Harry's Wish

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Chapter 10: Telling Hermione and Ron

Harry felt giddy. His father was alive! Dad had said he loved Harry, and that he would never leave him. Harry knew that it was best to remain cautious. It wasn't that he didn't trust his father, but he didn't really know him.

"I want my friends to meet you soon." Harry's request was muffled by his father's robes.

"I would be honored." Dad had replied. Harry giggled. He was delighted. Harry couldn't remember being so happy. He was on his own personal cloud of bliss.

He ran to the common room with his father in tow. He racked his brain for a good excuse as to how his father suddenly came bask from the dead. He knew he would have to tell them in private.

Suddenly, a realization hit Harry. He skidded to a stop and wheeled around to face his father.

"Dad!" He gasped.

"Yes, Harry? What's up?" He sounded concerned.

"You are our new DADA teacher?!" His father chuckled at Harry's shock.

"Yes, I am." He said. Do you like that class?" Harry shook his head and hurried to explain.

"Last year, whenever I was in Defense class, my scar would burn. It turned out that Voldemort was hiding in the professor's turban."

"WHAT?!" James yelled.

"Shhh!" Harry quieted him. "You've got to be quieter. I'm fine! Really! I can look after myself, you know. I've done it for years."

This, he knew, wouldn't really comfort his dad, but he had to say something reassuring. James sucked in a deep breath.

"Do you usually put yourself in mortal peril?" He asked almost sarcastically. But Harry could see the deep worry in his father's eyes.

"No." Harry deadpanned. "Mortal peril finds me. Really!" His father had raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Anyway," Harry said quickly. "I can tell you about my adventures another time. You wanna meet my friends?" He asked eagerly.

"Of course." James replied warmly.

"Everyone else will find out tomorrow." Harry said. "I can't wait to see Malfoy's face! He can't call me an orphan anymore!"

James had a sinking feeling that Harry wasn't all that happy usually. He was extremely giddy: the effects of someone who hadn't experienced much happiness.

Harry and his dad were outside the common room.

"Wait here." Harry said. "I'll get Ron and Hermione."

Harry dashed into the common room and over to his two friends. They were playing Wizard Chess and Ron was winning.

"Hey guys!" Harry sounded ecstatic. His intense happiness was bubbling just below the surface.

"Why, Harry!" Hermione said. "You seem really happy today. What's up?"

"What's going on, mate?" Ron asked.

"Come on! Come with me!" Harry said. I can't explain. You will just have to see for yourself."

He lead Ron and Hermione outside the common room. James was standing off to the side, taking to Snape. Harry sighed a little. James looked upset. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he was glowering.

Snape looked abashed, almost. Harry could only guess that James had found out about Snape's constant degrading comments and insults to James's son and his friends.

"I suggest," James was saying. "That you leave him alone. After all, we may be professors, but I can still make you pay, if you keep on picking on him all the time."

Snape did not reply. He glared at the floor, but he looked rightly chaiseted. Harry decided that he should get his father and take him and his friends to an abandoned classroom, or something. He leaned close to his dad and whispered in his ear.

"C'mon, Dad. I want you to meet my friends." Harry whispered the 'Dad' part because he didn't want his friends to freak out in front of people.

"Okay, Harry." His father replied. "See you around, Severus."

Harry took his dad's hand and lead the group down to the same classroom that he went into last year to see the Mirror of Erised.*

"Ron? Hermione?"" Harry said, unsure on how to start. How do you tell your friends that your father is back from the dead, and that he's going to be the Defense professor?

"Hey, Harry?" Ron said.

"Yeah?" Harry was pulled from his dilemma.

"Are you going to pull the Mirror of Erised out again? Dumbledore said you shouldn't focus on that."

Harry laughed a shaky laugh. "No, Ron. I don't need the mirror to see my parents anymore." His face reddened. James wheeled on Harry.

"You saw-?" He couldn't finish his sentence.

"Yes." Harry said quickly. "Okay, I'm going to tell you something impossible."

"What happened?" Hermione asked. "Did you see You Know Who again?"

"What? No!" Harry said. "Let me finish."

"What were you telling Ron earlier tonight at dinner about our new teacher?"

"He looks like you." Hermione responded. "But what are you saying?"

"Ron, Hermione, I don't know how to build up to a big reveal, but here it goes..."

Hermione and Ron looked at each other, then back at Harry.

"I want you to meet my father, James Potter." Harry said. His voice shook a little. He never thought that he would be able to say those words. If anything he was more ecstatic than before.

"Harry," Hermione said. "Please don't be offended hon, but I think you are under a lot of stress from last year, and summer, and-"

"Maybe you should go to Madame Pompfry. She can get you some potions to-"

"Ron!" Hermione said. "Harry, we're your best friends, and I know that since the thing with the motor, you've been dreaming, and I'm sure the photo album from Hagrid isn't helping."

"Harry's not insane." James said quietly. "He's telling the truth."

"Look, sir." Ron said. "I don't mean any disrespect, but Harry's parents are dead. You Know Who killed them with the Killing Curse."

"I know." James said. His eyes suddenly glinted with humor. "I was there."

Harry choked. "Don't ever say that again."

"Sorry, kiddo." He ruffled Harry's hair. Usually, Harry would pull away from the gesture, but this time he leaned in to James's touch. It felt good to have his father's fingers lightly massage his scalp.

"I did die." James explained, still pulling his hand through Harry's hair. "I woke up on July 31st. I found Remus Lupin, and freed Sirius Black. Then, we spent a month hunting down Peter Pettigrew. He was our friend, but then, when Sirius and I decided to make Peter out Secret Keeper, he gave our location to Voldemort," Hermione and Ron grimaced at the name, and Harry rolled his eyes at his friends. "And Sirius was arrested for our murder, and the killing of twelve Muggles and Peter."

"Well, at least Peter is dead." Said Ron.

"No he's not." James continued. He is an illegal animagus. Peter was the one to blow up the street. He yelled at Sirius about betraying Lilly and I, cut off his finger, blew up the street, and transformed into a rat. He's hiding out, and when we find him, he's a dead man." James was growling by the end.

"Anyway. I freed Sirius. He's cleared of all charges. The Ministry is now looking for Peter. I got pictures of him in his rat form too, so people would be aware that he is an animagus."

"You really are Harry's dad, aren't you, Mr. Potter?" Hermione asked, in awe.

"Yes, Hermione." James said. "I am." Hermione stepped forward and hugged him. When she stepped back, she hastily wiped tears from her eyes.

Ron stepped forward and held out a hand. "I'm Ron." He said.

"Ron Weasley." James said, shaking Ron's hand. "How's Arthur?"

"Good." Ron said.

"What about Molly?" James inquired. "Lilly and Molly were good friends."

"She's good too." Ron answered.

"I'm so pleased to see that my Harry has such good friends." James said thickly.

"Thanks, Mr. Potter!" Ron and Hermione said while Harry hugged his dad's middle again and said, "Thanks, Dad!"

"Don't call me 'Mr. Potter' anymore, okay? It makes me feel old. Call me James. I'm only 21, after all."

"Okay." Ron said.

"Alright." Hermione replied.

"Now, your day starts early tomorrow. I happen to know that you have Potions first thing, and if I were you, I would do what I could to stay on Snape's good side."

"Snape has a good side?" Ron said incredulously. Hermione giggled. James smiled a little.

"Oh, lighten up, Ron." Harry said. "Quarril would have killed me during Quidditch last year if Snape hadn't intervened."

"Oh, yeah." Muttered Ron.

"What?" James said, his voice a forced calm.

"Oh, we thought it was Snape jinxing Harry's broom during a game against Slytherin, but it turned out to be the Defense teacher." Ron explained.

"Snape was muttering a counter curse." Muttered Harry.

"We thought it was Snape, so Hermione ran over to him and lot his robes on fire!" Ron screeched with laughter. "He didn't even notice for thirty seconds!"

James cracked up. "You lit him on fire?! Wow!"

"I put him out! It's not like I would kill a teacher!" Hermione said indignity.

James lead Harry, Ron and Hermione to the Gryffindor tower, so they wouldn't get in trouble for being out past curfew.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow." James said. "You have my class last period of the day." He slaps Ron on the back, gives Hermione a one-armed hug, and pulls Harry into a full-blown hug, tussling his hair.

"See you tomorrow, um, James." Hermione says. She says James really quietly. Harry could tell that she was unfamiliar with calling an adult of authority by their first name.

"It was really nice to meet you guys." James said easily. "And, of course, I mean Harry too." He grins. "After all: in my world, it was only a month ago that I was entertaining you with my wand while you giggled and curled up on my lap, Harry." His smile was gentle. Harry blushed.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Dad." Harry said. Needless to say, Harry slept clear of nightmares and would wake up the next morning happier than he had ever been in his entire life.

A/N: Okay! Finished chapter 10!

* I just had to put the Mirror of Erised in there. PLEASE let me know if I spelled anything, especially 'Erised' wrong! Please REVIEW!