"May I inquire as to who you are?" Dumbledore asked, looking through his half moon spectacles at the six people who stood before him. Two of them he recognized, and was very fond of; however, the other four he did not.
"Professor Dumbledore," Hermione began, thinking of how strange it was to talk to her old professor again. "This is my husband Ron Weasley, his sister Ginny, and Harry Potter. And my name is Hermione," she finished off, biting her lip to wait for his response.
The professor's eyes looked over the four new faces standing before him, but they lingered on Harry the longest. He looked thoughtful for a second.
"We tried to explain to Lily and James that we're from the future. We…er… aren't sure if they completely believe us or not. And…er… James, here, is going to be my father…" Harry said, nervously shifting from side to side. This was the first time he had spoken since entering the office, and seeing Dumbledore was after watching him die was an unsettling experience, almost like the King's Cross reminiscence in his mind after the battle.
"Have you finished your education here at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked, as he got up and sought something in the cupboard to his right.
Harry looked curiously at his Professor. When Dumbledore had returned, Harry recognised the device as the pensive he had seen regularly during his sixth year.
"No, professor. We didn't get to finish our 7th year due to certain circumstances we could not control. Ginny did not complete her sixth year, either, but, she has moved up into seventh year anyway. I have studied the curriculum of seventh years and found that I knew most of it." said Hermione.
"Certain circumstances? Am I guessing that the reason behind your secrecy is that it is too foretelling of future events? If you did not complete you studies, then what is it you do now. " Dumbledore asked wanting to know more about them before he let them stay at the school.
"Sir," Hermione started, before she was cut off by Harry. She scowled at him before he carried on.
"You are right Professor that our secrecy is down to future events. I have realised that no matter how much I would like to change them, I can't." Harry answered truthfully.
Ron spoke for the first time since they entered Dumbledore's office. His voice was quieter than usual "Me and Harry are training to be Aurors. Hermione is in the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. We managed to enter the Ministry as we had already proved ourselves through certain things." He spoke the last sentence nervously, somehow thinking that this Dumbledore would not believe him. Dumbledore seemed tired, a lot like he did when the second war broke out, thought Ron.
"I see… I assume you are trying to work on getting back, then?" the elder man asked quietly. After getting eager nods from Hermione and Ron, he went on, "Until then, I shall arrange for you to study with the 7th years while you are visiting. Obviously Miss Weasley will have to as she is still studying at Hogwarts in your time. It's up to the three of you, however. If you chose to do so, then I shall explain to the faculty and students that you were homeschooled together and haven't covered some of the things which are required in some careers. They shall also be told that, because you have officially got your N.E.W.T's, if any staff appointments are needed, then you will fill them. If you do not wish to retake your seventh year, then you may stay here. We are living in a very dangerous time, and it would not be wise for you to wander far from Hogwarts."
Hermione looked towards her friends to see the expressions on their faces. She knew that it was their decision to stay or not, but she was hoping that they would take it. "I like that idea very much, Professor, and I'm certain that it would be the right choice to stay." It really was true that there was no place safer than Hogwarts.
Harry thought a moment, and after glancing at Hermione and giving her a small smile, he looked back at Dumbledore. "That sounds great, Professor."
"Yeah," Ron added, "I'm up for it, sir."
"May I ask what your house was? You'll have to wear school robes, of course, and it would be best if you had classes with them."
Ginny spoke up, "We were all in Gryffindor, sir."
"Like his dad," James said quietly, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
Harry turned around to look at his father with a strange look on his face. Something small passed between them in their expressions, and a hint of red splashed across James' cheeks as he realized that everyone had heard. He felt rather odd saying those words. He was only 17, and here he was talking to his future son (who was older than him, nonetheless). He didn't even know who he was going to marry. Glancing back at Harry, he saw those eyes again. Bright, livid green eyes. 'Lily's eyes,' he thought to himself. He was going to marry Lily Evans?
"I've worked it out," he muttered in Harry's direction.
Harry looked over at James curiously. Could he have it? "Worked out what, exactly?" he asked.
James brought his hand up and ruffled his hair nervously, "Who you mother is." He coughed slightly, and then moved on after a pause, "I thought I recognized those eyes. I know I've seen them before…" with a nervous glance to Lily, he looked back up at Harry. "Please tell me I'm right…" he nearly begged this. He loved Lily, even though they always fought. He was only 17, but he knew he wanted her to be his, and his only.
Harry wasn't too surprised that his father had managed to figure it out. After all, his eye colour wasn't very popular. He turned to Dumbledore, biting his lip, "Should I-- tell them, Professor?
Dumbledore nodded, "Yes. I think it would be wise if you divulge. It does seem as though he's made a decent guess, and I must admit that I'm rather curious myself, Harry."
Harry turned from Dumbledore and looked at Lily. Her green eyes shone back with curiosity and he swallowed, "When I said earlier that there was nothing that I could tell you about the future…I wasn't completely honest. There is something, but I don't want you to panic," he said, rushing the last sentence, "But you…You're my mother, Lily."
Lily looked over Harry wordlessly, studying him. He did indeed have her eyes, but he was so much like James. She was a bit shocked that this was actually her son, and even more shocked that James was the father, but she wasn't that upset about it. James had been asking her for a date for the past 6 years, and he had obviously done something right. She ended up falling for him about a year ago, and was to the point where she was going to say 'yes' the next time he made a move. The idea didn't bother her quite as much as she expected. The thought of her and James having a child sounded wonderful, and she was happy.
James had his eyes closed, waiting for the answer. When he heard the name 'Lily', he nearly gasped. His eyes flew open and his gaze shifted to Lily. He watched her carefully for an expression. Her livid green eyes were thoughtful. That was a good sign, wasn't it? He looked to Dumbledore with a panicked look in his eyes. Dumbledore looked thoughtful himself, so he returned to looking at Lily. Was she disgusted at the thought of marriage and a child with him? He nearly jumped with glee when she smiled softly at him.
Lily's smile widened as she saw the twinkle in James' eyes, and turned back to Harry who was looking at them almost fearfully. Giving an encouraging smile to him, she said, "It's alright, Harry. You explained why you wouldn't originally say anything. James and I aren't together, and you had reason."
Professor Dumbledore, meanwhile, had a pocket watch in his hand, with a thin silver chain trailing from it and ending somewhere in his pocket. He coughed lightly, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Miss Evans and Mr. Potter are required to be in their dormitories. The rest of you may use the two guest rooms on the same floor as the Gryffindor entrance." Nodding to Lily and James, he smiled, "I'm sure these two would be happy to show you the doors. The passwords are 'mandrake' and 'patronus' is the other one." He turned to James, his long beard brushing up against his robes, "I shall also make a concession for Mr. Potter. He will be allowed to tell his friends, on the condition that they will not tell anyone who our visitors really are. You all might wish to come up with different surnames to disguise yourselves."
Hermione glanced at Ron, "Ron, Ginny, and I could use my maiden name, Professor. I'm a muggleborn, so nobody should recognize the name."
Dumbledore nodded, "And what shall we call you then, Mrs. Weasley?"
"Granger, Professor."
"Very well, Ms. Granger, Mrs. Granger, Mr. Granger," he nodded to each of them in turn and looked over at James, "Is there anyone who looks as remarkably like you in your family who Harry can take the name of?"
"No…" James said slowly, "But I suppose I could act as though he is my cousin. Not everyone knows my entire family." And then thinking, he quickly added, "As long as the rest of my mates know the truth, it'll be fine."
As a small knock hit the door outside, the sound reverberated around the room. "One second, please." Dumbledore called out softly, "I have a meeting with Professor Slughorn. You can now go to your rooms. I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning where I will announce your arrival as there will be less fuss than if it was done in the evening, Goodnight." He said quietly as e reached for something behind his desk.
The six students walked out of the office and proceeded to their dormitories or rooms. On the way a conversation was started by Lily.
"So," Lily started, "quite a few professors stay on, then." She looked at Harry for a second, and then began softly, "I know that you probably don't want to answer this, but when we were in Dumbledore's office, Harry… You looked like you were going to cry." Harry knew what was coming when she asked this, "Can you tell us why?"
Seeing the look on Harry's face, Lily opened her mouth to say 'nevermind', but Harry stopped her as he held up a hand. "Dumbledore dies at the end of our 6th year." He sighed, and then continued, "The last time I saw him was at it funeral." He chose not to mention what had happened after the Battle.
James and Lily stopped walking, shocked expressions on their faces. Dumbledore was dead? They knew he was old, but he was Dumbledore! He had at least another 20 good years left in him. But then again, they didn't know the circumstances surrounding his death. They couldn't know, and they wouldn't ask because they knew what the answer would be. James knew it had to do with Voldemort, though. He had guessed as soon as Harry sighed. No one else would be cruel enough to kill their Headmaster.
After a long pause in which everyone was thinking, Hermione coughed lightly, "Is there anything else you would like to know?"
"How long have you four been friends? Are you as close as we are?" James asked, implying the friendship he and the Marauders had.
"Harry and I met on the train ride to Hogwarts." Ron said, "Hermione joined us after we rescued her from a mountain troll in the girls' loo." He glanced at Hermione guiltily, and went on, "It was my fault, really. I was talking to some of my mates and I said some pretty retched things about her, how she didn't have any friends. She…er… heard me and went to cry there… and… Anyway. Ginny's my sister. And I didn't really have a choice in that."
Harry pushed his best friend gently, "Oh, bug off, Ron. Anyway, Ginny got closer to Hermione and myself after 5th year when I ran a defence group agai—"
"Defence group?"Lily interrupted, looking surprised.
"Yeah," Harry said, "We had this horrid woman named Umbridge who wouldn't let us do spells in the classroom, so Hermione had a brilliant idea. So we set up a group to practice defence because Voldemort was back. The Ministry didn't believe us, and I certainly wasn't going to let anyone die if it could be stopped," he shrugged, explaining calmly.
"Who taught you?" James inquired.
"Harry did," Ginny answered.
"He could do a corporeal patronus at 13," Hermione added. At the shocked expressions, she just shrugged. "He's always been the best at defense."
James and Lily were stunned. They were studying patronuses at the moment, and most of their class couldn't do it. They had been told that it was very advanced magic, and only the most skilled witches and wizards could do it. They were also told that they shouldn't feel too disappointed in themselves if they couldn't.
"What form does it take?" James asked, completely serious for one of the first times in his life.
Harry smiled at him, "A stag."
James felt tears prick at his eyes because he understood the complete and full meaning of this sign. As Hermione pointed out quietly, the form a patronus takes reflects someone you love very deeply because they are usually the one on think about while performing the spell. And that someone was him.
They reached Gryffindor tower faster than they thought they would, their minds working furiously with everything that had gone on so far, and more was yet to come.
"Should we tell the others tonight, or shall we leave it until tomorrow?"James asked, hoping they could get it over with tonight. He wasn't sure that he could last until tomorrow.
"Tonight," Harry affirmed. "There's a bigger chance of us being overheard tomorrow. Let's do it in one of the guest rooms so that nobody will pick up on the conversation. Could you go and get them?"
James nodded and started off, but Harry called after him, "We'll be in the second one. I liked Defence class today," reminding him of the password.
Five minutes later there were nine people in the second guest room. Six people were wide awake, sitting on various cushions and sofas. Three other boys sat opposite to them on a large sofa, leaning on each other and complaining that their sleep had been disturbed.
"Prongs," Sirius yawned, "Why did you have to wake us up in the middle of the night? Couldn't this have waited until morning?" He groggily rubbed his eyes, and then continued, "I mean, I know the bugger looks like you and everything, but don't you're taking it a little over the top?" he added for the millionth time that day.
"I can see that, now," Peter finally managed to choke out, "You have Lily's eyes, but apart from that, you look like Prongs." This comment was followed by several astonished mutterings of 'Yeah, mate."
Sirius was curious, and he also wanted to fill up the future, so looking at Harry, he asked, "What are we like in the future?"
James gave a sharp glare to Harry, and cut in, answering his friend's question. "Harry can't tell you. He wouldn't tell me if I was a good father or not, and he didn't bloody tell me that Lily was his mum 'til about 15 minutes ago." His tone was rather sharp, and it was obvious to everyone present that he was still a bit shocked and angry at his son for not telling him earlier.
"Ugh! I told you that I couldn't tell you! Hermione thought that it wouldn't be wise, but it's been difficult to ignore your constant interrogations!" he turned around, a frustrated look on his pale face and a few black strands of hair hung in front of his eyes as he tried to calm down, "Look. I'm sorry, but I still can't tell you anything else. I wish I could, but anything I say can affect what choices you all make later on."
"Can you tell us why you were talking about that lunatic Voldemort earlier?" James asked, obviously ignoring Harry's temper.
"Voldemort?" Sirius interrupted, "He's still there in your time? You know, I honestly thought that he would be gone by then... I hate anyone who supports him. Hell, I hate my own family, and I suppose that tells you a lot about my holidays.
"He is, but it's not like I know him personally." Harry said stiffly.
"Are you like us in the mischief sense?"
"Black!" Lily shouted disapprovingly, "Is that all you can think about?"
"No. I wanted to know more about Voldemort, but he's not going to tell us, so I just wanted to how else he's like Potter."
Harry shook his head, "No. Trouble usually ends up finding me, rather than me making trouble."
Hermione and Ron chuckled when Harry sent a warning glare back to them. Sirius took note and grinned, "That's rather disappointing. What makes you say that?"
"Voldemort," he replied quietly. "Hermione," he said, turning to her. "Can we explain a few things? Maybe 1st and 2nd year?"
"Yes. Alright, then," she agreed, "But make sure that you don't tell them everything."
"During the first two weeks at Hogwarts, I had become seeker for the house team, and it was all thanks to Malfoy. He threw Neville's Remembrall whilst we were on brooms and McGonagall saw me. She told Wood that I was perfect for the position. That year the philosopher's stone was being guarded at Hogwarts. It was really mad; we encountered a three headed dog and a giant chess board." Harry remembered fondly. He wondered where Fluffy was now, and, what Hagrid had done with him.
Hermione went on to tell them about when Harry saved the stone. Ron decided to speak up at this point. "The end of year feast was great as well. We originally came last because of the points we had deducted from meeting Hagrid, but, Dumbledore awarded me, Hermione, Harry and Neville extra points and we beat Slytherin by ten points!" Ron howled with glee. "Malfoy's face was a sight, it's a shame you couldn't have seen it."
Ginny carried on the story about the second year and how she was possessed by Voldemort and how Harry had saved her. His face seemed to flush after she mentioned it.
Both Lily and James swelled with a feeling inside of them. A feeling not too different from pride, pride for their son who was a brave person at a tender age.
Sirius, Remus and Peter were hanging to every word the four of them spoke. It seemed an incredible story to them.
"I see what you mean by trouble always finding you now" Sirius replied. He could tell that Harry was a mix between Lily and James just by his past actions. He had deep loyalty like James and apparently was stubborn, just like Lily.
Remus had also seen the likeness between them. He was curious as to what else they had been through, as it seemed that Harry had quite a tough life for an eighteen year old.
Peter in turn was thinking that Harry was more mischievous than he let on. He got the feeling that they were being a little off with him and did not understand why, thought he'd be sure to ask them at some point.
Ginny mentioned the time and they decided that was a good place to stop for the night. After all, James and Sirius had Quidditch practice in the morning, and the others still needed to get settled down. With that, they all waved each other to bed, yawning the whole way.
