Chapter 3

After Dumbledore left Harry just thought over everything that had happened in the last few hours. "It could only happen to me," he concluded with his booklist still in hand he decided that he might as well get his books unsure of what to do with his free time.

In Diagon Alley, he noticed not much had changed, it was busy like any other August day. He felt like he should be able to recognise some people but then realised some of them could have died at the hand of Voldemort and his death eaters.

When he walked into flourish and blotts he was hit with the familiar smell of old books. He noticed how busy it was, he thought he would have a look for the books since all the staff were busy. The first book was the standard book of spells grade 7, he walked over there when a group of 3 walked in the shop. At first, he did not notice until he did a double take it was his father, his godfather and his surrogate uncle. He kept his head down and charmed his hair blond to try to get rid of some of the resemblances between his father. He could not stop staring with admiration of his father of how much they looked and talked alike.

He stopped when he realised he was staring but took in the appearance of the other two just noticing how happier they looked now compared to just before when they died.

When the three looked in his direction he continued looking for his charms book like he was before unknown to them that he was the one staring. He went to find all the other books as well.

When he left the shop he saw a man who he presumed was his grandfather as he was shouting "JAMES!" repeatedly. He chuckled lightly when walking up to him hoping to help him.

"Are you looking for a 17-year-old with black hair, this high, by any chance?" he asked with a twinkle in his eyes that resembled Dumbledore's thought the elder wizard.

"Yes do you know where he is?" the woman next to him asked exasperated, who Harry guessed was his grandmother.

"He was in flourish and blotts from what I saw."

"Honestly, we told him to wait for us while we paid, thank you," she replied before rushing off in the direction Harry came from.

Harry then realised that it would be best for him to get his muggle hair dye as his charm was already coming off. He dropped off his books in his room before setting off for the muggle world, when he got in his room he realized something. Somebody had dropped a trunk off in there. When he looked at the tag he saw it said "Harry Jameson". He looked inside and saw that it was from Dumbledore. His headmaster had provided him with the dirty blond muggle hair dye, wizarding robes, his school uniform and some muggle clothes.

When he looked further into the trunk he saw that there was a letter from Dumbledore saying:

Harry,

I thought you should know, I would like you to research time as much as possible. You will be sharing a dorm room with James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. If you have any problems with that please let me know. On September 1st I will have one of the seventh year prefects show you around after the feast and meet you at on the platform at 10:30 to go over what will happen when you arrive. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to owl me.

Albus Dumbledore

When Harry finished the letter he decided that he had better dyed his hair now, so there is no longer any possibility of having to charm his hair as he did earlier that day.

Almost two weeks later 10:10, Harry was on the platform about to place his trunk onto the train when he felt someone tap his shoulder as he turned around he saw a face that he had prepared to see over the last two weeks.

"Are you the new student, Harry Jameson?" asked Remus hopefully. At Harry's nod, he continued. "My name is Remus Lupin welcome to Hogwarts." he helpfully started. "At Hogwarts, there are four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. There is a competition between the houses for who can gain the most points at the end of the year. There is a rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor. At Hogwarts, there are some things that you have to keep in mind like how the stairs can move and there are secret passages around the school. Any questions so far?" as Harry shook his head he continued, "when we get to Hogwarts there is going to be our annual start of term speech and then I will show you around the school. Did you get told when you were going to be sorted?"

"I already got sorted when the headmaster said I could join the school?" said Harry with a smile on his face knowing what the next question was going to be.

They continued like this for half an hour until some more people started showing up. "Okay, I think that is everything I will need to know, I will probably see you at Hogwarts," said Harry before getting on the train. As he shut the door behind him his calm demeanour came down with worry how he was going act when he saw his deceased father and the traitor. He started walking towards the compartment that he had for the first year that he saw was empty and pulled out his defence against the dark arts book to see how much he already knew to do.

As Harry got off the train a few hours later, he found an empty carriage being pulled by the thestral. He wondered how many students back in his time would now be able to see them after fighting in the final battle.

He got pulled out of his thoughts of the sight of the four boys that will in the future give their lives to protect him. When he looked down at his hands he realised he was shaking so he pulled out the book that he was reading earlier.

"Can we sit here?" came the voice of his old professor that was being sent a death glare by Sirius.

"Sure," came the voice of the new boy. Sirius did not want to sit with the new boy. No offence to him or anything but they still had to plan their annual prank for the feast as both James and Remus was at the prefect meeting for an hour on the train, so he just wanted to go over the prank without anyone listening in.

"This is Harry Jameson he's in our year and is in Gryffindor." Remus introduced.

"I'm James Potter," he introduced himself with his charming smile that can make girls swoon.

"Peter Pettigrew," he smiled shyly. At this Harry realised it must have been after the war that the rat turned but thought that he would keep an eye on him.

"Sirius Black," his godfather introduced. It was at this that he realised the haunted look in his eyes he got from Azkaban as well as the physical effects.

"So why did you move here? I have never heard of any students suddenly joining," asked James.

"I went to a ministry school, but I joined here because most of the professors are in st mungos and killed when death eaters attacked." as he said this he was wondering how he became a good liar and remembered to have a faraway look in his eyes then shook his head as if shaking away his memories.

"Oh, well, welcome to Hogwarts," said Sirius trying to think of a way to break the tension. "When did you get sorted?" he asked remembering what moony said.

"When I contacted professor Dumbledore, he said I could join and then sorted me so that it will be less obvious that I joined late for everyone. So, how long have you all been friends?" he asked now giving up his reading.

"We became friends in our first year, I met Sirius on the train and we have been friends ever since. Then we met m-Remus and Peter at the feast later." James said, his eyes sparkling at the memory, after making sure Harry didn't notice his mistake.

"What are you reading?" asked Remus. At first, Harry was confused, but then remembered the book in his lap.

"It's the defence against the dark arts book to see how different the curriculum is here," he said as an excuse knowing that time would change the curriculum, especially the defence against dark arts, as he was a safer version.

"Is it any different?" Peter asked curiously.

"Yes, it focuses on more dangerous things compared to my old curriculum."

"What NEWTs are you taking?" asked Remus, trying to get away from the subject of dangerous things.

"I am taking potions, transfiguration, charms, defence against the dark arts, care of magical creatures and herbology."

"You should be in the same lessons as us then, except only Remus and I are doing potions and care of magical creatures," James replied.

"Remus and I," Remus corrected.

"Yes professor," he joked.

"We're here," announced Sirius, thinking of the prank they were going to pull soon.

Walking into the great hall, Harry tried intimidating his face that he did when he first arrived here. He thinks he managed to pull it off as when he looked at some of the people around him they were looking at him amused.

He sat down, suddenly remembering the last time he was in this hall, there were bodies over the floor including the last of the marauders. When he looked up he saw loads of people looking at him, he quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts, when Professor McGonagall walked in with the first years, a stool and an ancient hat.

As the hall quietened down, the headmaster rose from his seat to make his announcement. "Before we sort the first years into their houses, I would like to remind the students that Zonkos products are banned from use along with other things which a list can be found outside Mr Filch's office and the forbidden forest is forbidden without a teacher's presence." after that he once again took his seat at the teachers table.

The sorting took place, the same as every other year with a few names Harry recognised, including Bill Weasley, which made him smile. The Headmaster rose once again, in the presence of the speech everyone immediately was silenced "welcome to another year at Hogwarts. We have a change in staffing this year, it is to my delight that we welcome the new defence against the dark arts professor, professor Merrythought." the great hall was then filled with polite applause. "Now, prefects, show the first years to their dormitories for tomorrow we will have our wonderful lessons." with that all the younger years dispersed with all the prefects.