Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

By the time he entered the great hall it was nearly full, students everywhere, but this time Harry didn't feel the urge to leave. He walked unnoticed to the Griffindor table and sat down. It was strange… this lack of notice. From the first day he entered the magical world people were staring at him, he was famous and this sense of anonymity he now got was pleasant. He ate slowly looking around curiously but nobody seemed interested enough to notice him. It was nice.

"Harry," he heard a familiar voice and turned to see Lupin. Just like he saw him in the Pensive in Snape's office. Only not so pale.

"Hello, Remus," he said and Lupin halted but then shrugged and continued. "McGonagall told me you are going to stay with us for a while and that I have to help you along as you don't know anyone. Not sure about that though," he smiled studying Harry's face and coming it seemed to the same conclusion Dumbledore made. "This is your timetable. It's defense against the Dark arts today after lunch. Any questions you have—just come and ask. I'm a prefect. That's kind of my job anyway. The password for this week is Patronus. Your bed will be the furthest from the door in 6th years dorm. McGonagall said you don't' have your stuff, so you can use mine until you get yours," he turned his head noticing a red head girl coming into the hall and waved for her to come along. "Harry, this is Lily Evans. She's another prefect of our year."

"Hello, Harry," Lily said smiling looking at him curiously. "Welcome to Hogwarts.. Well.. Our Hogwarts at least. If you have any problems—just ask. I'll be glad to help you."

"Thanks," Harry said staring at her. Lily blushed and Lupin smirked.

"Ok then," she said cheerfully. "I'll join Alice then. See you later."

"Do you mind if I join you?" Lupin asked still standing next to Harry.

"Oh, yes, sure," Harry grinned and Remus sat next to him.

"My friends will come soon too. I think you'd like to meet them," Remus said smirking and Harry choked. Just at that moment two boys walked through the doors chatting loudly searching the hall for someone. As soon as their eyes found Remus they strode purposefully towards them and sat in front of them.

"So you're our guest from the future then," Sirius asked boldly helping himself with food.

"Yeah," Harry said quietly staring at them. He shook his head then and blushed. "Sorry."

"It seems you know us then," James smirked studying the face so much like his own.

"Kind of," Harry said drinking his pumpkin juice.

"Creepy," Sirius said and they all laughed.

"Where's Peter?" Lupin asked and Harry caught off guard flinched but nobody noticed.

"Ran back to the dormitory. Says he forgot something but I think he's just hiding from Brown," James said and Sirius laughed.

"So, are you starting tomorrow?" James asked Harry.

"No, just after lunch. Don't have anything though…"

"Don't worry. We'll share. And anyway, Professor Thomas isn't exactly interested in defense so I doubt you'll really need anything except a pillow." Sirius laughed and Harry smiled recalling his mother's words in her diary.

"I know what you mean," he said.

"So the jinx is still at large in the future?" Lupin asked curiously.

"Well, yeah. Haven't had a teacher for longer than a year. One of them was killed, Another lost his memory, the next just left, another got kissed by a dementor and the last one told the herd of centaurs they were filthy half-bloods and got thoroughly bitten up," Harry told them in a matter of fact voice and all three other boys laughed.

"Forget I said anything about teaching defense," Remus said half-jokingly.

"Come on, Moony. You could be the lucky one and just leave," they all laughed and Harry choked.

"Good one, Padfoot," he said and Sirius looked at him surprised for a moment but then just shrugged. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"No, you really shouldn't," Harry laughed.

They entered the classroom a few minutes before the lesson started and Harry went to see Professor Thomas. By the time they came back all seats were full except for the one in the front row beside Lily Evans and Harry swallowed and sat there as the lesson started.

It was worse that Quirell, Lockhart and Umbridge. It was nonsense. Professor was telling a fascinating story how he was chasing Death Eaters. By the time he reached the part where he fought the Cruciatus Curse Harry couldn't remain silent and said.

"That's just nonsense. You can't even think straight, let alone fight."

The room was silent staring at him.

"No way," he heard Sirius say from a few rows behind him.

Professor Thomas looked at him as if deciding what to do about this comment but then just continued with the story.

By the end of the class Harry was in such a deep shock he didn't notice the students leaving until James shook him.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. That's just… nonsense. How do they expect us to learn defense with this… He hadn't got a single fact correctly except that the Death Eaters could run," Harry exclaimed walking out of the room.

Lupin, Sirius, James and Peter glanced at each other.

"You know that stuff then," Lupin said and Harry looked at his startled.

"Some of it," he said uncertainly.

"You've been cursed with Cruciatus," James stated looking at him with wonder.

"Yes," Harry replied. And with Imperious, He thought. And with the killing curse as well. What a life. He chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Sirius asked.

"Nothing. Just what a wonderful life I'm leading being only fifteen and having experienced Cruciatus and Imperious."

"What?" all of the marauders exclaimed.

"Well, yeah."

"Who did that to you?" asked Lupin who was as pale as ice now.

"Voldemort," Harry said grimly before he could stop himself and noticed everyone flinch. "Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself," he said to them. He would have never thought these ones would be afraid of it and it was kind of strange.

"There's something in that," James said finally. "I just don't understand. How are you still alive?"

"I'm just lucky, I am, Prongs," Harry smiled sadly at his father.

"You can't tell us," Remus stated and everybody looked at Harry who nodded.

"Dumbledore said I shouldn't. Knowing ones future isn't a good thing."

"Well, you know us so at least we're still there then," Sirius tried to lift the mood and they all laughed at that not noticing the bitterness in Harry's eyes.

"So, what's it like? Imperious?" Sirius asked suddenly.

"Padfoot, I don't think Harry wants to think about that," said Lupin.

"Come on, Moony. You know Aurors have to fight it. It's the part of their special training!"

"But Harry's only 15! He doesn't know how to do that yet!" Moony contradicted.

"I know," Harry said and blushed again when all their faces turned to him.

"You fought him?" James asked incredulously.

"I had to," Harry said. He still didn't think much o himself, thought the DA helped him to really appreciate what he could do.

"You really are something," Lupin said.

"Yeah," James said and then looked at Sirius and Remus with a strange manic twinkle in his eyes. "I think we've found him."

"Who?" Peter asked finally regaining his voice.

"Our Defense against the dark arts teacher," James said and similar mad smiles appeared on Padfoot's and Moony's faces.

"Oh, not that again," Harry moaned and four friends turned to look at him incredulously.

"We had the same problem last year and so we organized the club to learn defense. I was teaching," Harry said resignedly.

"Cool. You have experience then!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Never thought I'll teach my dad though," Harry muttered and Lupin being the closest to him and the only one to hear laughed.