A/N Yay I finally managed to update! And 125 reviews! WOW thanks everyone that is so cool! I'm sorry for the long time this took - and I can't really promise when the next update will be ready. I'm really really busy at the moment with school and I've joined a Viking group so I need to make clothes too and it takes a long time - AND I start my sword training soon - then we'll see if I'm a Gryffindor and stand my ground... or if I bolt when a large yelling Viking runs towards me with his sword lifted. Hmm I know - I do some strange things for fun... I haven't forgotten this story though. You can thank the party my neighbor is having for keeping me up to type this chapter.
Chapter 8: 4th Year, 5th Year and the Final Battle
Harry watched as the door closed behind his grandparents. Then he turned back and realised that everyone was looking expectantly at him.
"Riiight..." he muttered. "Fourth year then..."
He reached for another chocolate frog, briefly wondering if the bowl was charmed as it was still full and Sirius had been inhaling chocolate frogs ever since it was put on the table.
Then he began his story of the vision he had had of the old muggle being killed and Voldemort and Wormtail discussing some plan which they needed Harry for. He explained how his scar had hurt and that he'd written Sirius.
"Where were you by the way?" he asked Sirius. "Those mail birds were huge!"
"Thought you'd like them." Sirius grinned. "And if you're on the run – where else to go but South America?"
"You went to South America?" James' eyebrows rose.
"It was Moony's idea, really." Sirius said, pointing to Remus. "He said that muggles on the run go there."
"I said," Remus corrected. "that in history, muggle criminals are known to have found refuge there."
Sirius shrugged. "Same thing – fancier words."
Harry heard his father chuckle lightly beside him.
"Well, then Ron's father got tickets to the Quidditch World Cup." Harry said.
"You went to the World Cup?" James' eyes widened a little and he beamed. "What was it like? Dad took me to a game in France once when I was 6 and it was awesome! Of course I was so young so I don't remember it all that well, but... Oh it must have been great! Who played? Was the game..."
"Jaaaaaaaaames..."
Lily's groan interrupted him and he gaped at her for a moment before recovering and turning to Harry again with the same excited look. "Well?"
Harry laughed at his father's excitement and simply continued his story of how the Weasleys had flooed to the electric fireplace and blasted their way out to pick him up. His mother looked rather smug about that.
Harry went on to tell about the Quidditch World Cup and to humour his father, he let himself babble about the tents, the teams, the game and the celebrations for a while until he glanced at Remus and realised that his eyes were glazing over.
"Oh... should get back to the story..." he exclaimed and Remus repositioned himself on the couch and took a handful of chocolate frogs.
"Well..." Harry said. "that's when the death eaters showed up. They were burning tents and juggling muggles in the air."
He watched his father stare sadly into thin air as he told of what had happened in the woods and of the dark mark. However, the mood lightened a bit when Harry got to describing Ron's dress robes – and his relief when he saw his own. And when Harry got to the Triwizard Tournament, his father jumped up.
"You had a Triwizard Tournament? Why didn't we do that when we were at Hogwarts? That would have been so swell!"
"Yeah well... it wasn't that 'swell' really..." Harry said darkly and James' face fell as he sat back down.
"What happened?"
"Well, first I should tell that the Defense teacher that year was Mad-Eye Moody."
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" James and Sirius shouted simultaneously, pointing their wands straight into the air and shooting off red and gold sparks.
"Exactly." Harry grinned and thought that they reminded him rather much of Fred and George right now. But he had his father back – and Sirius seemed so much happier – so it didn't matter if he'd have to be careful every time he walked through a door.
"He gave us a rather disturbing lesson on Unforgivables. Demonstrated them on spiders. That green light... I remember it..." Harry trailed off as his father put an arm around him comfortingly. No-one said anything for a while until Harry felt ready to continue.
Then he told them about the Goblet of Fire, of Fred and George's failed attempt at submitting their names and when he got to the part about Hagrid's suit, hairstyle and eau-de-cologne, the others sniggered a bit. Harry told how Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour and Cedric Diggory had been chosen.
"And then the goblet spat out a fourth name." He said. "Mine..."
"But you're not 17!" Lily whimpered.
"I know... someone had put my name in. And there was no way back. Even Dumbledore couldn't get me out of it."
James frowned. "I'd like to talk to Dumbledore about that. I'm sure he could have done something if he really wanted to."
Thinking once again that he was glad he wasn't Dumbledore at the moment, Harry told them how Ron had gotten jealous and Rita Skeeter had printed that horrible interview. Then he explained how Hagrid had helped him by letting him know the first task was dragons.
"Dragons!" Lily shrieked wide-eyed.
"I'm still here Mum, so obviously I'm fine..." Harry objected as she grabbed hold of his wrist again. "Moody helped me realise that I could summon my broom and fly past it."
"You flew past a dragon?" James blinked.
"That just tells you how good he is on a broom, James." Sirius said.
"Again, we need to go flying soon, Harry – I want to see that." James smiled proudly.
Harry agreed and explained how they had to get the egg and how the egg held the clue about the next task, but screeched horribly when opened. He blushed slightly when he reached the part about the Yule Ball and the problem with asking someone.
"Oh come ON! It can't be that hard. You just ask!" James exclaimed.
Lily snorted. "I'm sure Harry has more sense than you. Surely he wanted to ask someone the right way. And he'd probably understand a no when he got one." She reached over and took James' hand.
"I understood a no... I just wouldn't accept it." He grinned back. "And it worked in the end. Besides, I didn't ask that many times!"
"Moony?" Sirius prompted.
"457 times, Prongs, that we know of, that is.
James gaped. "You counted?"
"After the first week we started a bet on whether or not you'd reach 500 before graduation." Sirius shrugged. "Moony won."
"So that's why you tried to talk me out of it when I decided to stop asking for 7th year!" James exclaimed.
"Don't know what you're talking about." Sirius said way too innocently.
"Children!" Remus interrupted. "Perhaps we should let Harry continue his story?"
As they quieted down again, Harry told of Rita Skeeter's story of Hagrid being half giant and of how Cedric had advised him to take the egg for a bath and Moaning Myrtle had helped him figure out what to do. He continued to tell about Dobby giving him the gillyweed and having to get Ron up from the lake.
"That was very brave of you, Harry." His father said as Harry finished the story of the second task.
"Well, I do – as Hermione puts it – have a saving people thing..." he shrugged and continued to tell about meeting Sirius in the cave outside Hogsmeade.
"You ate rats?" James exclaimed, looking thoroughly disgusted.
"Yeah and they don't taste like chicken either..." Sirius grumbled. "It helped a bit to eat as Padfoot though – but it was still pretty foul."
Suddenly James' disgust gave way to a wicked grin. "I'd like to tell Wormtail that when we catch him..."
"I'm not going to eat him if that's what you're thinking!" Sirius exclaimed.
James looked dramatically disappointed. "Oh... perhaps we could feed him to Moony then..."
"Oh please! You know what happened last time!" Remus objected.
"Aw, come on Moony – we're just fantasising – we wouldn't really do that!" James exclaimed.
"Nah..." Sirius agreed. "We'll be much more inventive... Do continue Harry."
And so Harry did. Covering Mr. Crouch going mad and disappearing, the vision of Voldemort torturing Wormtail and yet another irritating article by Rita Skeeter , he began to tell about the trials of the third task.
Harry half expected his mother to grip his wrist again when he told them about the trophy being a portkey which took them to the graveyard. But she did not. She just stared at him sadly. Harry continued telling about Wormtail tying him to the gravestone and when he glanced at his father, James looked like he was about to explode. However, his expression changed to one of utmost disgust when Harry told how Wormtail had cut off his own hand. No-one said anything though. Each of the Marauders had a look of hatred so deep that it could almost be seen, billowing like a red fog above the coffee table. Lily had hidden her face in her hands.
Harry continued to tell how Wormtail had taken his blood, finished the ritual and resurrected Voldemort. Then he explained how Wormtail had gotten a silver hand after the Death Eaters had been summoned and how Harry had duelled with Voldemort and their wands had connected. James looked a bit shocked when he heard that he and Lily had come out of Voldemort's wand. Lily sniffed behind her hands.
Harry told how he'd gotten back to Hogwarts with Cedric's body and Moody had attacked him only to turn out to not be Moody at all. When Harry had finished James was staring into empty air again. Sirius was staring into the fire and Remus frowned at a chocolate frog card which was on the table.
For a moment the room was completely quiet. Then a sob tore through the silence and they all looked at Lily. Her face was still hidden by her hands but tears were flowing through her hands and down her forearms.
James got up and kneeled next to her, gently prying her hands off her face. Her eyes were swollen and red in a radius of about an inch. She looked up at James for a while as tears flowed quietly down her face. Then she let out another sob and threw her arms around him.
Harry watched awkwardly as his father patted his mother's back as she buried her face in his neck. Harry felt he should do something to comfort his mum – in a way it was his fault that she was upset. So, doing what his heart told him to, he put his arms around his mum too and rested his head on her back.
"Don't cry Mum," he said. "I'm fine... it's all over now... Voldemort's gone..."
Lily sniffed and turned around to hug him.
"I'm so, so sorry you had to go through all that... You're too young... I wish it had been different..."
Harry smiled as his mother played with the unruly hair at the back of his head. "I wish so too... but we can't change that... at least it's all over now..."
His mother looked at him tenderly for a moment – then she wiped her eyes and chuckled. "I'm sorry for being such a fountain... I don't know what's gotten into me tonight... I don't usually cry easily – It makes me look so horrible."
"That's alright – I don't mind." Harry smiled. "In fact, you can do just about anything right now and I wouldn't mind. I'm just glad you're here to do it."
Lily smiled fondly. "You're so sweet..."
Harry sighed and looked at his father. "So... would you like to hear about my fifth year? Might as well get it over with..."
James nodded and Harry scooted down the couch so he could lean back against the armrest and put his feet up on the couch. Sirius and Remus had done the same on their couch so that they sat at either end facing each other and sharing the leg space in-between. James did the same and pulled Lily into his lap.
"Well that summer – one evening – I was walking home with Dudley when we were attacked by two Dementors..."
"Dementors?" James raised an eyebrow.
Harry nodded. "Yes... but Dudley knocked my wand out of my hand. They almost got us before I found it and could produce a Patronus."
He explained how Mrs. Figg turned out to be a squib and how Mundungus had left his "Harry-sitting" duty early and how he'd ultimately been suspended from school for producing the Patronus.
"But that would be self-defence!" Lily exclaimed.
"It would..." Harry simply agreed and Lily looked outraged. Harry then told them about being picked up and going to the Headquarters and about the hearing and how he'd finally been allowed to stay at Hogwarts.
Starting to feel tired, he moved on quickly and told about meeting Luna Lovegood on the train and discovering that Umbridge would be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He then explained her teaching methods and how he had earned himself detention.
"She had me write lines. 'I must not tell lies'. But when I did, the words cut into the back of my hand as I wrote..."
"WHAT?" James exclaimed as Remus jumped, looking like he had just been rudely brought out of near-sleep.
Lily got up and reached for Harry's hand, examining it. Sure enough – there on the back of Harry's right hand were the words 'I must not tell lies' written as a scar.
"But blood quills are illegal... they... still are... right?" James frowned.
"James, we need to see the minister about this!" Lily said angrily.
"I'll see to it." James replied coldly. "She won't get away with that."
"It's my fault too." Harry said. "I didn't tell anyone..."
"That doesn't make it less illegal, Harry..." Lily said.
"She didn't get completely away with it though – I'll get to that later." Harry added.
"Go on then..:"
So Harry told about how people talked about him and the letter Ron had received from Percy and how Umbridge was made 'High Inquisitor' and the Daily Prophet tried to discredit Dumbledore. He told about starting the DA and Umbridge's educational decrees and how Dobby had suggested the Room of Requirement.
"The Room of..." James interrupted.
"Requirement – yes – it turns into whatever you need." Harry explained.
James frowned. "We never..."
"I know..." Harry said. "I'd like you to add it to the map if you don't mind."
James nodded in agreement, slightly amazed, and Harry continued telling about the DA and got to the part of Umbridge banning him and the Weasley twins from Quidditch for life.
James opened his mouth – probably to object strongly – but Harry quickly assured him that Dumbledore had lifted the ban.
Harry continued his story covering how he had had a vision of Mr. Weasley being attacked and they had saved him. Feeling rather tired and watching Sirius snuggle into the couch in a very canine way, Harry hurried his story to cover the interview he'd given Rita Skeeter for the Quibbler and getting Occlumency lessons from Snape (at which he noticed his dad and Sirius shared a pointed look). He told them of the DA being discovered and how Dumbledore had taken the blame and disappeared.
When he got to the part about what he had seen in Snape's pensieve, he saw that his father had a slightly regretful look on his face. Harry decided not to question it now but it did make him feel a bit better that his father did seem to have changed just like Sirius and Remus had said.
Staring into the hypnotical fluttering of the flames in the fireplace, Harry told of how Fred and George had left and Hagrid had introduced them to Grawp. Then Harry explained how he had seen Sirius being tortured by Voldemort in a vision during his OWL exam and how he had rushed to the Ministry and into the Department of Mysteries only to learn that it had been a trap. And how they had fought and the order and Dumbledore had saved them.
Lily did not cry this time though judging by her expression that was simply because she had no tears left. James looked shocked but proud too.
"Go on." James said. "Let's just get it over with, eh?"
Harry agreed as he was having trouble keeping his eyes open and he quickly explained how Voldemort had attacked Hogwarts and he, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had faced the inner circle of Death Eaters and finally Voldemort. How Hermione's shield had kept the Death Eaters at bay and how Voldemort had taunted Harry and tortured Ginny – and eventually how Harry had managed wandless magic – and won.
When he had finished he grabbed a handful of chocolate frogs – more for the emotional comfort than just the sweets.
"You've been through an awful lot..." James said quietly and Harry chewed on his chocolate frogs.
Harry looked at him and he looked very sad. "More than any person should have to go through. Merlin, Harry! I'm so proud of you! It's amazing that you are still sane..."
Harry smiled sadly. "I don't think I would be if it weren't for you guys coming back..."
James looked at Harry sadly for a while until Harry could not hold back a yawn.
James smiled and looked at the clock "Whoa! It's 4 in the morning! No wonder I'm tired. We should all get some sleep... Padfoot, you can take the room you had last time. Moony, Lily, Harry – come on – we'll find some rooms."
James got up and the others followed him out through the kitchen, dining room and into the hall. As they walked up the stairs Harry gaped half-curiously at the paintings that lined the walls.
The paintings were either empty or the occupants were fast asleep. In one painting a young woman in white robes seemed to have left her frame to sleep next to a young man with unruly black hair on the floor of another painting. Harry had yet to learn that his hair was not unique in this house.
When they had ascended the stairs, they got to a landing and James went to the left. They followed him through a door and entered a corridor. Sirius walked past James and opened a door right opposite of the one they had just walked through. He bade them goodnight, sent Harry an encouraging smile and closed the door. Remus got the next room – and by the next – right where the corridor turned a corner, James stopped.
"We'll stay here Lily..." he said "I'll just show Harry his room and I'll be there in a moment."
Lily looked like she was about to object but apparently caught something in James' look as she just nodded and kissed him quickly before entering the room too.
"You'll be getting my old room..." James said as they rounded the corner and walked past a door, stopping at the second door.
"But..." Harry frowned. "Wouldn't you want it? I mean – if it's your stuff..."
"Nah... the other room is more suitable for me and Lily. Go on though... see if you like it... we can make some changes in the morning if you want..." James said and gestured towards the door in front of them.
Harry opened the door and as he did light turned on and revealed a large room. To his left a wardrobe stood against the wall and next to it was a four poster bed – complete with curtains. Next to that, near the window was a desk. In the corner near the window opposite of the desk was a couch with a small coffee table and two chairs. The room was decorated in Gryffindor colours and the bed and the couch looked like they had been taken right out of Gryffindor Tower. And the coffee table had a large scorch mark in the middle. Never had Harry felt so much at home.
"It's perfect..." he breathed and James chuckled.
"Glad you like it! There are some on my old clothes in the wardrobe – you might fit some of them. So if you need something else to wear – you can have a look. You saw where Lily and I are staying so if you need anything just let us know. Even if it's just to talk..:"
Harry smiled. "Thanks Dad – I think I'll be out cold tonight though."
James nodded. "Me too... But if you do need anything just shake me hard or something. I wouldn't recommend a bucket of water as Lily would frown upon that. She hated being woken abruptly." James grinned and Harry got the feeling that "frown upon" was a bit of an understatement of his mother's reaction to such a surprise.
"Riight... goodnight then Dad." Harry hugged his father.
"Goodnight Harry."
As soon as James had closed the door, Harry pulled off his robes and dived into the bed. As he snuggled intro the covers he thought that their smell was vaguely familiar. And that was his last conscious thought that day.
