was made very clear this was not their time, so there weren't any friends they could take comfort in. "I said sit!"
Teddy looks between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables before heading towards the yellow table. He quickly made his way towards Scorpius and sat down in the spot left open by frighten students who moved away when they saw Scorpius' face. The young Malfoy was surprised to see Teddy next to him, but did take comfort in the familiar face, if only slightly. The four left at the door slowly made their way to the end of the Gryffindor table and sat down. Umbridge took a deep breath.
"Now," she started her voice dangerously even, "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted." She picked up a book form where is was resting in front of her seat at the table. It was relatively thin and hardcover. Its spine was red but the rest of the cover was purple. Umbridge gripped the book as if it was a lifeline, her knuckles turning white.
"This is the first book in a series that will tell us about Mr Potter's years at Hogwarts. We will read from the beginning and discover the truth about his life and all the lies he has told. We will not stop until we have read them all and know the truth. Soon you will all know exactly what Mr Potter has been trying to make you believe, and what is truly the case."
It wasn't an uproar, but people started talking again. Most people, while still clear they didn't quite believe Voldemort was back, couldn't believe that Harry constantly lied about many things.
Harry was surprised by the number of people defending him. Looking around, he noticed most of them were members of the D.A. but there were others he wasn't familiar with. He saw the people from the future looked confused and were arguing in defense of Harry. Of course, if they were from the future, they would be aware of Voldemort's return, they would have lived through it. Or hopefully only have heard of it if he had been defeated by the time they were born. Harry figured they would have had to have been born after a defeat of Voldemort. There was no way Harry would have brought kids into a world where he was still out there, especially with Harry having a target on his back.
But Umbridge and Fudge were aware of the kids being from the future, and as such they would surely know about things even the Ministry doesn't, or refuses, to know. Then again, it seemed they dismissed the kids as liars long ago. The Ministry wouldn't trust them anymore than they do Harry.
"I want no more words!" But it wasn't Umbridge who yelled this time. Heads turned to find Cornelius Fudge standing from his guest chair. Students blinked, having forgotten the Minister was here. "Now, I have full faith in Dolores and if she says these books will provide the truth then they will provide the truth. We will be reading these books, and no one will say anything further on the matter. Is that clear?"
Mute nods were received and Fudge looked towards his Undersecretary. She shot him a smile and continued. "I will now begin to read the truth about Mr Potter."
She began to open the book and everyone, students and professors alike, could apparently imagine what listening to Umbridge speak for hours would sound like. Dumbledore cut in before she could get a word out.
"How about, we let someone else read the book?" At Umbridge's affronted look, he thought of a reason that could convince a man who thought he was plotting against him.
The Headmaster turned to the Minister.
"Cornelius, we are complying with the Ministry's rather unethical wish to read these books. The least you can do is have a relatively third party read them."
Cornelius and Dolores shared a look before the Minister sighed and nodded. Umbridge looked pained but did as her Minister said. With pursed lips, she thrusted the book at McGonagall. McGonagall took the book and held it in her hands as if she really didn't want to have this happen. But even still, she opened the book up and found the first page.
The Hall was deadly silent allowing McGonagall's voice to carry easily as she spoke.
'Chapter One: The Boy Who Lived.'
As this does contain time travel and thus multiple characters with the same name, from this point on, the James and Lily from 1975 (they are in their fifth year by the way, before Snape and Lily had their falling out) will be known simply as James or Lily, but the James and Lily from 2021 (that makes Al 15) will be referred to as James Sirius and Lily Luna. It might get confusing at times and I apologise in advance for that but it's what I have to do to make this work. Sorry.
Also, this will have inconsistent updates, but I promise I will update.
Also also, Scorpius is a Hufflepuff here. Fight me, okay? I started this before the Cursed Child put him in Slytherin and it is a personal headcanon of mine that Scorpius Malfoy is a Hufflepuff cause that's awesome. But don't worry, his being a Hufflepuff will have approximately zero effect on the way this story plays out except maybe a few shrewd comments made by some of the meaner students.
Also also also, as I basically refuse to acknowledge the Cursed Child as canon, I am taking liberty with how the Next Gen looks and acts.