Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be.


PREVIOUSLY:

So… so she's only got… three years after we graduate? Oh, Merlin."

Harry was stunned at the look of sadness on his future hated potions master's face. He took the other's hand and moved a little closer. "Look at it this way, Sev." The other boy's head snapped up at the name. "We know. Even if I go back, you know. We can change it."

"We will change it, Harry. I can't lose her."


Chapter Eight

Harry stood outside the gate to a small manor on the outskirts of a village. He had been waiting for this day for quite some time, and now he had been given the best possible information. He now knew where and how to find them.

He pointed his wand at the gate, and it swung open silently. He looked through the window of the home, and saw a family of three seated in the living room, not noticing that he was watching them.

The woman, a red-haired witch with bright green eyes, took the baby from her husband's arms, laughing at something that the man had said. She left the room, her husband's gaze following the sway of her backside as she climbed the stairs with the infant.

Harry pointed his wand at the front door, and it opened with a click. The man was immediately on alert. He entered the hall, and shouted up the stairs, "It's Him! Take Harry and run! I'll hold him off!"

Harry laughed, and with a muttered, "Avada kedavra," the dark-haired man was dead on the floor. He walked through the living room, chuckling at the sight of the two wands lying uselessly on the corner table.

He heard frantic footsteps, heard as the woman pushed things against the door of the child's room. As if anyone could stop him from entering when he wanted, much less preventing him the Muggle way. He climbed the stairs and stood outside the door for a second, cherishing the sound of the woman's weak attempt at defending herself and her son.

He blasted the door aside with a small wave of his wand. The woman screamed, and held her son close to her. "Not Harry, please not Harry!" the woman pleaded.

Harry laughed. "Stand aside. Stand aside, you silly girl, and I will spare you. Stand aside, now!"

She laid her son into his crib, and stood in front of the boy. "No, not Harry! Please! Have mercy, have mercy! Take me, please, not my Harry!"

"This is your last chance, girl. I have been asked to spare you, and I will do so only if you STAND ASIDE NOW!"

"Never."

He laughed at her, pointed his wand at her, and said the same curse which had ended her husband barely two minutes before. She collapsed, dead on the floor. He turned his wand on the boy. He was screaming, just like the brats always did before they were killed.

He stared into the child's eyes as he touched his wand to his enemy's forehead. The child stopped crying, and looked up, the green meeting the red of his attacker.

"Avada kedavra."

Pain flooded him. It was as if he was being ripped apart. It was so much worse than any pain he had ever experienced, much worse than even the most painful of curses. And Harry knew no more.


"Harry, mate, wake up! It's just a nightmare, mate, come on! Get up!"

Harry was suddenly doused in icy water and his eyes opened. It took a moment to recognize where he was. He was in the past, currently staying with his eleven year old father and his family.

"You okay, mate?"

"Y-yeah," Harry said, painfully aware of the fact that he was shaking.

James looked doubtful, but waved his wand and the water dried up immediately, leaving Harry warm again.

"Well, I came in to tell you mum's got breakfast ready, but you were thrashing around in your sleep and… You sure everything's okay?"

"Yeah… just…" he thought desperately of something to tell James, but then settled on the truth. "Remember how I said that my parents were killed a long time ago?" James nodded. "Sometimes I dream about it, okay. That was just more... vivid than usual. Nothing to worry about."

"Oh, Merlin. I… I'm sorry, mate. I didn't realize… Wow, I feel like a complete prat now," James looked uncomfortable.

"Don't worry about it. Let's get to breakfast."

Harry grabbed a change of clothes, but James waved his hand dismissively. "Nah, no need for that, it's not like it's a formal banquet or anything." He grinned. "First day of the holiday, might as well live it up."

Harry had never before eaten breakfast in his pajamas, but grinned back and followed his James out of the room.

He marveled at the fact that he was having many firsts recently. His first time talking to his parents, his first bedroom to himself, the first parental figures he could look up to…

The two boys joined Mr. and Mrs. Potter at the table, and James immediately grabbed a stack of pancakes and dropped them onto Harry's plate. Harry raised an eyebrow, but James just grinned and grabbed some food for himself.

His parents rolled their eyes at their son and began eating.


"Your exam results came this morning, boys." James smiled as the envelopes were handed to each of them. The emerald ink was addressed the same as his Hogwarts letter had been, with the exception of "Eastern Bedroom, second floor," instead of "Cupboard Under the Stairs."

He and James had both passed everything, though both barely scraped by in History of Magic. They were tied for fourth in their year at this point. The list of top ten students was included in the letter, and it was: Evans, Lily; Snape, Severus; Lupin, Remus; Potter, Harry and Potter, James (Tie); Black, Sirius; Prewett, Alice; Black, Narcissa; McDonald, Mary; Rosier, Evan; McKinnon, Marlene.

"It's on, Potter," James said with a grin. "I will totally beat you next year. Maybe knock Sn-Snape out of number two!"

"Yeah, but that would mean we beat Mooney. Which isn't going to happen easily."

"Mooney?" James' mother asked.

"Our friend Remus. It's his nickname."

"Remus Lupin?" his father asked, a surprised look on his face.

"Yeah, he's third in our year. One place above the two of us." The elder Potters exchanged surprised looks. "Why? What's wrong with Remus?"

"Nothing, dear," his mother said quickly. "Why don't you two finish up, and maybe play Seeker's Revenge out in the field? Remember the disillusion charm this time, James, I don't want to be obliviating anyone today."

The boys quickly finished up, and headed outside, where James led Harry to their broom shed.

"I think mum and dad know about Mooney's… problem."

"Yeah, seemed like it. Wonder how they found out?"

"Mum's a healer. She used to work in the Dai Llewellyn Ward when I was little..."

"What's that?"

"Oh, you wouldn't know. It's the ward in St. Mungo's that deals with dangerous bites. Like werewolves."

"So you think your mom…"

"She may have treated Remmy."

"Oh. That would explain her knowing."

After a few games of Seeker's Revenge, all of which were won by Harry, it was already lunch time. Never had Harry spent an entire morning doing nothing but having fun with a friend. And that's when it hit him. He was no longer looking at James as his father, but as a friend, much as he would have looked at Ron Weasley back in his own time. Mrs. Potter came outside to tell the boys that lunch was ready and that two of their friends had written.


Hey James, Harry!

I guess since you two are living together for now, I can write one letter to the both of you. Summer's already seeming so long without all of you guys, huh? Mum's going crazy… I didn't pass History of Magic, but my Potions grade made up for it, so it's all good from here. Congrats on your shared fourth place! I bet Remus' excited about third… Now to kick Snivellus out of second… Have you heard anything from Sirius? Bet his parents are thrilled abouthis fifth place.

Hope to hear from you! See you soon,

Peter


James, Harry,

Sorry, but I'm sending you both one letter… It's easier that way. Congratulations on your tie for fourth place in the ranking! I bet your parents are pleased, James (didn't you say they wanted you in the top ten?). My parents were thrilled to see third. I'm a bit surprised Snape beat me though… Probably that last fail in potions (when Sirius got bored and decided to prank me!) pulled me down quite a bit. Remind me to tell him off again for that.

Speaking of Sirius, have either of you heard anything from him? I know he was a little worried about his parents, since they were less than agreeable to his being in Gryffindor… Hope he's okay. If you hear from him, let me know. He said something about the owls not delivering to non-purebloods, so he may not be able to write me…

Anyway, hope the both of you are well. I can guess the two of you are enjoying the entire summer on broomsticks? Peter McKinnon and Arthur Weasley graduated, so there's a seeker and a Chaser position open this year. That's what you two favor, right? Seeker and Chaser? Best of luck to the both of you.

Cheers!

Remus


Remus,

Me and Harry are writing one letter too, since you wrote us the same one, you're only getting one from us both! HA!

Well, since James is going to be weird, I'll just tell you. We're going to attempt to use a dicta-quill, so let's see how this works...

And of course, he's calling me weird, when Harry didn't even know what a dicta-quill is until five minutes ago.

You weren't supposed to tell him that! We've been practicing Quidditch nonstop all summer, so hopefully, those positions are OURS!

And yeah, mate, my parents were delighted! Thought I'd never hear the end of it!

Shut it, James, quit exaggerating! And yes, we'll remind you. He got us that day too. Not to say we could've beat you at ANYTHING, but still.

What I don't get is, how the heck did Snivelly beat any of us?

Cut it out, James. He's really not that bad.

Right. Whatever. No, I haven't heard anything from Siri. Hope he's okay, the Blacks can be… how to put it… evil. Cruel. Psycho. Stark-raving mad. Absol-

Got it, Jamie. Thanks for scaring both Rem and me about how Sirius is doing over the break! We'll owl you if we hear from him, mate.

You hear anything from Peter? Apparently, he failed HoM, so his mum's freaking out.

I can hear your voice now, Rem. 'If you'd have studied, you'd have passed!'

Hey! I was going to say that! Anyway, the spell on the quill's about to wear out, and we still got to write Peter, so we better just say bye.

See you soon, Rem!

James and Harry


Hey Peter!

Just warning you, we're using a dicta-quill, and the letter to Remus was a little… odd, so no telling what this one's going to be like.

In other words, Harry contradicted everything I said!

I did not!

HA! See! Told you!

Nice one, James. Anyway, too bad about History. You're fine, though, it's not like you'll need that one EVER after Hogwarts. It was both of our lowest grades too.

On the bright side, it's summer! We've been flying every day so far. Weasley and McKinnon graduated, so the chaser and seeker positions opened up.

So we've been practicing every free moment. Wish us luck, mate! Anyway, we should probably get going, before the spell on the quill runs out.

See you soon, mate!

Cheers, Peter!

Harry and James


I know, half of this is pathetic letters. But at least it's something, right? Right? Please?

*runs from the angry mob holding pitchforks and torches*

I promise a decent chapter soon. I just had to get in the basic info about Sirius losing touch with all of them over the summer. It's important (as we all know :D )

Again, prank ideas are welcomed. I'll need some for the chapter after next for the welcoming feast. Gotta bring it in with a BANG! Please review!