Chapter 3: The Philospher's stone part one.

"Well, Voldemort came to Godric's Hollow to kill the Potter family, but after his parent died defending him," Hermione began, looking awkwardly at Lily, who was silently shaking in James' arms.

"Carry on Hermione." Sirius said.

"Harry somehow survived. The curse destroyed Voldemort instead. Everyone thought that he was finally gone and so Harry was now a hero in the wizarding world."

"Atta boy." Smiled Sirius, ruffling the baby's hair.

"Hagrid collected Harry from the house and took him to Privet Drive, to the Dursleys."

James scowled and even Lily looked worried. They were heartbroken to learn that their son had to grow up with such people. Even more so that he had to grow up without them.

"Dumbledore left him there with a letter saying it would be better for Harry to grow up away from the world where he was famous before he could walk and talk."

"A letter? You think my sister would read a letter from a wizard and care." Lily snorted. "She hates us."

"So anyway, Harry grew up there. He didn't have a particularly great time." Hermione said. There really was no way to say this nicely. "His bedroom was the cupboard under the stairs. And…"

"His what?" Yelped James. "They didn't even give my son a proper room." The Marauders and Lily were looking outraged. Baby Harry just giggled.

"On his cousin Dudley's birthday they were forced to take Harry with them when they went to the zoo for the day." Hermione continued.

"What do you mean, they were forced to take Harry?" Lily asked dangerously. All the boys quickly moved away afraid she would start hexing things.

"Apparently Harry used to stay at his neighbour's. Mrs Figg or something."

"Arabella Figg?" Asked Dumbledore curiously. Hermione nodded.

"Anyway she had broken her leg and so couldn't look after him. They refused to leave him home alone afraid he would burn it down or something." James and Sirius snorted. "So they had to take him. Anyway, while they were at the zoo Harry started talking to a Boa Constrictor." Everybody stared at her.

"He is a parselmouth?" Whispered Remus. Hermione nodded again.

"And then Dudley punched him and Harry magically vanished the glass, setting the snake free. Dudley's friend told Harry's uncle Vernon that he had seen Harry talking to the snake and Harry got in loads of trouble."

"But why?" Remus asked.

"Because the Dursleys hated anything magical, Harry got into trouble whenever he did something like that even if he couldn't control it." Hermione explained. "So after that Harry's letter from Hogwarts came."

James and Lily exchanged smiles. They were delighted their son would finally get to go somewhere nice and make friends.

"But he made the mistake of trying to open it in front of his uncle, who took it off him. Of course Hogwarts tried again but his uncle kept making sure he didn't get his letter."

"How dare they." Spluttered Sirius, looking down fondly at his godson.

"So in the end his uncle went mad and took them to an old lighthouse in a storm to make sure they couldn't be found. Until Hagrid arrived."

All the marauders grinned. "Get 'em Hagrid." Cheered James.

"Being Hagrid, he broke the door down and came in, casually sitting down like nothing was the matter, asking Harry to make him a cup of tea. Harry's aunt and uncle came downstairs with a rifle. Then Hagrid told Harry something that he would hear for the rest of his life."

Everyone looked at her expectantly. She glanced at baby Harry.

"He said, you look just like your father, but you have your mother's eyes. I think every single person who knew you, commented on this to Harry."

James and Lily just beamed.

"At least he got my good looks." James grinned.

"Are you saying I'm not good looking?" Lily glared at him. He cowered under her gaze.

"Not at all Lily Flower," He started, his gaze dropping warily to her wand. "Just that if he got your beautiful eyes I want him to look like me." Remus and Sirius were howling with laughter. Lily's expression softened into a grin as she watched her husband blabbering on. Hermione cracked a smile and then carried on with her story.

"Well, Hagrid gave him his first birthday cake."

"HIs first?" James said angrily. "But he is 11."

"The Dursleys didn't celebrate Harry's birthday." Hermione answered sadly.

"They didn't even celebrate it? No cake or presents or anything?" Remus asked quietly. Hermione shook her head.

"But what about me and Remus, we must have dropped by to give him something." Sirius said, grasping at straws for his poor godson. Hermione shook her head again.

"What?" James looked angrily at his friends.

"I may have had something to do with that." Dumbledore put in before an argument could erupt. "If young Harry was there to grow up away from wizards, it is possible that I did not let them see him." Hermione realised Dumbledore was merely trying to avoid an argument between the friends. All of whom were now glaring at him.

"Anyway, so the Dursleys hadn't told Harry anything about magic or Hogwarts, so Hagrid gave Harry his Hogwarts letter and started to tell him about it. And then Harry realised his aunt had known what he was and hadn't told him," Hermione look warily at Lily. "They also hadn't told him how you two really died."

"What did they tell my son?" Lily asked, her emerald eyes blazing. She was going to have more than a few choice words for Tuney when she next saw her sister.

"They told him you died in a car crash." Hermione said in a small voice.

"The bastards did what?" Sirius said looking outraged.

"Sirius Black, mind your language in front of my son." Lily snapped at him. Everyone was looking furious. Baby Harry seemed to have taken in everyone's mood and started to cry. Lily bumped him up and down on her knee gently, motioning for Hermione to carry on.

"Harry told Hagrid he had made a mistake and that Harry couldn't be a wizard."

James looked sadly at his son. "You will be the best." He whispered.

"So Hagrid pointed out that Harry had done things he couldn't explain before, and that it was magic. Then his uncle tried to say he couldn't go and they wouldn't pay for him."

"They wouldn't need to. We would have left him something." James said instantly.

"You did. Anyway, Harry's uncle then insulted Professor Dumbledore."

Sirius let out his bark of laughter. "Bad mistake there Vernon." Dumbledore smiled at Hagrid's loyalty.

"Anyway, Hagrid gave Dudley a pigtail." Hermione said with a grin.

The marauders all fell about laughing. James actually started choking. Dumbledore looked half amused and half stern. Lily was frowning, she didn't like the sound of her nephew at all but that was no reason to use magic on him when he couldn't defend himself.

"The next morning Hagrid took Harry to Diagon Alley. Explaining that his parents had left him some money. They had to use muggle transport and needless to say Hagrid caused a bit of a stir. Anyway, he took Harry to the Leaky Cauldron."

"Tom never did like me." Sirius commented.

"Wonder why." Smirked Lily.

"The innkeeper recognised Harry and shouted for the whole pub to hear who he was. So he got introduced to plenty of random wizards and witches he didn't know, who all seemed to know all about him. The poor boy was very confused. Then he ran into Professor Quirrell. He was the DADA teacher that year. Had a really bad stutter and a turban. After all the introductions, Hagrid took Harry through to Diagon Alley."

Lily smiled sadly. She wanted to be the one to take Harry on his first trip there. Be the one who saw the excitement on his little face and be telling him all about Hogwarts. Her own adventures with his idiotic father. She looked at her husband and saw the same kind of sad smile on his face. She took his hand on her free one, her other hand still holding Harry. She hoped that her son's first year at Hogwarts would be wonderful. But then again, if this was important enough to help with fighting Voldemort, she doubted it would be.

"They went to Gringotts, Hagrid had they key to your vault, and got Harry some money. They also stopped at vault 713."

Dumbledore looked up in surprise. That was his vault. Why would Hagrid and Harry be visiting there.

"Where Hagrid retrieved a small package. And then they went shopping. In the robe shop, Harry met Draco Malfoy."

"Lucius Malfoy's spawn?" James asked. Dumbledore frowned but didn't comment. Hermione nodded.

"No, little prongslet, no making friends with death eater children." Sirius told the baby firmly.

"He didn't." Hermione chuckled. "He asked Harry about which house he would be in and Harry heard about Quidditch for the first time. So he asked Hagrid, who explained how to play, what the houses were. Then they had to buy spellbook. Apparently Hagrid had to drag Harry away from 'Curses and Counter-Curses (Bewitch your friends and Befuddle your enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying and much much more.)"

"James bought me that book one christmas." Sirius grinned. Lily just rolled her eyes.

"Why am I not surprised." She groaned.

"Then he finally got to get a wand." Lily and James brightened.

"Olivander creeps me out. He is a genius, but creepy." Remus said with a shudder. Everyone nodded except Dumbledore.

"His wand was Holly and Phoenix feather. He said Voldemort's wand was it's brother."

Dumbledore sat straight up, a satisfied smile on his face.

"What does that mean?" James asked him.

"When two wands are brothers it means their cores came from the same creature. Not just same type, but the exact same, Phoenix in this case. When this happens the wands will not fight properly. It means, should Harry ever meet Voldemort, he has a little protection in a duel." They all nodded.

"When they left, Hagrid bought Harry an owl, Hedwig, for his birthday." Hermione smiled.

"Aww, that's so sweet of him." Lily exclaimed, thinking they would have to find a way to thank Hagrid for taking such good care of her son.

"Once they were done shopping, Hagrid put him on the train back to the Dursley's. Where Harry spent the rest of summer reading his school books."

The marauders groaned, while Lily and Dumbledore smiled.

"And counting down the days until he could go to Hogwarts. The Dursley's did give him a lift to the train station but left him there to find the platform."

"They left my son alone in the middle of London?" James yelled. Remus and Sirius both looked equally appalled and angry. Lily stared at Hermione both angry and sad. She couldn't believe that her sister had hated her so much that she would leave an eleven year old boy alone in London, without any means to get home.

"Harry overheard the Weasley's talking about muggles, which Hagrid had explained to him, and asked them how to get onto the platform. Ron, their youngest son was starting as well that year. The Weasley twins, a couple of years older than us and not unlike a certain Mr Potter and Mr Black," Hermione said winking at the pair of them. "Tried to confuse Mrs Weasley by mixing up their names and running through the barrier.

"Excellent. The twins are already causing trouble for poor Molly." Remus chuckled. Hermione smiled at the idea of young twins.

"So Harry got on the train and one of the twins recognised him by his scar, which had become legendary, and told the rest of the family. Ron's younger sister Ginny became quite a fan."

"A fan before the train even moves." Sirius grinned. "He beats your record prongs."

James beamed. "That's my boy."

"Honestly. I hope he isn't as big-headed as his father." Lily rolled her eyes. James stopped grinning and pouted.

"Ron's brother, Percy, was a prefect. As they left, Fred and George promised to send Ginny a Hogwarts toilet seat." Hermione giggled. Everyone laughed except Lily, who looked exasperated, and Sirius, who was staring at Hermione. Her giggle was fascinating. He shook his head and joined in the laughter.

"Great present." James chuckled.

"Anyway, Ron came and sat with Harry, awkwardly asking about his scar and if the rumours were true. They talked about family. Ron's brother Bill had been head boy, Charlie had been quidditch captain." There were cheers from Sirius and James at this. "Percy was a prefect and Ron felt like the least important because all his brothers had accomplished plenty and he hadn't. Harry bought almost the entire lunch trolley." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"But it;s just full of sweets." Lily frowned.

"That is truly my son." James grinned broadly.

"He had better share." Lily said.

"He did." Hermione assured her. Lily's expression cleared slightly. "Harry got a Dumbledore chocolate frog card and found out magical pictures move." Dumbledore chuckled slightly. "While they were talking I walked in." Hermione blushed as she remembered their first meeting. "We got off on the wrong foot and I was being a little bossy and overbearing. I had memorised all of our school books and read a few extra." She admitted. All the boys rolled their eyes at her, except Remus, who smiled. Lily gave her an approving grin.

"Aww, we have a miniature Harry and a miniature Lily walking around." Sirius grinned.

"Shut up Sirius." Lily glared at him.

"Anyway, I left and then Draco Malfoy walked in."

"Oh great." Sirius muttered, avoiding Hermione's eye.

"He started taking the mickey out of the Weasley family and offered to be friends with Harry."

"No little prongslet. No friends with such scumbags." Sirius said.

"Sirius!" Lily scolded.

"Harry said no and then Malfoy said he had 'better be a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents.'"

"He did not." Thundered James. Lily looked shocked that anyone could be quite so horrible.

"Ron's rat, Scabbers." Hermione said the name with distaste. "Bit Goyle, one of Malfoy's cronies, and they left. When we got to Hogwart's we were greeted by Hagrid. He took us over the lake by boat and up to the front doors."

At that moment, little Harry started crying.

"I'm going to put him down for a nap." Lily said. "Shall we all take a break." Everyone nodded.

"Hurry back Lily Flower, we need food." Sirius called, grinning.

"Eat at your own house." She called back.

"We should ban you from eating here." James grinned.

"But then we would starve and you wouldn't want your friend's deaths on your conscious would you?" Remus asked with a chuckle.

"I suppose not." James gave a huge fake sigh.

"So Minny, what's life like after Voldemort?" Sirius turned to Hermione.

"Minny?" She raised her eyebrow at him. He just shrugged. "It's good. Scarily peaceful. After years of being friends with Harry Potter, you don't get a lot of peace." She smiled wryly. They all laughed.

"I must attend to the school. If I am not back, start without me." Dumbledore said. He rose fluidly and used the floo powder to disappear back to Hogwarts.

"Does Harry have a girlfriend?" James asked with a grin.

"Yep." Hermione grinned back.

"Oooh, who?" Remus asked.

"Now that would spoil the surprise." Hermione winked.

"Awww, Minnie." Sirius groaned.

"It's ok. You only have to wait until our sixth year." She told him, pretending to comfort him.

"It takes him six years to get a girlfriend?" James gasped.

"No, five. But he broke up with one and stayed with his other girlfriend." Hermione said.

"Little pronglet, I'm disappointed. Five years to get a girl." Sirius said, shaking his head. Hermione chuckled. James got up and went into the kitchen.

"I'm going hunting." He called over his shoulder.

"James Potter get out of my kitchen!" Came a yell from upstairs. The boys all roared with laughter.

"Banned from his own kitchen." Remus pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. Hermione got up and followed James to the kitchen.

"Hey," She said.

"Hi there." He reminded her so much of Harry. Except more carefree and happy.

"Harry gave me a note for you and Lily." She said, handing him a small piece of parchment. James looked at it and took it carefully.

"Thanks." He said and Hermione went back to the others. James opened the letter.

Dear Mum and Dad,

I spent years wishing I could have a chance to talk to you, know if you were proud of me. But now I have the chance to say something, I don't know what to write. Please know that I love you both so much. I wish it could be me there, telling you this story, but some parts are just better of being told by Hermione. I hope you both are proud of me, although I have done some things I am not terribly proud of. Mum, please don't be too mad at how many school rules I break during my time there. I know it's not a happy story in all places but please do try to enjoy the bits that are.

Love you, always

Harry.

James read it through once more, wiping a tear from his eye. He chuckled at the idea his son was asking Lily not to be mad for breaking rules.

"I will always be proud of you, son." James whispered. Lily came in at that moment and saw him crying.

"James, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing, love. Just read this." He handed her the letter. She read it quickly and her eyes shone with tears too.

"Our baby boy." She whispered. She glanced down again. "Breaking rules, like father, like son." She sighed. They just enjoyed the moment of being together. Determined to change the world so they could be there while Harry grew up and make sure he never had to live through everything that was to come.