Disclaimer: The amazing world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Some people will be slightly OOC. I felt a warning should come in. Also, in case anybody has questions about Dumbledore, let me explain a few things. In the books and a lot of fanfics, a lot of people see him as all powerful and all-knowing, even though he himself has said that he's just a man. Dumbledore makes mistakes. Dumbledore doesn't know everything. He is over 100 years old, and not infallible. I want to show Dumbledore as human. Yes, he will still be powerful. Yes, he still knows a heck of a lot. But I want to show him having emotions. Making mistakes. Trying to figure things out. Being bested, and besting others. I want to show him as a person, not some mysterious (although he will still be a tad) all knowing character. That being said, I hope you like what I do with him.

Previously:

"Love you to dad." Lily stepped out of the fire, pulling James with her, but not before he managed a quick "You as well sir" in Nicholas direction. Sighing Lily relaxed. After a moment, she managed to recover. Suddenly irate, she turned towards Albus with a glare that would have made Merlin himself run in the opposite direction. Gulping audibly, the twinkle in Albus's eyes disappeared as Lily asked, "Now what is this I hear about my son living with Petunia?"

Chapter 4

Lily was mad. James had only seen her truly mad on a couple of occasions. Sure, she got annoyed, ticked off, and infuriated often enough, but rarely does she get truly mad. The two times James had been afraid for his life. When Lily is irritated with someone she yells. When she's mad, she's calm until she hexes you within an inch of your life. She listens to your logical arguments, makes non-committal noises to urge you on, than proceeds to verbally flay you within an inch of your life, before hexing you and leaving to deal with whatever mess may have been made. No one ever knows they could feel so small until they are at the end of such a treatment. Lily mad could probably make several of Voldemort's own inner circle quake in their boots. Now, all this all-consuming angry power was directed at the Headmaster. James nearly felt bad for him, but the reminder of Sirius being locked up in Azkaban stopped that in its tracks.

"Why? Why did you leave my son with Petunia?" Lily asked, sounding calm and collected, but James knew better. One look at her expressive emerald eyes told a whole different story to those who knew her. Conflicting emotions passed through her eyes, almost faster than he could see. She was angry. She felt betrayed, and sorrowful even when it came to why he was left with Petunia. James could tell not all of her anger was truly directed at the Headmaster, even if that's who she was showing it to. She was upset and angry that she couldn't have been there for Harry. That she left him. James knew, because he was feeling the same way.

Albus didn't know how to respond. As much as he loathed it, leaving Harry with Petunia had been his only choice. The blood wards had kept Death Eaters and reporters alike out for years. Harry wouldn't have been safe anywhere else. The Flamels were constantly moving to keep the Stone and themselves safe. There wouldn't be one place for Harry to consider 'home' and the blood wards would have been obsolete otherwise. Carefully choosing his wording, Albus addressed the Potters "I am truly sorry he had to grow up with Petunia. If there had been another way to keep him safe you know I would have chosen it. The blood wards let your protection of him live on, and stopped those trying to get to him. I know there have been a number of Death Eaters that have tried and failed to get through those wards. I am sorry Lily, James. There simply wasn't another option at the time."

In a pained voice, James replied "There was Albus. You should have gotten Sirius a trial. The blood wards would have worked because my mother was a Black. You know he loves Harry as if he were his own son. There are so many ways that Sirius would have been better to raise Petunia that I can't even count. I don't care what you do, but fix it Albus. Get Sirius's name cleared. Get him out of Azkaban."

Albus knew James was right. He was responsible for making sure everyone got a trial, but he didn't ever check with Sirius. Instead he let the guilt and sorrow he was feeling at the Potter's deaths to let him ignore his duty. Not only that, but Lily and James were right. While Harry was safe behind the blood wards, Petunia is the last person he should have left Harry with. Was it worth it? Harry growing up safe, but not necessarily happy, verses growing up happy, but not necessarily safe? Would he have made a different decision with the perspective he has now? Albus wasn't sure, but he knew he had to make things up to all of the Potter's as best as he could. Right now, taking them to see their son and contacting the head of the DMLE, Amelia Bones, would be a major step in the right direction.

"You have my apologies, both of you. I will do everything in my power to make sure Sirius goes free. You have every right to be angry beyond reason, and I can only thank you for not hexing me."

"Don't speak so soon old man," Lily interrupted. "For now, we just want to see Harry. Unless you want to get hexed, you should find Remus and get things in motion for a trial for Sirius." With a bit of amusement at the fact she could make the old headmaster nervous, she added, "I very well may hold off on hexing you if things are better in the morning. If not, I haven't used the Bat Boogey Hex in a while. I might need a warm up."

Recognizing the teasing, and the fact that it meant Lily would eventually forgive him for his mistakes, the tell-tale twinkle started to come back to his blue eyes. "Of course Lily. Harry is in the hospital wing. Would you like me to take you there, or simply fore-warn our Medi-Witch so she does not faint upon seeing you both once more?"

With a smirk, James responded for them both "Well I'm not sure we should give a warning Albus. Everyone needs a good shock now and then."

The twinkle in his eyes now full blown and mischievous as Albus said "Very well, however, I fear I should at least write a note so that she doesn't throw you out of the Hospital Wing upon waking up again."

~OSAL~OSAL~OSAL~OSAL~OSAL~OSAL~OSAL~OSAL~OSAL~

"C'mon Lily, you know that was fun!"

After arriving at the hospital wing, Madam Pompfrey had immediately hurried out of her office to come see who was there. When she saw James and Lily, said Medi-Witch proceeded to go pale and mumble incoherently, that is, until James said in a rather joyful voice "Hi Poppy! Long time no see!" to which the woman fainted. After about 15 minutes she woke up, and after regaining a bit of color in her face, she immediately barraged them with questions, to which Lily rolled her eyes at James determination to scare the poor woman to death and simply handed her Albus's note.

After recovering somewhat from shock, both Potter's were promptly attacked with hugs, and led to Harry's bedside. Both admired their son for a few moments, trying to catalogue every detail about him, attempting to ascertain everything they possibly could simply from his appearance. Both noticed that he was a near replica of James at the age of eleven, albeit smaller and skinnier. His lightning bolt scar (which they were informed was from the night of the attack) stood out against his pale face and the crisp white sheets of the hospital bed. After asking Madam Pompfrey about his medical state (stable, but magically exhausted and unlikely to wake up for a few days), James transfigured one of the waiting chairs into a comfortable couch. Both were anxious to hear about their son, and proceeded to fire questions at the resident Medi-Witch to learn all that they could. After a few questions, they managed to get at least a small picture of the person Harry had become in their 10 year absence. They learned that he had been sorted into Gryffindor (both beamed with pride), and managed to be the youngest seeker in a century (to which James let out a loud 'whoop!' and looked ecstatic). The elder Potters also learned that Harry was a decent student, but not, at least from what Poppy Pompfrey knew, particularly focused upon his studies.

Shortly after telling James and Lily what she knew, Madam Pompfrey retreated to her office to let the Potters rest and spend time together. They were now laying on the couch, snuggled into one another, both focusing their eyes upon Harry.

"James, I'm not going to admit to taking joy in shocking the woman that is treating our son."

"So you think it was funny, you just don't want to admit it."

"Say, James, do you think that could be Ron Weasley over there?" Lily asked, looking at the boy lying a couple beds away from Harry. He had bright red hair, and many freckles. Part of his head was bandaged in gauze, and Lily noticed there were some pain relief and sleeping potions on his bedside table. Truth be told, she was trying to change the subject in order to not admit to finding the shocking of such a stern Medi-Witch funny, but she was also curious, as the boy fit the description of the one who had accompanied their son to try to save the Philosopher's Stone.

"I know what you're trying to do Lils, but yes, I think that's Ronald Weasley." James responded.

In almost a whisper, Lily said "They're so young. Both of them."

"I know hun, I know. They were so brave though. All three of them. To go up against Voldemort, or at least be willing to at their age. I know I was pranking people and exploring the castle, and you were studying and making friends. Neither of us were trying to stop crazy murdering psycho wraiths that were possessing our teacher."

"I just can't imagine how hard he must have had it. He grew up with Tuney, James. You know what she was like to me. I can't imagine what his life must have been like. I think I'm happy that she just didn't stop him from going to Hogwarts and that he's reasonably healthy. I don't want to even think about it, not really. I'm not sure if I can handle finding out how badly she's treated him. She may be awful but she's my sister, and I love her. I can forgive her for all the things she's done to me, but once I know what she's done to Harry, I know I won't be able to. It scares me. Losing her. After losing so many in the war. I know the war is over, but this would officially mean the end of our relationship. No more pretending to be polite in public, or even informing each other of life events. She was my best friend before Hogwarts, before meeting our biological parents."

James sighed. He knew how Lily felt about her sister, even if he didn't quite understand why. He supposed it might be like if Sirius or Remus ever changed into a hateful, jealous, bitter person. He would still love them, and he would miss his old brother, but he wouldn't be able to let go completely. Not really, not unless they did something unforgivable (at which point James forcefully redirected his thoughts, not willing to become angry to the point of irrationality when Lily needed him). "I know honey, I know." He said, while wiping away her tears and pulling her closer to him, hugging her tightly. "I'm sorry he had to go through it, but you know we have to know. We're his parents, and we need to know what he's been through in order to help him. I'm sorry about Petunia. I know how close you girls were before you started Hogwarts. Imagine your young sister and the woman she is now as two different people though. I know it's the only way I'm coping when it comes to the rat."

Smiling sadly, Lily lifted her face off his chest and looked at him. "Sirius will be out soon. You know now that Dumbledore knows the truth he won't let him suffer any longer than absolutely necessary. Even if the rat is dead, and he was responsible for those murders, you know we can get him out on the fact that he was illegally imprisoned without a trial for so long. We can see if your old family barrister is still around and hire him to help Sirius. If I remember right, he could tear the Wizengamont to pieces if given a chance and walk out convincing the reporters of the absolute necessity of his actions."

Sighing, James nodded in agreement, not knowing what else to say at the time. Both lapsed into silence, thinking of them mess that their world had become since that fateful Halloween night. Exhausted, they lay thinking about everything that needed doing, until they fell asleep on one another, needing the support and comfort that came from the physical contact.

Next time on OSAL:

Ron and Hermione meet the Potter's, and an old friend stops by.