AN: Alright, sorry for the wait, I had difficulty with this chapter, I actually re-wrote the entire thing, also I have been busy, and sick. I got a review asking if I can make sure Lily doesn't forgive Snape right away, don't worry, she won't. After everything he did, and all the hate he has sent to Harry? No way, it will take time. So anyway, I hope you like it. I love the reviews, please keep them coming. And enjoy chapter 3!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harry Potter
James was seething as he walked to the Great Hall. He heard Lily calling for him from behind and stopped and turned around. Lily and Harry were sprinting to catch up. When they did James let them catch their breath before talking.
"What? I really need to speak with Albus about this!"
"James, I understand. I'm just as mad as you are, but we can't just go in there! They won't believe it's us until we prove it. And they will try hexing us most likely." Lily tried to reason. But James only smirked.
"Then why don't I give them proof it's really me before they get the chance to hex me?" Lily eyed him suspiciously.
"What do you mean James?"
"No one can copy Prongs can they? Minnie and Albus know about Prongs, as do some others like Filius."
"James, that's a good idea!" Lily said in mock shock. James pretended to pout and put a hand over his heart.
"You wound me Flower, truly."
"Um… what's an animagoos?" Harry asked.
"Animagus Harry, it's a wizards who can turn into an animal. Sirius, Peter and I taught ourselves how too. I'm a stag, Siri is a dog, and the traitor is a rat. Suits him."
"Traitor?"
"Peter Pettigrew, he was our secret keeper, he sold us out to Voldemort." James said, expression grim.
"Secret keeper?" Harry asked, bewildered.
"We will explain later sweetheart."
Harry nodded. "So you're Prongs because you're a stag?"
"Yep, and Sirius was Padfoot, Peter was Wormtail."
"What about the other person… Remus?"
"We will explain when we have time Harry, I want to get to the Hall before breakfast is over."
"One more question?" Harry asked, with unsureness clear in his eyes. Lily knelt down.
"What is it?" She asked gently.
"Why did you say only some people would recognize Prongs?"
"That's an excellent question Harry. You see, your dad and godfather, along with the rat, were illegal animagi. They were not registered, so it was a secret kept from most people." Lily explained patiently. Harry's eyes widened as he looked at his dad.
"Are you going to get in trouble for it?" He asked worriedly.
"Don't worry Harry." James quickly reassured him. "I won't get into trouble, I am from one of the oldest and wealthiest pureblood lines, and I've been dead for ten years. Frankly, I don't think they would have the heart to do anything like lock me up. And if they could, I could easily bail myself out." At Harry's nod he continued to speak. "Are you ready?"
Harry nodded excitedly and watched, amazed, as his dad transformed into a magnificent stag with the same hazel eyes as his father, with a glasses outline around his eyes.
"Wow." Harry breathed, transfixed. He held out a hand tentatively, and Prongs nudged it with his snout, encouraging Harry. So Harry started to pet the stag that was his father.
"Come on now, why don't we get to the Great Hall?" Lily asked, although it was more of a statement. Prongs led the rest of the way, Harry right next to him, keeping a hand on the stag, the other one gripped in his mother's hand, who was standing on the other side of the young boy.
The arrived at the doors, which were surprisingly closed. Prongs just looked at Harry and Lily, as if to say 'Well? Are you going to open the door? I don't have hands.' So Harry moved to open the door, Prongs only snorted and looked at Lily, now saying 'Uh-uh, you too Lily, I want a double door entrance' Lily rolled her eyes and went to the other door. She counted to 3 and her and Harry opened the doors together, to allow Prongs inside, where you could hear loud chatter for a second before the Hall went completely silent. Everyone was now staring at the stag that was making its way down the center aisle, followed by Harry Potter and another lady. Although quite a few adults recognized the woman and stag. Minerva dropped the goblet she had been holding and covered her mouth with her hands. Snape was staring in wide-eyed shock at the trio. A couple teachers gave a gasp or scream and Albus Dumbledore stood, alarmed, wand out and pointed at the stag.
"It can't be, but- but no one can copy a- James? Lily?" Albus asked incredulously. James transformed back and the Hall gasped, although you could hear some shocked screams as well, because they might not recognize the man and woman, but they could guess based off of how similar Harry and he new man looked, the teacher's reactions, and the fact that their headmaster had said James and Lily.
"Glad I caught your attention." James said, eyes narrowed, although they had a bit of amusement in them as well.
"Is it really you? How can this be?" Albus asked.
"Yes, it's us, Lily and James Potter. As for how… Erm, I'm not entirely sure how actually… I'll explain it later. But right now I wanted to talk to you about a very… interesting and horrible story my son just told me. It was about his life, growing up."
"Well, I do need proof that this is Lily first." Albus had paled slightly at James's words, the twinkle in his eyes gone. James narrowed his eyes.
"Expecto Patronum!" Lily shouted, and a silver doe shot out of her wand and leapt around the Great Hall.
"Is that proof enough headmaster?"
But the great Albus Dumbledore remained speechless, staring at James and Lily.
"Now would you mind telling us, it you would be so kind, as to WHY our son was sent to live with Lily's MAGIC HATING sister, and her family instead of Sirius or Remus?"
Whispers were heard throughout the Great Hall at his words and Harry looked down at his feet.
"Wait a moment." McGonagall said. "Why Sirius? Surely you wouldn't even think of letting him raise Harry now that you know what he has done."
"What?" Lily asked. "What do you mean?"
"Well, he betrayed you did he not? He was your secret keeper!"
"No, that was Peter, we switched without telling anyone." James stated. Many gasps were heard, which caused James to start to worry. "Why? Does everyone think he was? Where is he?"
"He- Well, you see, it's a complicated story." Albus started. James narrowed his eyes.
"Well, why don't you un-complicate it?"
"You see, Sirius was believed to be your secret keeper, and it's said that Peter caught up to him and Sirius killed Peter, and blasted a dozen muggles on the street with a single spell. All that was left was a finger from Peter, and when the aurors arrived, Sirius was laughing."
"He laughs when he's upset! He always has! Don't tell me he is in Azkaban!?" James practically yelled. The look on everyone's face confirmed his fear. "And what did he say at the trial?"
Albus shifted uncomfortably.
"Albus, what did Sirius say at his trial?" Lily questioned this time.
"Well, you see, he- he didn't get one." James's eyes flared. Dumbledore tried to calm him. "The evidence was overwhelming James, you must understand, we were in dark times, or coming out of them anyway and-"
"YOU THINK I CARE!? YOU'RE TELLING ME HE WENT TO AZKABAN WITHOUT A TRIAL FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN'T DO!?" James shouted. "YOU KNOW SIRIUS WOULD NEVER BETRAY US! WE WERE BROTHER'S IN ALL BUT BLOOD! YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN HIM A TRIAL WITH YOU'RE POSITION AS SUPREME MUGWUMP."
"James, the evidence"
"You think I care what the evidence says when I know the truth. You could have used veritaserum. Peter was the secret keeper."
"Excuse us"
"We couldn't help but overhear"
"No one in the Great Hall can actually,"
"But you wouldn't happen to be"
"Talking about Peter Pettigrew."
"Now would you?"
Everyone turned to see two ginger Gryffindor twins walking up the aisle. James studied them before nodding slowly.
"Yeah, why? And who are you?"
"Fred"
"And George"
"Weasley" They said together.
"Well, we have this map..."
"It's a very special map"
"The marauders map by any chance? Don't tell me you have it! How did you get it! Peter got it confiscated in 7th year! Padfoot about had a fit to be honest."
"Wait, you know the map?"
"You know Padfoot?"
"Of course! I'm one of the creators! Messr Prong's at your service, Padfoot was Sirius, Moony was Remus and Peter was Wormtail."
"No way!"
"An honor to meet you sir."
"The marauders are our role models!"
"Thank you! But what were you saying about Peter?"
The twins look at eachother and back to James.
"Well you see, at first we thought the map was wrong."
"The map is never wrong" James corrected quickly.
"We know that" Fred assured him. "But you see,"
"We saw Peter's name at the beginning of the year."
"So we tried to go to where it said he was"
"Which was normally in the common room"
"Or first year boy's dorm"
"But we could never find him."
"And you didn't think to tell anyone?" Lily asked, more concerned than angry.
"Well, we never saw him."
"So we thought it was wrong"
"It did puzzle us"
"But we were worried that a teacher would take the map away." George finished.
"What is the marauder's map exactly? It doesn't sound like something the Weasley twins should have." McGonagal said from where she had been watching.
"Nothing dangerous, don't worry." James said quickly before turning back to the twins. "No one in first year would happen to have a rat would they?"
"Ron does!" Harry said, piecing everything together. "And Peter was a rat... and if all they could find was a finger... Scabbers is missing a finger! On one of his front paws!"
"What? No! Scabbers... Are you saying my rat is Peter Pettigrew?! Bu- but he can't be!"
"He has been in our family for 12 years... the time adds up. Plus that's a long time for a rat like that to normally live" Percy put in. "Ron, where is Scabbers?"
"I-He should be in the dorm..."
"Yep, that's where he is see?" Fred said pointing at the now-activated marauders map. James hurridly looked at the map and and angry glint shone in his eyes.
"Some one needs to get him, some one that won't be suspicious but could hold their own if something were to happen, not that Peter would have his wand on him if he is a rat." James said.
"We'll go... This way we have the map if he does move or we can't find him. He won't be an issue if he doesn't have a wand." George offered.
"Are you certain? Maybe a teacher should go with you…" Professor Sprout said.
"No, then it will look suspicious." James turned to the twins. "Go get Peter, put him in his cage, or whatever you have, and bring him back. Don't do anything else."
The twins nodded before running out. All eyes were still on James and Lily.
"Well, as much as I would like to talk, I am hungry, so I think I'll eat something quickly before they get back with Peter, Albus, if you could call some aurors?" James requested.
Everyone gaped as the family sat down at the Gryffindor table. No one spoke, aside from the occasional whispers, they just watched them. Harry looked uncomfortable with all the attention but seemed happy his parents were with him. He sent a glance to Ron and Hermione, who were down the table and gave them a look that said 'later.'
AN: Hope that was okay. Please review and suggest your ideas! Can't wait to hear what you think. I hope I did okay, I was really unsure about this chapter because I feel like I built it up a bit and I don't want to disappoint. So anyway, let me know! Thanks for being so patient! Until next time!