Yes, I admit it. I'm a 21 year old who likes Harry Potter. I think J K Rowling is a fantastic Author and her books are not just for kids as some people i know have said to me. Now that's out of the way, you can get on with reading - if you want to. Please be nice and review and if you hate it, say something that will help me improve - don't flame. I know this has probably been done a thousand times before, but I love James and Lily fics and thought I'd try to write one. Hopefully it will have a few different twists in it then others - and ideas are always welcomed. This is set at the very beginning of book five, right after the meeting Harry has with the order of the phoenix.

Now and Then

Chapter One

Harry lay awake in the shadows, lost deep in thought. Why was he so angry suddenly? Of course a lot had happened to him. Cedrics death, his latest fight with voldemort, the fact he was always, always kept in the dark. That alone could make anyone crazy.

He took it out on his friends because they hadn't been in contact with him all summer, even though they had given perfectly valid explanations. He was only really behaving like this around them because of the reasons he had thought of before - and he knew they knew that. That's why Ron and Hermione were his closest friends, why he told them everything. He knew they'd give him all the time in the world.

In fact, the only person Harry could talk to about any of this was Sirius, and of course, there had been little if no time at all for them to speak alone ever since he had arrived in Grimmauld place - his godfathers home.

An older memory was stirred at the mention of Sirius. A flash of green light. A woman's scream. A mans voice - "Run! Take Harry and run!" His parents last moments. His only memory of them. They had been saving his life from Voldemort - who had ultimately killed them. This was the source of his anger he knew. He was angry that he had never known James and Lily Potter. So obviously highly respected and loved by all who had known them, and all he remembered were their screams.

He sat up abruptly. He knew what he needed to ask now. What he needed to know. As much about his parents as he could. The hurt and anger may never fully go away he knew, but maybe he could actually get through this year without having a nervous break down if he had clearer images in his head.

I deserve to know, he thought as he got up and made his way through the candlelit corridors downstairs. I don't care what they say to me, I have a right to know. He was only fifteen years old. He didn't deserve to be feeling like this.

He stood outside a room for a moment, hardly daring to breath.

"I can't believe you said all that to him Sirius," that was Molly Weasley, still going on about the previous meeting.

"He has a right to know," said Sirius angrily. "His not a child ".

"I know that," the other woman whispered fiercely. "But his been through so much…"

"Which should prove to all of you that he can handle whatever anyone throws at him," said Sirius proudly. "His smart and resourceful when he puts his mind to it. We should be giving him a chance Molly".

"Calm down you two," said Arthur tiredly. "I have a headache. If I hear anymore bickering, I'd start to think it was you two who were married!"

"That's not funny Arthur," snapped Molly.

There was a laugh then, and Harry recognised Mad Eye Moody. "Sure it's Funny Molly," he said "This is the most fun I've had in ages. It won't last, trust me. Enjoy these times while we've got them".

"Listening to all of you, you'd think we were already defeated," said Remus softly.

"Not just yet," said Albus Dumbledore, who had turned up after they had gone up to bed. "There is still hope for us while we work together".

"Why don't you come in here, boy," said Moody, startling Harry. "You think I don't know you're out there?"

Harry hesitantly took a step into the room. It was lit with a fire. Dumbledore, Sirius, Remus and Mr and Mrs Weasley sat in various locations around the fire, sipping tea and coffee - except Sirius, who held a can of beer in his hand.

"Harry you should be upstairs," said Molly anxiously. "Is everything alright?"

Harry didn't know what to say. He had wanted to talk to Sirius, but not in front of practically the whole Order of the Phoenix! "I …I couldn't sleep," he finally managed. "I've been having nightmares…."

His voice trailed off and he looked around the room. This was a big mistake. Very big. He could feel the pity rolling off of Mrs Weasley in waves and it made him all the more angry….

"I need to know about my parents," he blurted out suddenly. "What they were like, what they went through. Even how they got together. I have a right to know this," he finished hastily as Molly opened her mouth to speak.

"Of course you do Harry," said Dumbledore before she had a chance. He smiled slightly as he looked at Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, the only two members left of the Marauders gang. "It's one of the few things you definitely should know about. But I'm not sure I'm the best one to tell this story. I'll help out where I can of course…why don't you sit down? ..." Dumbledore waved his wand and an extra chair appeared beside Sirius.

"Well," said Sirius after a short silence. "I guess it all really started at the beginning of our seventh year…."

TBC