Ahh, here's the chapter I personally was looking forward to. The guests of honour, Lily and James arrive. Please, please review! So, without further ado:
Actually, before we begin: I DO NOT own Harry Potter. It belongs to J.K Rowling. End of. Now start reading.
"Are you sure about this, Dumbledore?" James Potter asked anxiously, tightening his hand around his wife's.
"James, I would not put your or Lily's life in danger if I was not sure, I assure you." Dumbledore said in an assuring voice.
"Right. Well, then, if you're sure, I'll do anything." James said, sighing.
"Ah, Mr Potter, thank you for your incredible trust.' Dumbledore said, chuckling slightly. "Now, hold on tight, Lily, dear. And Mr Potter, hold on to Fawkes' tail. I shall see you soon." He said, inclining his head.
"Thank you, Professor." Lily said, tightening her arm around James' waist. "If we really do get to know H-Harry better,' she gulped a few unshed tears in her green eyes, 'I will be forever grateful to you." She said.
"Yeah, Professor. This, what you're doing for us, is an incredible opportunity. Thank you so, so much." James said earnestly.
"No, No, no need to thank me. You deserve this. He is, after all, your son." Dumbledore said. Lily nodded, and James smiled. "Now,' Dumbledore said, 'Hold on tight, and don't fail to enjoy these precious moments."
There was a flash of fire as James Potter and Lily Potter disappeared along with Fawkes, leaving a smiling Dumbledore behind in 1981.
Lily blinked as she took in the sight in front of her. The first thing she noticed was the dark, gloomy house they were in. Then she saw the people with their wands raised towards her.
"James!" She looked around for her husband, only to see him gawking at one of the men in the semi-circle, who was staring open mouthed at James and herself, his raised wand forgotten.
"PADFOOT!" James yelled in a slightly hysterical voice, startling them all. A pause, then- "WHAT- THE- BLOODY HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR HAIR?"
Padfoot? Lily thought as she turned to look at the man again. "Holy Christ. Sirius? Is that really you?" She asked in disbelief.
Sirius ripped his gaze from James to Lily. "Yeah." He said, starting to grin. "Yeah, Lily-flower, it's me. In the flesh."
And then suddenly he had dropped his wand, jumped over a couch and swept her up into a huge hug. "Lily-flower, I missed you so much." He said as he swung her around.
"Padfoot,' she laughed, 'I would say I missed you too, but I just saw you yesterday."
In the background of the scene, Severus' eyes widened at her use of the dog's nickname. Had she really been that close to him too? He wondered this as a million other thoughts went through his head at the sight of her. Glad, overjoyed to see her, loathing seeing her with Potter, his ring on her finger. Sick when Black used his childish nickname for her and her objection never came. The fact that she was overjoyed to see them, to be with them. It disgusted him, yet he knew nothing could be different. She belonged with a noble Gryffindor like Potter, as he always knew she would. She had never loved him that way. Never would.
Sirius put a laughing Lily down, and turned to look at James. Time seemed to pause when their gazes met, Sirius' insides going mad. He stared hungrily at the face of his best friend. Lily and the rest watched as the two best friends seemed to stare at each other for an age.
"Prongs. . ." Sirius breathed.
"Padfoot, mate" James smiled. He walked forward and hugged his best friend, and the two embraced each other as long lost brothers. James could only imagine what it must be like for Sirius to see his dead best friend after so many years, and the thought put a painful lump in his throat.
When they finally broke apart, Sirius wiped his eyes quickly. He couldn't believe this.
"Padfoot. You look so old. And I repeat, what the hell have you done to your hair?" James said, trying to lighten the mood.
Sirius laughed, "Azkaban stole my beauty. Never mind that for now,' He said, smiling, 'meet everyone else.
James turned towards the group that was standing a little way back. He turned his gaze toward someone who could only be Dumbledore. "I see you made it, Mr and Mrs Potter," (Severus flinched at Lily being addressed as Mrs Potter) He said, beaming at the two.
"Yes, sir. All thanks to you." James said, saluting Dumbledore.
"No matter, no matter." Dumbledore said, chuckling at the memories that salute brought back.
James turned to the next person, and beaming, burst out with "Minnie!" He strode up to Professor McGonagall and proceeded to give her a hug.
"P-P-Potter!" She stammered, straightening her glasses as everyone chuckled. "I am very glad to see you and Lily, too, but such inappropriate manner. . . "
"Aw, Minnie, is that really the first thing you're going to do?' James asked, pouting "tell me off?"
"I, well, Potter. "
"Didn't you miss me at all?" James said, suddenly serious.
Sirius grinned, knowing all his mate's tricks, and so did Remus in the background. Remus couldn't stop staring at James and Lily in turn. They were here, in the flesh, as Sirius had put it before. Alive, breathing, laughing and joking. It was incredible.
"Oh, Potter, of course I did. You may have nearly given me heart failure every week, but I daresay you were always one of my favourite students." McGonagall said, her voice trembling.
"HA!" James shouted, punching the air and whirling to face Sirius. "I TOLD YOU SO! I'M HER FAVOURITE!" He said gleefully, pointing at Sirius. Everyone laughed at his antics, except for Severus, who rolled his eyes.
"Potter!" McGonagall said sternly, but with a smile on her face. "That was an unworthy trick."
"Well, Professor, you would think you would know me well enough by now" He grinned. She, surprisingly, laughed a little, and patted his cheek affectionately. After getting over the shock, he faced the next person. As Lily greeted McGonagall, James recognised Arthur and spoke with him. Next came Molly, his wife.
"Good lord." Molly said, as she held James at arm's length. "He looks just like you"
"Who?" James said, vaguely amused.
"Harry" Molly said, staring at him.
"Really?" Lily said suddenly at his side, unshed tears in her eyes, as well as excitement.
"Really,' Molly nodded while James and Lily beamed. "I mean, aside from the eyes, he has your eyes, dear" She said to Lily.
"Oh, no. I feel sorry for him. Joking! Joking!' She said, laughing at James' affronted expression. 'Well, he must be quite the lady's man, I suspect, if he looks just like James" Lily laughed, putting her arm around James' waist, an action that was like a knife to the heart to Severus as he watched on.
"Oh, Lils,' James said, chuckling "How cute. But, I think with your eyes, he's probably even more popular."
They all laughed, and James and Lily turned towards the next people. "Mad-eye!" James said, shaking Moody's hand.
"Great to see you again, Potter. " Moody said, giving James a rare smile. Lily just smiled at him, not knowing him that well.
James turned towards Kingsley. "Ah, I don't recognise you, sorry…" He trailed off uncertainly.
"Shacklebolt. Kingsley Shacklebolt. I'm newer to the Order. Auror at the Ministry. Nice to meet you, Mr Potter." Kingsley said.
"Hi Kingsley. Auror, huh? I wanted to be an Auror too, but decided to fight with the Order full time first. Having to go into hiding makes things a little difficult too." James said, smiling wryly. "Anyway, call me James." He said, smiling at Kingsley.
They turned to look at the next person. James felt as if all the breath had been knocked out of him.
"Moony?" James chocked out.
"Yeah. . . Prongs. " Remus trailed off, staring at James' face.
James blinked in disbelief at the appearance of the older version of his other best friend. He couldn't believe how old and tired Remus looked. He usually did, it was, as he always said, an occupational hazard of dealing with his furry little problem. But this was beyond that kind of tiredness. He had a feeling that the lines on his face, the greying hairs weren't there because of his friend's monthly condition.
"What is this? A staring contest? I want in, then" Sirius said, trying to lighten the mood. He sensed that if the 'staring contest went on longer; one of his mates would end up in tears. Something he knew they wanted to avoid. Everyone laughed a little, as James stepped forward and pulled Remus into a crushing hug.
They broke apart after a few minutes, and James held Remus at arm's length. "God, what has happened to you? Both of you,' He said, looking at Sirius over his shoulder. "You've let yourselves go.' He said shaking his head. "We used to be the best looking group of guys at Hogwarts! I'm so disappointed in you guys." James cried, faking major disappointment.
Remus and the others laughed. "Well, I wouldn't include Peter in that group, no offence,' Lily said looking around, just in case he was there.
"Speaking of Peter, where is he? Why isn't he here, admiring me?" James said, looking around too.
Everyone's expressions darkened immediately at the mention of Pettigrew. None more than Sirius' though. "He doesn't deserve to be here, Prongs, trust me." Sirius positively growled.
"What? Padfoot, what are you saying?" James said, shocked.
"James, I think that particular question, actually all of your questions, will be answered in the books." Dumbledore said as he saw Sirius about to explode while thinking about Peter. He was also extremely eager to begin reading.
"Right." James said, throwing an annoyed look at Sirius. "You better have a good reason for speaking about Wormtail like that, mate. "
"Oh, it's good. Huge too." Remus said with an uncharacteristically ugly look on his face.
A look at James' and Remus' face convinced James and Lily that this must be a big deal. James wondered what on earth his little admiring friend could have done to earn those looks.
James turned to greet the next person, who had been standing in the shadows, but stopped dead as he saw who it was. They both stared at each other for an age, then, getting over his shock, James held out his hand and said, stiffly, "Snape."
Lily turned at the sound of her ex-best friend's name from hugging Remus. She stared as James held out his hand for Severus to shake. She beamed at her husband, so incredibly proud and loving him in that moment. But her smile faded as she saw the look on Sev's face.
Severus stared as James Potter turned towards him, a slightly confused look still on his face from the conversation about Pettigrew. He stared back as Potter stared at him in shock. Then he stared as Potter got over his momentary shock and, incredibly, held his hand out for Severus to shake, saying in a voice devoid of the usual venom, "Snape."
Snape's eyes narrowed slightly at the action, a hint of his usual sneer showing on his face. Why on earth would James Potter think that he would want to touch him? The lack of hostility, if possible, only fuelled Snape's hatred even more. He supposed Potter didn't need to show hostility anymore, didn't need to try and fight anymore. He had already won the battle. He was married to Lily after all.
He saw out of the corner of his eye, Lily smiling brilliantly at Potter, love and adoration evident in her eyes. He supposed he was only doing it for her approval. No, thought a slightly more rational part of Snape's brain, Potter's always been like this. Easily forgiving, though arrogant, and foolishly gullible to believe of others to deserve a 'second chance'. It reminded him of Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling as he smiled at Potter's action, and the thought that Potter had something in common with the great man only made Snape hate him more.
This man had everything, even back in school, He Snape, never did. A loving family, wealth, looks, confidence, academic smarts without trying, Quidditch skills, girls swooning after him, best friends, qualities of a 'good man', and above all else, he had Lily. It made Snape mad enough to want to spit fire. This thought made Snape raised his hate-filled eyes from that hand to Potter's face, and say in a voice filled with contempt, "Potter."
He watched put of the corner of his eyes as Lily's green eyes, those eyes that had tortured him for the last 14 years, turned towards him, not filled with love as they had been when she had been looking at Potter. Instead, they flashed in outrage and anger, a look that he had become familiar with seeing in those eyes, as her son's usually were when he looked at Snape. The anger riled him even more.
A look of surprise flashed in Potter's eyes for a second too, before a small smirk, reminiscent of the one that used to dominate his face in his school days, appeared on his face. "Should have known, Snape. Looks like you haven't changed much. Same attitude, same grudge-"
"Same greasy un-washed hair" Black called from next to James, back in his element with Potter by his side again. Snape sent him a disgusted glare, while he noticed that Mad-eye Moody, Tonks, Arthur and even Kingsley were biting back laughs. Even Lily seemed to be fighting a smile despite the anger and disappointment still evident in her expression. A dull pink flush crept up his face as he looked back at Potter, now blaming him for having such a disgusting best friend too.
"And still not able to Just. Get. Over. It." Potter finished a small amused smile on his face. "Well,' He sighed, "I tried, okay?" He said.
Snape's nostrils flared in anger, and he was about to retort when he suddenly stopped short. Lily was marching over to them, her face angry. Hopes of her yelling at Potter and a reunion with himself faded when she grabbed Potter's hand. "Come on, James. Some people never change, honestly. No matter how hard you try." She said, throwing a glare in Snape's direction before turning away.
Her words hurt as badly as crucio would have, he imagined, not actually having it ever used on him. "Lily,' He breathed, pleading.
Then suddenly she whirled to face him, her hand still firmly in Potter's, whose expression said that he knew what was coming.
"No, Sev. I don't care. When I saw you, I thought, well, at least you're here, not with Voldemort. At least you're on our side. I though you must have changed, but I was obviously wrong. Can't you just get over a schoolboy grudge? Can't you just GROW UP!" She asked, furious. "I, We, James and I, in your version of time, have been dead for the last 14 years, Sev!" She screamed, as others looked pained at her words. "Doesn't that mean anything to you? Can you not even treat us right?" Snape flinched, her words cutting him deep. Suddenly, the small pain that was evident in her voice disappeared. She was suddenly furious again. "No, you can't. Because, oh my,' Her voice took on a mocking edge ' You hate Potter because he was so good at everything and arrogant. Well Severus,' she spat, her voice returning to normal, 'Who's the arrogant one now?" She turned away, along with Potter, who put his arm around her shoulders. "Oh, and, do me a bloody favour, and don't disrespect the dead." She said with a last contemptuous look back at him.
He stood there, dumbstruck. All the things she said to him were still crashing over him, his face flushed as their meaning sunk in. The room had gone deathly silent, everyone either looking at Lily or Snape.
Dumbledore shook his head slightly. That was a mistake Severus should definitely not have made. Not only was Lily now absolutely furious with him, but it would only get worse, he imagined when they read the books. For he was positive that they would mention Severus' unfair treatment of Harry. But he was so proud of James at the moment. He had just proved to Severus that he was not what Severus thought him to be, by extending that hand. Though he would never admit it, Severus couldn't deny the truth in his own conscience.
Clearing his throat to break the silence that had descended, Dumbledore said "Shall we get started then?"
"Ooooh, yes." Tonks said. "But how will we do this? I mean, are we going to change who reads chapter by chapter, or by book?. . ." She trailed off.
"Wait," James said, who was now sitting on the couch with Remus, Sirius and Lily. "I want to know more about Harry before we start."
"Oh, He's a darling boy." Molly began, but was cut off by Arthur, while Snape sneered at the thought of Potter being a 'darling boy', and how Lily would never call him that.
"Maybe we should read the books, and you can find out about him that way." Arthur suggested, while in the background Sirius asked Remus "Did she just call him a 'darling boy?'
"No,' Lily said, her arm around James and her head on his shoulder. "I want to know what you all think of him first."
"Well,' Remus began. "Molly wasn't kidding before, he looks exactly like James. Honestly. I remembered the first time I saw him, it was unbelievable. It felt like it was James I was looking at. And, he has your eyes. James' untameable hair' He added, chuckling as James ran a hand through his hair. "As for his nature, he's an exact mix of both of you.' Remus said, looking thoughtful.
"Yeah,' Sirius grinned. "He got James' ability to not completely go off his rocker at everything that annoys him, unlike some people,' he added, then laughed as Lily smothered him with a cushion. "But, when he does get angry, boy, it's pretty obvious that Lily's his mother." He snickered.
Lily smiled, loving hearing about how her son resembled her and James.
"Brilliant mind." McGonagall said, smiling. "Though he excels in Defence Against the Dark Arts at school, rather than other subjects."
"Yes. Harry was, hands down, the best in class when I was teacher." Remus nodded.
"Teacher? Moony, I knew it!" James said, giving Remus a one armed hug.
"His mind seems to work better at things that do not concern his studies, however" McGonagall added.
"What do you mean, Professor?" Lily said, concerned by the tone of McGonagall's voice.
"Well, your son does have a, um, tendency to find trouble where ever he goes." McGonagall said.
"Oh, dear god. He gets that from you, James." Lily said, her hand covering her eyes.
"Maybe,' He shrugged, grinning at hearing that his son was like him. "But, I had a knack for usually getting out of it, too, if I wanted to."
"He seems to have inherited that quality, too, actually, from what I've heard." Tonks said. Snape snorted quietly. Yes, Potter and his son both got out of things quite easily.
"What about Quidditch? Is he good?" James asked suddenly excited. "He. . Does play, right.?'
"Oh, trust me on this one James, you will not be disappointed." Sirius said, grinning.
"Can we just start reading the blasted first book already?" Moody suddenly growled.
"Yes, Alastor. I think you're quite right. I think we shall take turns to read chapters. A whole book is too much for one person to have to read. We shall just pass it to the person next to us." Dumbledore said, grabbing the first, and smallest, book from the coffee table. "I'll begin, shall I?"
"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" Dumbledore read.
"Philosopher's Stone?" James wondered out loud. "But that's. . .sorry, keep going, sir"
Opening to the first chapter, Dumbledore frowned and read "The Boy Who Lived"
Well? This was a crucial, and kinda difficult to write chapter. I really hope the reactions weren't far-fetched. I mean, I can't get them perfect, as I'm not J.K Rowling, the Holy one herself, but I want to try getting it accurate. So, please let me know what you thought. I especially need reviews for this one. I want to know what you thought.
