(Disclaimer: I own nothing.)

Chapter One

Father of Mine

"If only I could turn back the hands of time…"

His eyes clouded with tears and a lump arose in his throat. He tried to swallow it down, but it was to no avail. Crystalline drops fell down his cheeks leaving tickling trails in their wake, but the boy didn't care.

"How did I ever let you slip away
Never knowing I'd be singing this song someday

And now I'm sinking, sinking to rise no more
Ever since you closed the door"

He carefully brushed the tears from the picture before him. The woman smiled jovially up at him, waving her baby boy's arm hello his way. Her fiery red hair glowed golden in the sunlight. Her emerald eyes smiled at him sending a calming warmth throughout him.

"If I could turn, turn back the hands of time
Then my darlin' you'd still be mine
If I could turn, turn back the hands of time
Then my darlin' you'd still be mine"

The man in the picture looked at her lovingly, and then his gaze fell upon the young boy in her arms. He gently messed the black fuzz upon the child's head and smiled - his smile like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. His hair blew in the breeze and stuck out at odd angles – the man, however, didn't seem to care. When he turned forward to wave a kind greeting, more tears fell upon the page.

"Funny, funny how time goes by
and blessings are missed in the wink of an eye
why oh why oh why should one have to go on suffering
when every day I plead please come back to me"

The sixteen-year old boy looking at the photograph hastily wiped away his tears and looked out the window. His tears were dried, yet the waterfall the felled them was far from quenched. Inside, his heart cried out, but no one would ever, or could ever, know the pain welled inside him. What ifs ran through his mind and with each one, the young man had to swallow the rising lump in his throat that threatened to bring more tears.

"If I could turn, turn back the hands of time
Then my darlin' you'd still be mine
If I could turn, turn back the hands of time
Then my darlin' you'd still be mine…"

"Dozing with your eyes open now eh, Potter?" Harry snapped out of his reverie and turned around to see someone all too familiar. "Another accomplishment for the Boy Who Lived," Draco Malfoy sneered, his legendary smirk playing upon his lips.

Harry fought down the urge to curse the latter and stuffed his album into his bag. "Eat dirt, Malfoy," he muttered. Done packing, he pushed his way past his tormentor, only to be stopped with an extended arm.


"Running, are you? Afraid you can't win in a proper duel?"

Harry stopped to scowl at the other boy. "From what I remember, ferret, I wasn't the one who lost," he retorted.

Draco paled which was superfluous on account of his natural pallor. His smirk fell from his face and he brandished his wand. "I'm waiting, Potter, there's no one here to intervene this time."

The other boy fought down his irritation and took his wand out from his robe pocket. "Let's go, then," he said trying to sound nonchalant despite his perturbed nerves.

Might as well get it over with, thought Harry absently.

Words formed in his mind and without thinking, he exclaimed, "Chantebra epoch!" At the same time, his opponent yelled the same spell.

Harry was hit in the chest with an orb of blinding light and he stumbled backwards with a muffled shout. His mind spun crazily and a cloud of darkness swept over him.

"If I can turn back the hands of time…"

~*~*~

Voices rang in his mind and as if from a distance he could hear the pounding of his heart. He slowly rolled over and blinked his eyes open. It took a while for everything to focus, but soon, he could see clearly. Everything looked familiar, and he recognized the forest nearby as the Forbidden Forest.

As he sat up, he caught sight of a figure nearby. "Potter?" When there was no response, he crawled over – not having the strength to stand – and gruffly shook the other boy. "Potter, get up you prat!"

Harry groaned and sluggishly opened his eyes to see Malfoy glaring down at him. He yelled and sat up to bump heads with his enemy. Draco cursed and moved away. "Bloody brilliant move," he ridiculed with a wince, touching the sore spot on his head.

With another moan, Harry tried once again to sit up. He sent a glower Draco's way and stood up with the help of a nearby tree. "What happened?" he asked.

Draco scowled at him. "If I knew, I wouldn't be hanging around with your nitwitted arse now would I?" As he got up, he brushed imaginary dust off his robes.

He looked around. Looks like we're still at Hogwarts…but how'd we get outside? Suddenly, voices were heard and he ducked behind a bush as to not be seen. He saw Harry staring intently towards the source of the sounds and quickly grabbed his arm and yanked him out of sight.

Four boys about his age came into view talking loudly and laughing. "Did you see his face! He looked like he was ready to steam at the ears!" They erupted into laughter once more.

As Draco looked closer, he could have sworn he had seen that the tall brunette boy. Oh…whoa…Professor Lupin? The other boy beside him looked familiar as well…Sirius Black! And…Potter? Harry's dad? Damn. His eyes became round and his face became a mask of horror. No way…

Beside him, he heard Harry gasp in surprise and turned to look at him. The other boy's eyes were alight and never had Draco seen him look as thrilled as he did then. Before he could do a thing, Harry had jumped out of his hiding place.

The other boys caught sight of him. "Oi!" said one of them. "Who're you?"

"Harry!" was the reply. Draco heaved a big sigh. The things I do…

"Harry, we're supposed to go straight to Professor Dumbledore for our transfer papers," he said in a voice that he made sure was loud enough so the others could hear.

The boy turned to look at him in surprise. "Wha-"

"Our headmaster told us to go to Dumbledore for our student transfer papers," Draco repeated firmly in a meaningful look.

Harry blinked at him in confusion and then a dawning expression shadowed his face. "Oh – oh right. Yeah, the – er – transfer papers." He cleared his throat and blushed slightly.

Draco sighed in defeat and rolled his eyes. To travel back in time, I get the privilege of going with the only boy with a conscience.

"You mates are new here then?" wondered James.

They nodded.

Remus smiled. "Follow us then, we'll bring you to the headmaster's office. Do you have your things?"

Harry and Draco shared a look. Draco said, "Er – no. Something happened when we were transported here and our trunks got lost." Harry nodded slowly, shooting him a humored look. Draco shot him one back as if to say 'Can you do any better?'

"Er – right," said Sirius. "Anyway, follow us now. We've experience in travelling the rocky road to Dumbledore's office."

Peter snorted. "You might." Sirius swatted at him and the boy jumped away with a grin.

James looked at the two newcomers curiously. "What school do you both come from?"

Again, Harry and Draco shared a look. "Oh," started Harry in a rush, "We're from – from -" but he was saved from the dilemma when Sirius jumped on James' back.

"Aw, look Prongs! It's your 'precious flower'!" he exclaimed pointing towards the lake where a redheaded young woman and others were talking animatedly.

His friends laughed and James blushed to the tips of his ears. "Sirius…" he started with a glare.

Remus turned to Draco and Harry saying, "James has had a crush on Lily Evans since first year when she lent him a pencil. Ever since, he's been head over heels for her."

Draco fought down the urge to roll his eyes again. Just like his son…nitwitted fools…all of them…

~*~*~

Harry had never felt so exhilerated in his life. Just a few feet away stood his father! James Potter was talking, laughing and breathing like any regular living person! He looked around at the familiar surroundings of Hogwarts and couldn't help but wonder what Ron and Hermione would do if they were here with him. Glancing at Malfoy, he saw that the other boy had that blank expression upon his face that was practically impossible to read.

"Here it is!" said Sirius. "And good luck with the old bat, he's absolutely awful! Legend has it that a student went into his office walking too quickly and was turned into a toad," he told Harry and Draco with a grave expression.

Draco looked to the ceiling in exasperation. "I'm sure we can handle it," he said.

The other three boys laughed at Sirius' dejected expression as Harry and Draco went to the headmaster's office.

(Author's Note: This is just the first chapter and I made it short because I don't have time to write more tonight. The rest of the chapters will probably be up to twenty or so pages. I know there are already many 'turn back time' stories about Harry and James, but I couldn't resist! I'm gonna work my imagination tonight some more and try to make this story good :o) hope u guys like it! Please review! BTW: courtesy to R. Kelly for "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time")