Chapter Two: Familiar Faces

"Feels like the weight of the world, like God in heaven gave me a turn."

Evanescence 'Weight of the World.'

-x-

He should have been prepared; thought he was even. But the fact remained that he truly wasn't. The minute the faces of James and Lily Potter walked in the room, his world collapsed.

'My Lord, look at them…' His brain stated unnecessarily, for that's seemingly what Harry was only able to do. 'Their alive.'

It was the simple fact that still seemed to twitch in Harry's head, like a broken record on autopilot. The thoughts were only going in one direction, and it was not going to change anytime soon.

'Get over yourself, Potter' another voice snapped, this one much more unpleasant. 'These aren't you're real parents.'

It was true, but not so at the same time. They were of his blood, yet not, because a whole world divided them apart. It was the cold truth that haunted his mind from day to day. These were his parents…from an Alternate Universe.

"James – cut it out! We're in public for crying out loud." The laughing voice of Lily Potter rang in his ears. He turned his head slightly to the left to see them take a seat in a nearby booth, just as Albus said they would.

James Potter, who had currently been trying to make-out with his wife, made an over exaggerated smooch mouth. "I was just kidding, love."

She laughed again, the tinkling noise sounding both blissful and terrifying to Harry's ears. It took a moment for him to realize it was a haunted laugh; one only used by people who had experienced war…and lost someone.

"I know." She patted him on the arm, and they resumed a normal conversation that Harry began to tune out on.

'So Dumbledore was right – I did die here.' That was the only way the nineteen-year-old could make it here: if his 'other self' of sorts, was dead.

He had been sent through a portal, one that only opened every three thousand years. It was prophesized thousands of years ago by Merlin himself, which 'The Chosen One' would be the next traveler, and fulfill his 'rightful destiny' whatever that was. Harry could only assume it was the same one he already held;

To defeat the Darkest Wizard on Earth, Lord Voldemort.

"'Rightful destiny' my arse." He muttered, waving down the waitress to order lunch.

Two hours and a half-sandwich later, Harry Potter followed his 'parents' out of the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley.

He had no idea what he was doing. Dumbledore had only given him three months notice for this 'little' trip, and he still had no idea what to do, or how to do it. In his pocket was enough money to sustain him, and half the world, for the rest of their lives. Maybe he could bribe Voldemort's followers to switch sides?

The one thing that bothered him about this whole thing was, he'd never get to return home. Unless he lived for three thousand more years, the portal would not open again. He was no too sure how he felt about this. After the war in his seventh year there was no one…

Too deep in thought, he didn't notice where he was going until he smacked headlong into someone and fell over.

"Ow!" He gasped, rubbing his arse gingerly. It hurt like a bitch.

"You alright there, kiddo?"

It was a familiar voice; one so painfully familiar that Harry froze in shock. He quickly snapped out of it and jumped to his feet.

"I'm fine." He stated softly.

In front of him, stood none other than the tall and handsome, Sirius Orion Black.

It was obvious that this one had not suffered as much as his Sirius. Long tendrils of black hair framed the narrow sculptured face, and on it sat a pair of twinkling sapphire eyes. He was wearing a simple plain long black robe that fell to the ground and hung loose around his feet. Just visible in his sleeve was a wand holster. Currently he was chuckling.

"Are you sure? That was quite a flight you took." But before Harry could answer, the Black heir's eyes narrowed slightly as he did a double take. "Wait, what's you're name kid?"

"Harry." It was the truth, and Dumbledore had told Harry to try and stick to it, but alter as deemed necessary. Mostly as not to alarm people. "Harry Evans, sir."

Sirius blinked, and then held out his hand. "Sirius Black. Sorry I knocked you over." His eyes roamed Harry for, what he could only guess was injuries, before looking back into his eyes.

Harry shook the hand nervously. Beneath his fingers, the large slender hand was warm and rough with calluses. Harry felt a shock go up his arm before Sirius dropped his hand, their eyes locking again. It was clear that he had felt it too.

"Well…I better be going. I'm meeting with a few associates of mine." He winked at Harry, then turned and headed in the same direction as James and Lily had gone. Harry was left speechless for a few moments before pulling himself together and following the newly identified Sirius.

'What was that?' He wondered. 'It felt like an electric shock. Was it a prank? I never took Sirius for the type to pull pranks on strangers.'

His thoughts swam all the way to the Hogshead, where it turns out the three 'Associates' was meeting. Harry was careful to take a seat in the back as to remain hidden from clear view. Last thing he needed was another confrontation with the handsome Marauder.

'Wait…handsome? Where did that thought come from?' But before Harry could reflect on this any longer, his parent's voices floated to his ears.

"What took you so long, Sirius?" Lily demanded, folding her arms. "Your late again." She said it in such a matter that Harry had an inkling Sirius was often late. This part didn't surprise him in the least.

James swapped an arm around Lily. "Cheer up, Vacations almost over and you won't have to put up with the prat."

Sirius made a face. "Hey, I resent that!"

"I know. That's why I said it."

"You're a real arse, you know that Prongs?"

"Will you two stop bickering?" Lily sighed, rubbing her temples. "I think I liked it better when you would practice the Silencing Charm every five minutes."

"That was in Fifth year." James pointed out.

"Yeah," Sirius added. "We, like some people, wanted to master the spell." Here he glanced meaningfully at Lily. "Besides, you didn't bitch at us for nearly a month when we practiced that."

Lily gave him a dry look. "That's because nothing came out of that fat mouth of yours, Black."

"Hardy-Har-Har." He mocked, picking up a menu. "Is anybody else starved?"

"If you mean hungry, then yes." Lily said, picking up her menu as well. "James?"

"I'm starved." He replied to the unasked question. Sirius waved over a waiter.

Harry decided to take a leaf out of their book, and looked down at his own menu. A few drinks at the Leaky Cauldron and a small sandwich did nothing for his starving stomach. Waving down a waiter, he ordered a tall mineral water and another sandwich before returning to the job of spying. Dumbledore had suggested he followed them for a while, get used to their presence before he did anything, whatever it was he was supposed to do. When Harry had asked about that, the Headmaster just shrugged with that ever so annoying twinkle in his eyes.

"I have no clue, my dear boy. You'll just have to wait and see."

Why was it that the old coog seemed to know everything? And why in the world was he still calling him 'boy'? He was nineteen years old, for Merlin's sake!

All further musings on the Headmaster flew out his ear, when a familiar voice cut the air.

"Hey…it's that kid I smacked into on the street." Sirius said loudly.

Lily immediately shushed him and Harry suddenly became very interested in his menu.

"Sirius!" She scolded in hushed tones. "Don't be rude. What if he heard you?"

Harry could see them turning slightly to stare at him out of the corner of his eye. He felt his fingers tighten around the menu subconsciously. Could he not accomplish any simple task without screwing up? Apparently not.

"Hey…do we know him from somewhere?" James asked, frowning. Harry stiffened in his seat. "He looks really familiar…"

Sirius shrugged. "I thought the same thing when I bumped into him in the street. His name's Harry Evans."

"Harry Evans?" James mused. "Must be Muggle-Born. Never heard of him."

Lily on the other hand had other ideas. "I hope you apologized." She said sternly.

Sirius chuckled. "Not to worry." He winked. "Not even a scratch."

Lily frowned but made no further comment. Harry was relieved to see them starting to get back on topic, whatever that topic was. Just as long as it didn't involve him, any topic was fine. He let out a sigh of relief and let go of his menu. He was content to just sit and listen to the blissful chatter around him.

Clearly the Fates had other ideas.

Without him realizing it, five minutes later a shadow had fallen over his shoulder. Figuring it was the waitress Harry turned…to see the calculating gaze of Sirius Black. He froze, cursing his wondering thoughts. How had he let himself get so carried away?

"Erm, hello?" He muttered lamely. Clearing his throat he tried again. "Can I help you?" Harry wasn't sure what to make of the grin breaking out on the Marauder's face. To his utter surprise the man extended his hand.

"I do not believe we were introduced properly yet. Sirius Black." He grinned.

Harry took the hand, feeling the shock run up his arm then dropped the hand immediately.

"Harry Evans…Sir. Pleasure to meet you." He had no idea where this was going. Was it some prank? There was just no knowing when the Marauders were involved.

Although he had to hold in a laugh at Sirius' expression to the 'Sir'. There were some things that just didn't mix, and 'Sirius' and 'Sir' were one of them. Harry briefly reflected on the fact that his Sirius never got called Sir, and choked back a laugh.

"I, along with my loser companions over there," He jerked a joking thumb over his shoulder at Lily and James. "Would love your presence at our table. You are looking quite lonely here all by yourself." He winked.

Harry raised a brow at the dramatic gentleman display. His heart was beating wildly with the thought of sitting with his parents and the infamous Black. His head told him to be on guard though, and all thoughts of a pleasant visit flew out the window. He could not – would not - endanger them.

In the end Sirius' beckoning grin was just too infectious and Harry felt himself being pulled to his feet and lead over to the other occupied table.

His parents offered him tentave smiles and Harry felt his heart flutter. He was not expecting warm welcomes with elaborate embraces; they were in the middle of a war. A much darker one here if he wasn't mistaken, and such a welcome would be next to foolish. You never knew whom you would be dealing with; that was a fact Harry knew from experience.

"Hello." He offered. Unsure of what else to say he just decided on the formal. "Thank you for inviting me to join you." He smiled. "I do not mean to intrude." He added, suddenly unsure. Was this too soon?

Lily gave him a broad smile. "My, what manners. I'm Lily Potter." She shook his hand then nodded to James. "This is my husband, James Potter. And that goof over there," She jerked her head at Sirius. "Is Sirius Black."

Sirius pouted. "I resent that."

"We know." Lily and James chorused.

Harry's lips quirked.

-x-

Lily studied the young man sitting across from her carefully. There was something about the boy that had her feeling very off, and oddly enough, comforted. And no, it wasn't the fact that Sirius so bluntly flirted with him, either (The poor lad, he's so clueless).

No, it was the strange feeling that she knew this man, that she had met him, though she's positive she's never talked to him in her life. There was something just so strikingly familiar about the lad that it irritated her to no end. It wasn't until the lad sat down beside James that she realized what it was.

They're almost identical!

From the tall lean body to the angular facial features and messy black hair, they were the same. The more she studied him, the more she could glimpse other similar features, such as hand gestures and those rare crooked smiles. Then there were the green eyes.

After a while it started to become too much for her. Before she thoroughly freaked herself out, she tuned back into the conversation. By now she had no clue what they were talking about, except for the fact that Harry had hardly said anything, only nodding politely and adding a phrase when deemed necessary. Other than that, his face was quite blank and Lily found she could not read him.

Unless you looked into his eyes.

You could get lost in the emerald orbs; so bright but filled with something so dark you could not dwell on them for too long. For someone so young, there was pain beyond anything she could comprehend in those orbs, and Lily knew pain. She had lost a son, after all.

"So what do you do for a living, Harry?" James asked curiously, looking him over. "You seem pretty young."

Harry laughed shakily. "I'm err…having a break?" He said lamely. When they all just stared he elaborated. "Well, I just finished school so I don't plan on rushing into anything just yet." My plate is full enough as is. "Figured I'd travel a bit." Ha, that's a laugh and a half. I'd get killed the instant I step out of this town. Of course, they didn't know this, so Harry kept quiet.

"Traveling?" Lily said doubtfully. "Alone? You're sure brave."

Harry winced, realizing his mistake. People who traveled during a war were just plain nuts, especially if they did it alone.

"Well, not really traveling, more like sight seeing and…enjoying life?"

Sirius and James chuckled. Lily didn't to seem to find it so funny.

"Kid, you crack me up." Sirius said slapping his hand on Harry's back. "How old are you, anyway?"

"Nineteen."

"Great." Sirius grinned, throwing his arm around the back of Harry's chair.

Harry had not idea what was so great about being nineteen, although the look he saw his 'parents' trading implied that they knew something he didn't. Harry personally wasn't sure if he wanted to know.

"Erm, so, what do you do for a living?" Harry asked seriously. It was a question he had never gotten around to asking anybody before. It just hadn't seemed important at the time with the war and all. Now that he had the chance to get to know his parents more, he would use it. It irked and saddened him how little he really knew about them.

Lily took it upon herself to answer.

"James works as the Head of the Auror Department." Lily replied, motioning to each of them in turn. "And Sirius over here, works as the Deputy of the Auror Department."

Harry noticed she had neglected to inform him about herself. "What about you?"

Lily gave him a secretive but guarded smile. "I'm an Unspeakable. I work in the Department of Mysteries."

Harry nearly dropped his water glass. "Come again?"

"The Department of Mysteries." She repeated, studying his face. "Harry, are you alright? You're looking a little pale."

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Harry couldn't believe it. All this time and not a single person had mentioned his mom was a freaking Unspeakable? That would mean that she most likely would have known about the prophecy before hand and told someone…unless no one knew.

Judging by her guarded expression, Harry was under the impression that not many knew where she worked, and he was one of the lucky few that did. Why she would tell a stranger that had just met merely a half hour before amidst the middle of a war was beyond him. What he did know now was that he needed to be extra cautious around this woman: mother or not, she was way to observant.

"Well, I'd best be going." Harry stated, standing abruptly. Ignoring their startled looks he grabbed his cloak and nodded. "Thank you for lunch, Lily, James…Sirius."

Without another glance he swept out of the building into the darkening sky. He hadn't gotten very far before footsteps could be heard behind him. Turning around, he was met once again, with non other than Sirius Black.

"Did I forget something?" Harry wondered.

"Yes." Sirius replied, grinning "This."

He took Harry's palm and placed a folded piece of parchment within. Winking, the handsome marauder sauntered away, leaving a very confused Harry behind. The young man in question watched him go, before looking at the piece of folded parchment in bewilderment. What was that all about?

Harry proceeded to read the letter, then double take and read it again, his mouth hanging open like a gaping fish. What the fuck?!

'Harry,

I do not believe we've had the chance to get properly ah, ' acquainted' with one another. On the back is my floo address – don't be afraid to stop by, say, eight O'clock Friday night?

- Sirius Black

Sure enough, on the back was the floo address. If Harry thought what he thought the letter was suggesting, things had just gotten way more complicated.

Way, way, more complicated.

Groaning, Harry stuffed the parchment in his pocket.

Shit!

To Be Continued…
A/N: Yes, this story is going to be slash. If you don't like it, then I advise you to not read any further. Many of you may also be wondering why Sirius is so forward, especially in the middle of a war where you can't be sure of everyone's intentions. Well, the answer will be coming up in a bit, so keep reading! Thanks.