Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine!
A/N: So it's coming along slowly, but finally, Harry has reached the past! GASP!
The Burrow
September 1, 1977
Bang!
Harry lifted his head, groggily. His glasses had flown nearly ten feet, and he could only see in a blur. He hoisted himself up, and a headache struck him immediately. He reached for his glasses, noticing when he put them on that they were slightly bent.
He groaned. He was lying in a pile of sand, which had stuck to his face and gotten in his mouth. He was holding shards of broken glass, many of which had sliced his hand open.
He suddenly remembered.
He looked at the remains of the time-turner. The sand was emanating a soft green glow.
Harry looked around. He was still in George and Fred's room, but somehow it looked different. As a matter of fact, both their beds were gone, along with their decorations.
"George? Fred?"
No answer.
He reluctantly clamored to his feet, stumbling a bit. He felt dizzy, and all his muscles were aching. He tried to walk forward, but that was painful. So he took slow, deliberate steps, trying not to wince with pain. Just as he made progress, nearly reaching the door, he toppled over, yelping in pain.
Suddenly, the door slammed open. In walked a man with a wand, and he was pointing it straight at Harry.
Harry narrowed his eyes, recognizing the man.
"Mr. Weasley?"
Arthur started, obviously surprised that Harry knew his name. He looked about 25. He had a full head of hair, and was even thinner than before. He lacked any sign of wrinkles or wariness. As a matter of fact, he looked young and defiant.
"Why do you look so…young?"
Mr. Weasley narrowed his eyes even more, stepping forward so he could speak to Harry.
"How do you know my name?"
Before Harry could respond, someone came bustling in next to Arthur.
Harry couldn't believe his eyes. The woman was obviously Mrs. Weasley, her face was exactly the same. Yet she was extremely thin, and slightly taller than Harry knew her to be. She, like her husband, looked much younger, in her twenties about. She had no wrinkles or crow's feet and her eyes lacked the frustration of a mother of seven. Her hair, normally frazzled and slightly grey, was a deep red that hung curly, tied in a tight bun. Her clothes were nicer than what was expected of Mrs. Weasley. She was in a beautiful white blouse and a short corduroy skirt, with nice brown shoes.
Harry was bewildered. This definitely wasn't the old Weasley couple he knew, who were kind but aged nonetheless, usually looked frazzled and underdressed.
Now they were both pointing their wands directly at his face. He began to fidget.
"I…I just…have no idea what is going on." He stopped, looking at the time-turner shards still in his palm, the sand scattered on the floor. Realization dawned on him.
He turned his eyes back to the Weasleys.
"What's the date?" He demanded.
Molly and Arthur exchanged confused glances, but kept their wands ready still.
"September 1, 1977," Molly said cautiously.
Harry began to panic, dropping the little pieces of glass still in his hand.
He tried to move forward, wanting to run, he needed fresh air. This room was beginning to seem awfully small. But he couldn't move; if he did Arthur and Molly Weasley would hex him straight in the face, and he probably wouldn't come out of it alive.
He stood rooted firmly in the spot.
Arthur leaned into Molly's ear, never taking his eyes off Harry.
"These are bad times Molly, especially with us in the Order." He was speaking quietly, but Harry could still catch what he was whispering. "I can stay and watch him, you should go contact Dumbledore at once, he could be a spy for…well…you know…" He trailed off.
Molly nodded, turning to go. She left them behind, and they stood in an extremely tense silence, Arthur eyeing Harry anxiously.
Something dawned on Harry. He noticed that the house was unnaturally quiet, something uncommon for the Burrow. Then he realized: the twins wouldn't be born for another 9 months.
He smiled slightly, waiting for Molly and Dumbledore to return.
The Hogwarts Express
Somewhere in the Countryside
Marauder Compartment
The four Marauders were crammed inside their train compartment. What had been roomy in first year was now tiny in their seventh, especially now that James, Sirius and Remus had grown upward, their long legs constantly hitting each other. It didn't help seat space now that Peter had grown outward.
Sirius and James had a game of exploding snap going on between them, with Remus being the watchful eye. This had been his job ever since the train ride back from first year. James and Sirius both had a penchant for becoming rather violent in their competitions, and with that the rules were sometimes forgotten.
But today, James really wasn't into it. He was playing lazily, and after awhile even Sirius got bored of James's mood.
"Prongs, c'mon, this isn't even fun anymore!" He tossed his hands in the air.
James's eyes narrowed. "I know," he began, "I'm sorry. It's just that…well…"
"Too preoccupied?" Remus eyed him knowingly.
James flushed. "What do you mean? With Lily?"
Remus continued to stare at James, his eyes traveling to his chest. This caused Sirius to look at the same spot.
"Moony, what are you looking at? You're beginning to creep me out."
Remus knocked Sirius on the forehead. "Quiet, Sirius."He leaned forward, and pushed James's robe aside. James's face was turning beat red, and Sirius began to howl with laughter.
"You!?" He exclaimed. "Head Boy!?!? Dumbledore's finally gone loony." He began to sing and dance about, chanting James's name.
Even Remus began to laugh. "Dumbledore can't be serious. James Potter? Head Boy?"
All three now began to laugh, but James's face turned defiantly to Remus.
"You're just jealous because I got Head Boy, and now I have authority over you, seeing as you're only a prefect."
This shut Remus up. "Doesn't Dumbledore realize how much more trouble you and Sirius can get into now that you can roam the halls at night?"
James and Sirius exchanged mischievous grins, as Remus began to message his forehead. "This is going to be an extremely long year…"
But it didn't matter. James and Sirius were already deep in conversation, planning their first prank on none other than their dear friend Snivellus.
"What about a giant bottle of shampoo? That's sure to make him run," James suggested.
"No, we steal him in the middle of the night, dress him in Gryffindor stuff, and throw him in the Room of Requirements, which looks like Gryffindor tower. He'd have a screaming fit." Sirius bubbled with laughter.
"Yeah," James agreed, "maybe throw in his Death Eater pals, too," he sniggered.
Remus looked up, his eyes twinkling. "Actually, that's not a bad idea."
The Hogwarts Express
Lily's Compartment
Lily Potter sat comfortably in her seat, with her friend Isabelle's feet slung across her lap. Mia and Alice sat on the other side, looking tired.
Lily looked at her watch, and gasped.
"Oh, I was supposed to be in the front compartment 10 minutes ago!"
She shoved Isabelle off her, then began to scramble around for her robes, not having changed yet.
Isabelle barely looked up from her Witch Weekly magazine. "Do you know who Head Boy is?"
Lily turned, changing so fast she nearly fell over. "I've no idea, it wasn't in the letter. It just said another boy from Gryffindor. I wonder who it could be?"
Mia looked up from the Daily Prophet"Well who else could it be? All the responsible seventh years are in my house. It has to be Remus Lupin, the only sensible one in Gryffindor!" She looked exasperated, but Lily didn't fail to notice the way her cheeks colored when she said his name.
Lily smiled at the thought of patrolling the corridors with her good friend. The only Marauder I can stand, she thought with a smile.
She waved goodbye to the three of them, then rushed to the front compartment. Apparently the Head Boy was already with Professor Slughorn, but his back was turned to Lily. She flung the door open, then began to apologize profusely.
"Professor, I am so sorr-"
She stopped abruptly as the Head Boy turned to face her. She was looking into the chocolate eyes and unruly hair of James Potter.
Her mouth gaped open, all manners forgotten.
Her eyes narrowed. "You're Head Boy?" She scoffed. "Yeah, right. Haha, very funny, now give Remus back his badge." She waited, but potter didn't move, didn't even smile. Just…stared.
Professor Slughorn was the one to speak up. "Oh Lily dear, you are quite mistaken. Remus Lupin is a prefect, but it was Dumbledore's idea to make James Head Boy." He beamed with pride. "Now, we must begin talking about some duties that comes with being Head Boy and Girl…"
But Lily collapsed into the seat, tuning him out. She tensed as James sat next to her, but not nearly as closely as she would've expected. Actually, he seemed quite intent on Slughorn, not paying Lily the slightest bit of attention.
Lily was baffled. This…is new. He didn't say hello, not even a cocky grin, nothing.
She spent the rest of the meeting trying not to look at him, intrigued by his sudden change in attitude.
"Well," Slughorn was concluding, "I think that's all I can ask for. I trust you'll hand in regular reports on any misbehavior, and beyond that just have some fun!" He chuckled, then left.
The silence was awkward and uncomfortable, but James didn't seem to notice. He was staring absentmindedly out the window.
"Potter?" Lily called, shaking him gently on the shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
He started at her touch, but turned to face her with an arrogant grin, looking at her hand. "Couldn't resist touching me, could ya?"
She glowered. There's the Potter I know and hate.
Then, and idea struck her.
She smiled naughtily, leaning in closely to his face. She bent over him until her lips were touching his ear. "Exactly," she whispered, and could feel him shudder under her touch.
He turned his face to hers quickly, leaning in rather close. This she hadn't expected. Her throat closed up the tiniest bit, and she could feel herself sweating.
He leaned in ever so close, eyes locked on hers. Their lips were nearly touching, his breath hot, smelling like cinnamon.
"Too bad I'm already taken," he whispered. "See you in the great hall, Evans." He promptly got up, stepping over her. He turned to wave goodbye, then headed back towards his compartment.
Lily leaned against the seat, her arms folded. Great, my revenge goes horribly wrong. Now Potter's going to think I like him.
She sighed and rolled her eyes, fingering her Head Girl badge. She then remembered that she would be patrolling long, dark corridors with Potter every night.
This was going to be an extremely long year.