Author's Note: This has been re-edited. Hope you like.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter in no way belongs to me.
Chapter Three: The Marauders
As soon as Harry was alone, he flung himself onto his bed, releasing a sigh filled with mixed emotions. Turning over so he was lying on his back, Harry ran a hand over his face, his mind running down the long list of twisted feelings and thoughts he was slowly drowning in.
The main and uttermost complicated problem was Sirius and his dad. Yes, he wanted to see them again, he had been longing for an occasion like this since he could remember and there wasn't much Harry wouldn't give for this chance to form a relationship and gather an understanding about his family. It had been a fantastic experience meeting his mother, Lily. During the five minute walk to Gryffindor tower he learnt so much about her. She was bubbly, fun, easy to be round but not overly so. She knew and understood the delicacy of life, what's important and to be serious about things.
Now that Harry finally met his mother, began to draw a perception of her person, it hurt more than ever that he never got to grow up around her. She had given up his life for him, her son. Harry couldn't help but speculate how life could have been for him.
Harry roughly brushed away those childish dreams, focussing his attention to a much more pressing matter. How could he be with Sirius and his father, hear them talk and laugh and yet not tell them or warn them about what's going to happen? How could he stay, sleep in the same room with the traitor and not say a word? How could he, Harry, pretend not to know, when so much of the hurt in his life had been because of Pettigrew and his cowardice?
Harry had no idea.
Shaking his head in attempt to clear his mind, Harry got out of bed and investigated the trunk Dumbledore had provided. Folded neatly inside were his school uniform of robes, outdoor cloaks, and any other essentials he was likely to need. There were some casual day wear, books, parchment, quills and other school related necessities. Everything was new and neatly arranged. It could have been anyone's.
Luckily, Harry still had his own wand, which he had made the habit of carrying it everywhere with him. Looking back at his life, it wasn't as though anyone could have blamed him for his paranoia.
Changing into some dark blue pyjamas, Harry pulled down the hangings of his bed and lay down, stuffing his wand under his pillow. He felt secure knowing it was near. Enclosed in the darken place he let his eyes rest as tiredness prevailed over him. The energy drained through him like sand going through a sieve and let the stillness of the room conquer his consciousness.
Sometime later, the door creaked and Harry snapped his eyes open, instantly awake. He had always been a light sleeper, but ever since the battle in the Department of Mysteries, he was aware of the slightest noise, movement or light. Silently, he fumbled for his wand, and gripping it tightly, he listened. Next, a familiar, cheery voice rippled through the room. The voice was different from the record in Harry's memory but the underlying sound was the same. Harry's heart clenched to hear it.
"So Prongs," Sirius Black said "have you got everything ready for tomorrow?" Harry felt eyes swivel towards the drawn curtains concealing his resting self. "Aah, so this the new kid Lily was going about."
"Must be," said a voice Harry first heard in the presence of dementors. It belonged to the person who had tried to hold of one of the darkest wizards in time in attempt to give his wife and son time to escape. "I wonder what he's like. Do you think he'll give us a little extra fun by destroying out enemy's life, or is he going to be like our friend, Moony, here?"
"Hey!" a much more mature voice protested. "I do more than my share of work as a Marauder and troublemaker. I just make sure it does not affect my school work. Give the guy a break; you haven't even met him for more than a few seconds."
"We'll find out soon enough," Sirius replied.
"Sirius!" Remus chided, though there was something in the way he said it which made it apparent he knew full well his comment was washed aside. "You just can't wake him, you know."
"It's only gone seven, Moony, come on," Sirius tried to reason.
"Sirius," Remus cautioned.
"Prongs?" Sirius turned to James for support.
James just laughed, and Harry, still hidden from view, felt a sense of longing. He felt hot pricks gathering in the back of his eyes. "I'm game," came a forth voice; the squeak of a traitor.
Harry felt as though a match had struck inside him. Hot anger welled, coursing through his veins as the flames rose. It was so obvious, Harry thought. Why didn't anyone else see Peter's willingness to abide those around him, not giving a moment of consideration on what he was doing and who he may be harming?
"Well, two can play at a game," Harry snarled silently, tightening his grip on his wand. A shadow of a hand had gripped the curtains before he quickly shut his eyes. He felt people crowd around him, and the perfect curse slid into his mind. He grinned inwardly to himself and silently thanked Hermione. He heard a rustle and someone, no, two people, edge closer. A finger poked him softly in the chest, then, again, harder.
"Shall we go for it together then?" The anticipation was evident in Peter's voice.
"One, two..."
Before he could say three, Harry had sat up so quickly they jumped back in surprise. In the same split second, Harry raised his wand and shouted, "AGUAMENTI!" A jet of icy water exploded out of the tip of Harry's wand, drenching Peter in it.
Freezing liquid rained down on the squealing boy, who slipped and tumbled onto the floor as he attempted to free himself from the spout.
After a few moments, Harry seemed to have collected himself from the shock of being crept up on during his sleep and gave his wand a quick wave, stemming the flow. He turned to looking sheepishly at Remus, Sirius and James. "Er…Hi?"
Harry blushed. His heart was racing and his mind went in to overdrive, swarmed by the mass of worries and questions which were flooding his mind. What should he do? How should he act? What if they suspected something? What if they turned against him for attacking their friend?
An awkward silence settled as Harry stared at the Marauders, particularly James, and they stared back at him. Harry willed for someone to break the awkward silence, the atmosphere between could have been sliced with a knife. Harry did not know how long it was until Remus finally spoke.
"Er…Hi," his voice gained confidence as he spoke. "I'm Remus Lupin, and these are my friends. Sorry about waking you up like that."
Harry relaxed and was glad the tension was broke. "Hi, I'm Harry Granger, and I'm sorry too about the water. It was kind of a shock to wake up to several people surrounding you. I didn't expect to be ganged up on whilst I'm asleep and thought I as going to be attacked," he added looking pointedly at Pettigrew. He hoped his explanation made sense; his muddled and panicky mind was having trouble stringing words together.
"Yeah, sorry," James said apprehensively. "I'm James Potter, by the way," he introduced himself, "and he's Peter Pettigrew," he added pointing to the boy Harry had just drenched.
Next, Sirius stepped forward and extended a hand. "Sirius Black, at your service."
"Nice to meet you." Harry tried to hold back a laugh as he shook hands with Sirius. All his concerns and worries slowly leaked away as the course of the present time flowed along by itself. His father and his friends were perfectly relaxed around him, and he didn't have to really pretend and act that much either.
"Delighted to meet you, Mr. Granger," said Sirius, mimicking a posh voice so fake, making everyone else laugh harder.
"I think that's a bit over the top Padfoot," Remus chuckled. "Here, scourgify." He waved his wand over at Peter and the water vanished.
"Sorry about that, Peter, is it?" Harry felt his blood boil; after meeting his parents and finally learning what they were like, it was even harder for him not to blow his cover with the rat.
Harry now acknowledged exactly what he lost the night Peter sealed his parent's fate. Years of love, mirth, safety, family comfort and reassurance had been vanquished by him. James and Lily trusted Peter with their lives and he abused that trust. Harry could never imagine selling out Hermione, Ron or any of the Weasleys and he knew clearly Hermione and Ron would willingly die for him. It had been proven on innumerable occasions. Harry asked himself fruitlessly, how anyone could ever turn their back on such a strong bond of friendship, love and trust?
Pettigrew had saw a reason to; a reason strong enough to sign his best friends death warrant. Harry presently felt that having to act civil to Peter was a task harder than facing Voldemort.
"Yeah." Peter squirmed nervously. "Just don't do it again, please." Harry couldn't help but notice the way he edged himself behind James for protection.
"As long as you don't sneak up on me again whilst I'm asleep, otherwise I'll curse you to the other side of the world," Harry said coolly, trying to keep his voice as even as possible. Luckily, the Marauders did not notice his struggle or bitter tone.
"What school have you come from, Harry?" Remus asked friendly.
"Merlin's Wizarding School, it's in South Wales," Harry replied.
"What's it like there?" James said, curious.
"It was nice, though not as big as Hogwarts."
"So, Harry," Sirius asked cheerfully, "do you know any good pranks?"
"Sirius," Remus rolled his eyes, exasperated.
"Well." Harry turned his full attention on to him. "My best friend's twin brothers run a joke shop, and when they were still at school, they were in trouble every day. Once, they turned one of the corridors into a swamp." Harry chuckled, remembering not only that, but their flight to escape Umbridge and the fireworks they had provided so Harry could talk to Sirius. No, he told his mind firmly, he did not want to think about that, not now. Letting his mind stray back to painful reminders of what was going to happen to his newly acquaintance friends was not a good idea if he wanted to keep us his presence as Harry Granger.
"Cool," Sirius exclaimed, his eyes illuminating with glee and mischief.
"Brilliant, Harry! I'd love to meet the prank twins someday," James said excitedly,
"but for now, would you like to help us with something we've planned for tomorrow morning?"
"What are you going to do?" Harry asked curiously. He swept aside the Hermione part of his mind, consoling himself. Being with his parents was something he always longed for, and he'd have to redo classes anyhow when he got back. He nervously blocked away the memory of Snape's pensieve; how his father was a bully, how he had humiliated and mocked someone out of pure boredom. Harry could only hope his father had grown out of that stage, he didn't know if he could go along with it like Remus. He didn't know if he could sit aside and watch his father purposely hurt someone and say nothing. Harry knew first hand what it felt like being put on show like a clown for someone else's fun. He had spent the first eleven years of his life undergoing that humiliation.
"Cause havoc and chaos, of course," Sirius said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. Harry smiled weakly, his mind far away.
"Be quiet, Padfoot," Remus scolded lightly.
"Well, this is the plan," James informed Harry, shaking him out of his reverie.
Bouts of explosive laughter could soon be heard from the dormitory as their imagination and mischief soared.
Listening and scheming with his family, closet friends and guardian, Harry felt a warm glow illuminate from within him. A light bubble of love and happiness enveloped him, the knowledge of his mother and father's personality, nature and their willingly acceptance of him-- it was something not even Voldemort could destroy.
A/N: Please Review. Thanks to Death Hawk for beta-reading this.
