Chapter 4: In the Hospital Wing

-----

James' face seemed to be going very blanch as he looked at the identical form of himself lying down in the bed in the Hospital Wing.

"Black! Do you mind sitting still? You're driving me crazy! And stop messing with those bone healing potions!"

"I can't help it Lils! I'm bored!" said an agitated Sirius.

"When do think they'll come back?" asked James thoughtfully. Lily carefully studied his face and noticed that he seemed uncharacteristically nervous.

"Dunno, soon, I expect," replied Lily gently, "Potter, you really think he's your son?"

"Of course he's Prongs' son! Look at him!" interjected Sirius with incredulity.

"Yeah I'm pretty sure," answered James and ignoring Sirius, "but I guess we'll know for sure soon enough."

"Well he could be your nephew or second cousin or something," said Lily thinking of possibilities out loud.

"No he couldn't. I'm an only child, and so are my parents," replied James, now feeling his stomach lurch as his suspicions grew to seem even more true.

"Look! He's waking up!" cried Sirius suddenly.

Harry opening his eyes and saw a fuzzy image of Sirius leaning over him. His eyes went wide.

"Alright there Prongs Jr.?" asked Sirius with a big grin.

Lily handed him his glasses. "Yeah... thanks," said Harry looking incredulously at his father, mother, and Sirius all in front of him as his eyes came into focus.

"What happened? Where is everyone?"

"Well, you arrived in our compartment and then sort of blacked out," said James suddenly, "And Ron and the short tempered girl went to get Dumbledore. People should already be heading to their dorms by now."

Harry quickly sat up and stared at the three as they looked at him in return. Harry's brain seemed to be flooded with thousands of questions to ask them but didn't quite seem to know which one to ask next. Little did Harry know, James also had a great amount to ask. He finally spoke. "So how did you get here exactly?"

"Timeturners," interceded Lily as James and Sirius were about to speak.

Then Lily saw James' familiar smile appear on Harry's face. "S-So it's really you?" managed Harry. He had had way too many dreams of them being alive and waking up to find it was a dream, that he was having a hard time believing this was real.

I wonder why he's so happy to see us.

Lily, James, and Sirius looked at each other strangely. "Yeah," said Sirius, "are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"Yeah, so how did you get a timeturner? And where is Remus? How old are you? Are you staying here long? And..."

"Whoa, hold on," said Lily smiling. Harry felt overjoyed at seeing his mother smile. He truely loved it. " We don't know how long we're staying here, we're seventeen, and Remus isn't here because he wasn't holding onto the time turner when it spun--though I wish he had. He would have helped me deal with these two baboons. --Wait...how do you know Remus?"

"HEY! I resent that," said James huffly.

"Me too!" said Sirius. He then turned to Harry, "and to answer your other question, it was my timeturner."

"Please, you too are completly irresponsible!" exclaimed Lily to James.

"Uh-oh," said Sirius to Harry, "I sense a Lily-James fight."

"No we're not! We just find responsibility a tad bit dull and unimportant," said James nonchalantly.

"Precicly my point!" screamed Lily.

"Just because you think that life is all about books and studying, doesn't mean we all do!"

"Well you should talk! You think life is all about Quidditch, pranks, and girls! You walk aroung thinking your some great Quidditch King! And don't even get me started on your hair!"

"What about my hair," snapped James suddenly reaching towards his head and ruffling it.

"That! You know, trying to push back your hair so that it looks like you just got off your broomstick, and pranking innocent people, and braging about how you make top of the class, only proves that you Potter, are an egocentral, pompous, big for nothing--"

"HOLDD IT," yelled Sirius covering his ears, not able to resist more of their bickering. "Guys, can't you see that you guys aren't the only people in the room!"

Lily looked at Harry with a sorry expression.

"Now! I believe that it has been established that James is a toerag and Lily is a know-it-all, so can we please move on?"

"Sorry," mummbled Lily,

"Maybe we should start over. What did you say your name was?" asked James.

Harry paused before speaking. He was unsure if it was ok to tell them. Knowing full and well what their reaction would be, he said: "Harry Potter." He did not have to wait much for their response.

Lily and Sirius' mouth hung open.

James' head snapped at Harry at the mention of 'Potter' and could not believe that he had momentarily forgotten about this possibilty in the heated discussion with Lily. The familar feeling he had earlier--of his stomach churning and his face becoming steadily cold, returned. Not being able to control the silence any longer, James spoke up, "P-Potter? So err— am I your father?" Though, James didn't need to ask. Harry's similar appearance, and then finding out Harry's last name was Potter, instantly confirmed any doubt James could have had.

Harry felt uneasy. "Yeah."

James' face suddenly became even more tense and more pale in complexion. Harry felt suddenly a little aprehensive at the way his father seemed to be taking it.

"S-so...you're really m-my son?"

Harry nodded.

Then, out of know where, an extremely delighted expression came over James' face. "Wicked!" said James grinning. James became suddenly very excited.

Harry smiled in relief.

"Score one for the Prongs-man," beamed Sirius giving James a high-five. Lily rolled her eyes at their immaturity.

Sirius wanting a part in this conversation, began questioning. "So how is it you know me?"

"You're my godfather," replied Harry. Sirius broke into a grin.

"Really? Yes!" said Sirius happily. He sang "I -am- a- godfather, I- am- a- godfather" while doing an odd victory dance. He then turned to James, "Thanks by the way mate."

"No problem," smiled James in return.

"Can't wait till Peter and Remus finds out," said Sirius cackling."I was always knew I was the better marauder."

"It's alright, " replied Lily smirking at Harry face," he's this weird all the time."

"So…" James interrupted wiggling his eyebrows and putting on a roguish grin, "who's the misses?" he asked Harry.

What an idiot

Harry laughed.

But before he could answer, a significantly older looking Dumbledore walked in quite relaxed with Hermione and Ron trailing after him…

"Dumbly!" said Sirius happily. "How've you been?"

Dumbledore smiled at the new (a/n or should I say old) students. "Everything's been fine, unfortunately Hogwarts hasn't been as chaotic as it used to be with you two."

"Ah, I'm touched," said James grinning, "but I bet there's been someone around to continue the legacy."

Dumbledore smiled sadly.

James, Sirius, and Lily were seated in chairs next to Harry's bed and Hermione and Ron stood next to Harry. Harry felt a little odd with so many people near him while he was in bed.

"Nice to seen you again Harry. Well, let's get down to business, shall we?" Dumbledore faced Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the three new students." I have decided that since you will be staying her for the time being, we have a few things to consider. First and most important, it may be best that you keep in mind, that since we do not know what the affects of your actions in the future, you should not to flaunt your complete identities to everyone."

James crossed his eyebrows and seemed to be thoughtful. "why not, sir?"

"I am afraid that at this point in time, I am not at liberty to tell you. Instead, I will only say that you need to be careful with what you say and do. I will of course notify the staff and Professor McGonagall of your stay here and set up accommodations in the dorm rooms. Your school books and robes will be waiting for you in your domitories."

James only nodded and noticed that Sirius seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

"Professor, shouldn't we change our names or last names then?" asked Lily thoughtfully. Sirius' head snapped up hopefully at the prospect of no longer having the last name 'Black'.

"Ahh yes. Well, you Miss Evans should be fine. But perhaps James should remain just as Harry's relative. And as for Mr. Black, it would probably be best to come up with a different last name."

Wait, I understand that maybe Potter---but why Sirius?

"How about 'handsome' as my last name?" asked Sirius grinning. He seemed completly elated to not have 'Black' as his last name. "You know--like Sirius-ly Handsome? Or wait, how about Bond? Like Sirius, Sirius Bond." At this, Sirius began singing the James Bond theme song 'dun-dun dun-dun dun-dun dun-dun dun-dun dun-dun dun-dun dododo, dododo, do-do."

Dumbledore chuckled, "Right, we'll I'll leave that for you to think about. Now, if you three wouldn't mind giving us a moment..."

"Of course Headmaster, we'll wait outside," said Lily grabbing James and Sirius' arms and pulling them with her.

Dumbledore sat down in the chair that James had been previously occupying and once they heard the door close, he spoke:

"As you probably know, Miss Granger most of all, revealing information, especially in time travel, can affect time and perhaps change it. So, besides concealing their true identities, it would also be best, that you be careful and reflect a while before you tell them certain…outcomes."

Harry looked up suddenly and quickly became tense. "Umm…actually Professor, there may be a slight problem there. See, I sort told him that he was my Dad."

Dumbledore pondered a little. "That shouldn't be a problem. It is naturally very obvious and quite difficult not to notice the resemblance," he said with a small smile. "But regarding other..perhaps life changing information...I feel that it is best that you be careful."

"Of course Professor," said Harry.

Dumbledore got up. Harry made to get up as well, but then Dumbledore stopped him by gently touching his shoulder. "I think you stay here for the night."

"But Professor I'm fin--"

"You have just gone through a shock meeting your parents and Madame Pomfrey has suggested that you should sleep here tonight. You will be free to leave tomorrow morning." Harry looked at them wishing he could leave and be in his own bed and not stuck in the Hospital Wing.

Harry made to speak in protest but Hermione interrupted him speaking sympathetically, "Sorry Harry, we'll see you at breakfast?"

Ron concealed a grin and said, "sorry mate," and then once Hermione and Dumbledore were at the door and had their backs turned, Ron brought out the invisibility cloak from behind his back and set it on the little table next to his bed. Harry smiled. He knew there was reason why he was friends with Ron.

But as soon as Ron, Hermione, and Dumbledore left the room, Harry felt his eyelids become very heavy and struggled to keep them open. He suddenly didn't think he needed the invisibility cloak anymore. He sank into the welcoming soft pillow and fell into a nice sleep.

------