James rolled over in bed. He knew it was still night outside because Remus or Camren or Sirius wasn't trying to wake him up because they had lessons or were going to Hogmeads.
James ran his hand through his hair and grazed something on his forehead; it was deep, rough and sort of reminded him of a scar but he didn't have a scar there.
James's eyes shot open; the room he was in definitely wasn't his room or the dorm at Hogwarts, it was small and smelt of dirty clothes. The moonlight was shining through the window and James could make out an empty owls cage in the corner of the room, a desk next to the bed with half finished homework and there were loads of posters and banners all over the wall.
He jumped out of bed and clambered about in the dark for his glasses. He found them; they were round and really quite old but he could still see out of them. He stumbled to find the light switch, nearly falling over something on the way; James hit the light and he saw that the thing he had almost fallen over was a pile of disguarded books.
As James had guessed, the room was very untidy and he was even more relieved to see a Hogwarts trunk sitting at the end of the bed, he decided to rummage in there later to see whose body he had stolen. James looked around for a mirror but the person whose body he was in didn't seem to like their reflection, but he soon found one stuck on the inside door.
James still looked pretty much like himself; messy black hair that stuck out everywhere wildly, he was still skinny and about the same height as he normally was but then he met his own eye-line. He gasped, his eyes were vivid green. He knew those eyes. They were Evans's eyes but how on earth had he ended up with Evans's eyes?
James ran his hand through his hair again and his fingers ran over that scar again, sweeping back his fringe he examined it further; it was in the shape of a lightning bolt and even though it looked quite old it was still a scab. James found it very odd.
He turned back to the small room but before he could even walk to the trunk something bumped into the closed window and something from another room roared. James yelled at the two sounds, the roaring sounded like a mix between an angry Slughorn and the giant squid.
"SHUT UP BOY!" the voice shouted.
James backed away from the door as if afraid that it might explode if the voice shouted again. The thing that had bumped into the window gave a hoot; James went over, opened the window but not one but three owls flew in.
The first was a tiny owl no bigger than a Snitch and it was very excitable, James took the letter it was holding and sat down to read it; maybe this would help him find out who he was now.
It was only a short letter, like Peter would write but it wasn't his handwriting;
Dear Harry,
Happy birthday. I'll give you your present when I see you next, its too big for Pig. Hermione and me are at the Order and we think someone might be coming to get you soon.
See you soon mate. Hope the Muggle's are treating you good. Ginny says hi.
From Ron.
James read the letter a couple of times; what the hell was the Order? Who was Hermione and Ginny? James cast his eyes over the handmade calendar by the bed; it was the 31st of July, he wondered how old the person was?
His heart hit the floor; he was living with Muggles, that's just perfect.
The second owl was a snowy female, with large amber eyes, she looked very proud of herself as he took the letter. This letter was just as short but in much neater handwriting;
Dear Harry,
I know Ron has written to you but I felt like I should say it too, happy birthday. Can't believe you're sixteen, seems like yesterday we met.
We're not sure whose coming to get you but I'm sure there will be lots of them. Did you read the Prophet? Can't believe what they said about Padfoot. That was just wrong.
See you real soon.
Love Hermione.
James gave a sigh of relief to read Padfoot's name but was confused what the Daily Prophet could possible write about Sirius?
He looked around for a recent Prophet but only found as shredded one all over the floor. The third owl ruffled it feathers; it was a sleek black owl with dark eyes, again it was a short letter but it was in handwriting James recognised, Sirius's;
Dear Harry,
I'm sorry I haven't written but it's been mad over here and I had to keep Remus company during the full moon, just like the old days.
I promise I'll come and get you personally, not matter what anyone says. I couldn't buy you a birthday present but I found some old pictures of your mother and father. I thought you might like them.
The Order is going really well and we have a few more people on board but if Snape says one more bad thing about me or you or Lily or James I'm going to belt him one.
I'll come and get you as soon as possible but until then be good, don't get into fights with anyone and don't go looking for trouble, even though it usually finds you anyway.
From Sirius.
James smiled at the letter; it was nice to see friendly handwriting. He quickly grabbed some paper and ink and quill and wrote;
Dear Padfoot,
Something really weird has happened. I have green eyes! I have a lightning bolt scar! I'm in a strange house with something that sounds like an angry giant! I'm really confused and all I can gather from these letters you have sent is that it's 'Harry's' birthday, there's something called 'the Order', you and Moony are still around and that you're talking to Snivellus for some reason.
Please Paddy you have to help me, I'm so confused! I don't know how I got here, I just woke up like this and I don't understand.
You have to come rescue me ASAP because I'm starting to get really scared. If you need proof who I am than here it is; my middle name is Elliot, in fourth year I tried to give myself a tattoo of the Marauders Map, I enchanted my glasses so they change colour with my mood and I am missing my back molar from when I fell out a tree at aged nine.
And if that isn't enough proof then come rescue me and we can talk.
HELP!
James (Prongs)
James gave the letter to the blackowl, "take this to Sirius." he told it and it flew off into the night.
James picked up the tiny owl and stroked it gently, before long he had fallen asleep again, forgetting about rummaging.
Someone bashing on his door woke James, "Boy!" they shouted and James fell off the chair.
"Boy! Get out here!" they barked.
James quickly put some clothes on before slowly going to the door, whoever had been on the other side of the door, had back downstairs. It was still dark outside; James must have slept all day. He slowly went down the stairs and heard chaos going on in one of the rooms, "go back from where you came from!" the man bellowed.
"Careful Vernon." A woman warned.
James came to the door leading into a very clean living room; there was a bony faced woman with blonde hair, she looked like Evans's ugly sister. The second was a very beefy man who was purple faced from shouting. The pair seemed to be shouting at the fireplace and suddenly a pair of voices came out of there, "Ow, don't do that." Hissed a gruff voice.
"Well you should have asked Arthur about the fireplace before going by Floo." Hissed another male.
"You're the smart one, why didn't you think of this?" the first one asked loudly.
"You didn't give me time!"
"Go away!" Vernon shouted brandishing a lamp like a sword.
"Oh, shut up Dursley and stand back!" shouted the first man.
They back away, the woman noticed James standing at the door and she pulled him in, placing him in the space between them and the fireplace, "okay, one … two … THREE!" the second man shouted and there was a sudden explosion of brick, dust and two men fell onto the clean carpet.
James shielded his eyes from the dust but he could just see the two men getting to their feet, "nice one Remus." The first man coughed.
"Oh, shut up Snuffles." Snapped Remus.
"Moony?" James said as the dust cleared to revel a shabby looking man with light brown hair flaked with grey and tired eyes and a tall black haired man with brown eyes and a gaunt young face.
"Harry." Remus breathed and pulled out James's letter, "what is the meaning of this? We were going to come get you, you didn't have to do all this."
"No, Moony you don't understand." James said hastily, "I'm not this Harry. I'm James."
They looked at him in disbelief, finally Remus spoke, "Harry, you can't be him. Its impossible." He stammered.
"Than how do I know all that stuff about me then? Only the Marauders know that information." James told them.
The blackhaired man stepped forwards and placed his hand on James's shoulder, "Harry, I don't know how you managed to find out all this stuff but you're not James. Molly has only just convinced me that so don't you start." He pleaded.
"For the last time; I'm not Harry, I'm James. Son of Katherine and Ian Potter, known as the pride of the Marauders, aka Prongs, I do have a tattoo on my arse of a stag, my middle name came from my ancestor Elliot Potter who I look amazingly alike except the eyes, his were blue, if I swallow the Black Lake water I become a mermaid as we all do and Regulus Black is one of us." James said all in one breath and found himself light-headed afterwards.
They all stared at him, "but how?" the black haired man whispered.
"I don't know. I just woke up like this." James explained simply.
"I don't think he's messing Remus." He said.
"Me neither Sirius. Lets take him back to the Order and we can find out how to change him back." Remus said turning back to the destroyed fireplace.
James scowled at Sirius, "your Padfoot?" he said and Sirius nodded, "Jesus mate, you look awful."
Sirius barked a laugh, "he's defiantly our James!" he exclaimed.
Sirius clapped James on the back and led him to the fireplace, then James remembered, "what about all of Harry's stuff?" he asked.
"Oh, right." Remus said and pulled out his wand; the two Muggles gasped at the sight of it, "Accio Harry's things." The trunk, cage now containing the snowy and tiny owl and a very shiny broomstick.
Sirius pulled out some Floo powder from his pocket, "the House of Black." He said as he dropped it.
Seconds later they were standing in the fireplace of a very dirty and dingy kitchen, James brushed the soot off his shoulders as he looked around, "so this is why you never invited me over." He joked.
Sirius laughed again, he slapped James on the back sending him to the floor, "sorry mate. Are you okay?" Sirius asked bending over James.
"Oh, yeah Paddy. I'm fine." James croaked getting up.
There were three cold meals on the table with a note, "here is your dinner, I hope to see Harry in the morning. P.S. beware Molly's upset about Sirius going." Remus read.
Sirius simply shrugged and took a chunk out the chicken on one of the plates. James fell into one of the chairs but didn't eat, he let the owls out just as the door burst open; a dumpy, red-haired woman stood in the doorway with a furious expression.
"What the hell were you thinking?" she shrieked.
James accidentally fell out of the chair from shock; he lay on his back feeling quite unhappy about all his shocks, "you know." He mumbled, "I think I've got more bruises than during a full moon."
Remus laughed and helped him back up, "this is no laughing matter Lupin." The woman snapped, "what if You – Know – Who had been watching the networks?"
"But he wasn't and besides …" Sirius said coolly, " … we had to rescue James."
James waved at the woman but she didn't smile, she turned on Sirius, "we are not having this discussions again Sirius. He is not James, he is not your best friend …" she started but James cut across her.
"Actually, I am James and I am his best friend." He said.
She fell silent, she made her way round the table and stood over him; then she opened her arms to hug him but James leapt out of the way and hid behind Sirius and Remus, "she's mental." James commented to Sirius.
"Harry dear, what's wrong? Did the Muggles do something to you?" the woman asked in a worried tone.
"I'm not Harry!" James shouted, "I'm James Potter!"
There were more footsteps and more people entered; "Harry!" they all shouted.
"No! Not Harry! James!" James quickly corrected them.
A red-haired boy laughed lightly, "funny mate." He stopped laughing when he didn't see James smile.
James sighed and stood on the table, "okay listen everyone!" he shouted, "my name isn't Harry! I have no idea who he is! I don't know what this scar means! It would be really nice if someone told me why I have Evans's eyes! And why I was in a house with Muggles!"
They all gawped at him, "so if you're not Harry, then who are you?" asked a bushy haired girl.
"My name is James Potter, last thing I remember was drinking a very large amount of Fire Whiskey and passing out so whoever Harry is will have a mega headache when they wake up." James told them calming himself down.
Nobody said anything, "look, can we start simple?" James asked, "Who is Harry?"
"Prongs." Sirius said softly, "You'd better sit down."
James took a seat, as did everyone else; Remus and Sirius took either side of James, "Harry is your son." Sirius said.
"My son?" James repeated, "who with?"
"Lily Evans." Remus told him.
James gave a short laugh, "your kidding. Really? But she hates me."
"You grew up a bit, plus she totally broke friends with Snivellus." Sirius whispered.
"So Harry is mine and Lily's son." They nodded, " but then why does he live with those Muggles?" James asked.
Nobody said anything and refused to look at him, "Har – James," the bushy haired girl said in a small voice, "you and Lily died about fifteen years ago."
James's stomach hit the floor and his mind went blank; he swallowed, "h – how did we die?" he whispered.
"You were murdered, by Voldermort." Sirius said and everyone took a sharp inhale of breath.
James stared around at everyone, "what was that about?" he asked.
"Not many people like to say or hear his name." Remus said solemnly, "he caused a lot of pain when he was in power but your son helped stop him."
"Really? Cool. How?" James's words came out at once.
"Love." Sirius said simply, "when Lily died it was a sacrifice, it save Harry from the Killing Curse and that's where the scar came from." Sirius pointed at the scar on James's forehead.
James smiled then had a thought, "but why isn't he living with one of yous?"
"I spent thirteen years in Azkaban." Sirius said sadly.
"Still a werewolf." Remus reminded him simply.
"Well, that signs Camren out too, huh?" James half laughed but Remus suddenly looked like he was going to cry.
"Um, sadly James; our Camren died in our seventh year." Sirius told him quietly and James felt bad for making a joke about him.
"What about Peter?" James inquired.
A look of pure disgust crossed Sirius's face, "our little Wormtail turned traitor." He spat.
"What?"
"He sold you out to Voldermort and still works by him." Sirius growled.
James's brain seemed to becoming numb with each bit of information; he buried his head in his arms with a groan, "this life sucks." He mumbled.
The door banged open again, James didn't look up and the atmosphere changed in the room, "ah. Mr Potter." sneered an all too familiar voice.
James slowly looked up to see a hook-nosed, greasy haired man, "Snivellus." James whispered.
Snape's pupils went tiny very quickly, "what did you call me?" he snarled, his lip curling back to bare his yellow teeth.
James put on a very fake smile, "hiya, Snape old bean!" he said happily, "How are ya?"
Sirius and some others in the room were stifling laughter but Snape looked even angrier than before, "don't cheek me just because you're here." He snarled.
"Oh shut up Snape." James snapped.
"You spiteful little worm." Snape snarled and made a move towards James.
James shot out of his chair and hid behind the dumpy woman, "you were always trying to kill me!" James shouted.
"You ungrateful …" Snape sneered.
"Padfoot! Stop him! I don't want to die again!" James shouted hiding behind a pair of red-haired twins.
"Severus, stop!" Remus shouted.
"Severus? Since when where you on first name terms with him?" James asked, ducking behind the bushy haired girl.
"Severus," Remus repeated, "this isn't Harry, something happened. Somehow he's James." Remus explained simply.
Snape scoffed, "yeah right. What, is Lily here too?"
"Of course not!" James shouted, finally finding his way back to Sirius.
"He isn't James Potter." Snape snapped.
"I am." James said proudly, "I'll prove it; you always wanted Lily to be in Slytherin, you have a bunny rabbit tattooed on your right heel which I gave you in third year when I gave most people a tattoo and you have a big crush on Lily AND our Alex who is a bloke!" he told Snape happily but took quick cover behind Sirius.
Snape's mouth fell open. The red haired twins were sniggering about Snape's tattoo. Snape cleared his throat, "right. Okay." He said slowly, "see you when you have Mr Potter back to normal." And with that he left.
James burst out laughing on the floor, Sirius joined in, as did the other kids but a sudden crack broke it; James opened his eyes to see a very old and scary house elf.
James yelled and jumped to his feet, "James!" Sirius shouted, "What's wrong?"
"Ruddy house elf!" James shouted pointing at it.
Sirius turned to it with a scowl, "go away Kreacher. You're not wanted." He snapped.
Kreacher grumbled as he bowed and vanished with another crack, "that's Kreacher, he's my house elf, not that he's any use. Just ignore him." Sirius advised.
"Right!" the dumpy woman said suddenly, "lets all get to bed."
"But James only just got here!" protested one of the twins.
"One of the greatest mischief-makers of his time!" added the other twin.
James and Sirius laughed but stopped when the dumpy woman glared at them, "there will be plenty of time to talk in the morning. Now bed!" she ordered and they all piled out.
The twins came up behind James as they went up the stairs, "we're big admires of yours, that Map of yours really helped us." One of them whispered.
"You had the Map?" James said, astonished.
"Only for a little while, we gave it to Harry so it should be in his stuff." The other explained.
"We're Fred and George Weasley by the way." One of them said and James shook hands with both of them, "owners of the best joke shop in the world."
"Well, soon enough." The other added.
They bid James a goodnight, he walked past a door and the scar gave a funny tingle but James ignored it. James was sharing a room with the other red haired boy and a round faced boy with brown hair and reminded him a little of Frank Longbottom.
"I'm Ron." The red haired boy suddenly said when they were getting changed, "Harry's best friend."
"Nice to meet you." James said cheerily, "You and Harry get into trouble a lot?"
"Trouble normally follows Harry around, so pretty much." Ron laughed.
"So, who are you then? Your not related to Frank Longbottom by any chance are you?" James asked the other boy.
His eyes lit up, "Yeah, I am. My names Neville." He said breathlessly, "Did you know my dad?"
James shrugged, "played a few pranks on him, got given a few detentions by him and he played on the Quiddich team for a little while."
"What was he like?" Neville asked jumping onto James's bed.
James thought, "Well, I don't really know him, all I know is that he's madly in love with Alice Copper, has a strange talent with plants and once fell into the Black Lake while trying out his new broom." James said, "How is Frank?"
Neville looked away, "my parents were tortured to get information about you." He said in a small voice, "they're in St Mungo's."
"Man, that sucks." James cursed.
"Yeah." Neville whispered but quickly cheered up, "well, goodnight James." He bid and got into bed.
"Night Neville." James said and got into bed.
The dumpy woman came in to check they were in bed and she turned the lights out. The bed wasn't very comfortable but it was better than the chair he had slept in, "psst." Hissed Ron's voice from the darkness.
"What?" James whispered back into nothing.
"Did you really give Snape a bunny rabbit tattoo?" Ron asked.
James stifled a laugh, "yeah, it was a really hot day; he took his shoes off, Sirius ran off with them, so Camren tackled him and I attacked him with the spell. I meant it to be a slime ball but it went wrong."
Ron laughed and the dumpy woman stuck her head in again, "go to bed now Ronald Weasly." She hissed, "you too Harry, er, James."
"Night mum." Ron said and went under his covers.
Mrs Weasly closed the door and went downstairs. James closed his eyes but his thoughts had gone to Harry; he hoped he would do all right in his time.