Previously

"Harry," Hermione called after him as he practically ran down the hallway. "I'm sure-" she said, running with Ron beside her to catch up with their friend. "I'm sure that there is a logical reason behind what he said,"

"Of course there is." Harry snapped, stopping in his tracks and staring at his friends, breathing heavily. "Isn't it clear? Wasn't he clear?"

"But Harry," Hermione tried again, trying to take hold of Harry's arm.

"No." Harry said, pulling the arm that Hermione had tried to grab out of her reach. "My… he... James doesn't want me, fine" Harry said, surprised at how hard it was for him to say those words. "Then I don't want him either." And he turned away from his friends and continued his way along the sixth floor corridor before making a left, heading toward the stairs that led up to the seventh.

Ron and Hermione did not try and follow Harry, which Harry was grateful for. The words that James had said keep running through his head.

"I know this is going to sound incredibly mean, but why did he have to survive the war?" Was particularly the one that stung Harry the worst.

"It's not fair that he lived through the war and Lily hadn't," had been the last thing Harry heard James, his father, say before Harry had had enough and stormed away. Harry snorted with mirthless laughter at the thought of how, only a half an hour earlier, he had actually been eager to see his father again, and how his father seemed eager to see him.

A half an hour earlier.

After flying away from James, Harry quickly flew toward the locker room so he could get changed and catch Ron before he left. As he reached the locker room and landed, Angelina, Katie, and Alicia were coming out. Walking passed them, Harry saw that it was only Ron in there now, and he was looking quite miserable.

"Come on Ron, cheer up." Harry said, walking toward Ron and sitting next to him on the bench.

"You and I were at the same practice right?" Ron asked dryly, not taking his eyes off the bit of dirt on the ground that he seemed to find very interesting.

"Yeah, I was. And so was James." This caught Ron's attention.

"I saw you fly over to someone, but I couldn't see who. That was him then?" Ron said, looking at Harry. Harry nodded.

"And, he wants to meet you and Hermione. So hurry up, so we can go and get Hermione." Harry said, standing up.

"Nah, you should spend some more time with him," Ron began saying, trying to stay in his grumpy mood.

"But my dad was saying that he had a player just like you on his team when he was captain, and that he wants to tell you how he helped that guy." Harry said, sitting beside Ron once more, who was smirking at Harry. Confused by Ron's smirk, Harry asked him what he was on about.

"And you didn't even notice?" Ron asked in reply.

"Notice what?" Harry asked bewildered.

"You said 'my dad was saying,' not 'James was saying'." Ron said, putting a slight emphasis on dad and James.

"I did?" Harry asked. Ron nodded, still smirking. "Oh." Harry said, not sure what else to say. "Come on. We still have to get Hermione and change out of our Quidditch robes."

Once he had seen that Harry had landed safely -not that he doubted his son's flying abilities- James made his way down the stands and back to the castle. As he walked he went over the details of how he had helped his keeper in his head, so that he could discuss it with ease. He was so immersed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice that he had reached the entrance hall; his feet were just carrying him. The woman that he walked past as he started going up the marble stairs also went unnoticed, until she announced her presence with a loud, fake, cough. Giving a small start, James looked around, looking for the source of the unnatural nose. He found it easily.

"Ms Umbridge," said James curtly, not moving from his place, which was a few steps above her.

"Mister Potter," She said, walking up to him. "It is so pleasant to see you again. I speak for the whole Ministry of Magic when I say Welcome Back." She went on once she reached James. James did not answer her. "I must say that, young Mister Potter must be thrilled as well?" She questioned.

Again, James did not answer her. His fists, however, reacted to her speaking about Harry.

"Speaking of young Harry," She said, as though James had been the one to mention Harry. "I believe that a meeting between you and myself, concerning your son might be in order. I am sure that the Headmaster has informed you of the misdemeanors your son has gathered so far in this school year alone?" She said, every word said with fake sugary sweetness.

"Misdemeanors, indeed." James said, speaking for the first time, gazing down at her. Even though they stood on the same step, James was still a good foot or so taller then her. She smiled widely at James, taking his statement to be that he believed her.

"Here," She said, pulling from her pocket a piece of pink parchment and handing to James who took it grudgingly. "If you could just come to my office at the date and time I have written, I believe this would be most beneficial for your son." She went on. James raised his eyebrows at her. "Oh, yes. There are most troubling facts that I have discovered about your son, Mister Potter, and I feel that you should know of them. But this," She said with a giggle, "is hardly the place or time to discuss them."

"No." James said, for being unable to say what he really wished.

"Very well then. It was most pleasant speaking with you Mister Potter." And with that she turned and walked back down the stairs. Moving his eyes from Umbridge's retreating back, to the piece of pink parchment in his hands, James shook his head and sighed, then continued on his way back to his room. Just as he was thinking about how unpleasant that meeting had been for him, and what on earth Umbridge had to say about Harry, James' once good mood was further damped by the sight of one other person whom he loathed, crossing his path.

"Potter."

"Snape." Both men stood there, waiting for the other to make the first move, their last encounter with each other still fresh in each mind. James took notice that Snape's jaw was no longer bruised, and he commented on the fact. Snape leered at him.

"I see that you are no longer, if ever, hurt by that fact that your wife has perished. You do seem to have recovered quite well. For the rest of us walking around the castle, it has been fourteen years, for you it has been about a week. And here I thought you had loved her." Snape said coldly.

There was silence. James could hear some kind of ringing in his ears as he stared at Snape with such hate that he was seeing red. Not even pulling out his wand, James suddenly advanced upon Snape. Grabbing him by the collar of his robes, James slammed Snape against the wall, not even aware that Snape had his wand jabbing into his neck.

"I don't ever want you to think that I'm not in pain over Lily. I don't ever want you to think that I didn't love her. I don't ever want you to even think about Lily. She is too good to be thought about in your sick, twisted mind." James said in a low growl. For whatever reason, Snape did not curse him; he merely looked at James with loathing. "Go report that back to your Master." James said, removing his hands from Snape as someone would remove their hands from a bubotuber that was about to emit its disgusting pus.

Snape was saying something but James wasn't listening at all; he was to wrapped up in his own thoughts. Not the cheerful thoughts as they had been when he had first entered the castle, but thoughts about Lily, and how he missed her. Dimly, somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if it was healthy to have such abrupt, sudden, and often changes in your mood.

"Password, mate?" Peter Pan asked once James reached the painting.

"Wendy." James said softly.

"That it is." And the painting swung forward to let James in. Looking around, James didn't see Remus or Sirius, but the sounds of voices could be heard coming down the staircase. Taking his cloak off and throwing on the coach, James made his way up to his friends to ask if they could still perform a good cheering-charm.

"Hermione, do you really want to talk to Harry's dad about spew when you first meet him?" Ron asked as Hermione returned from the girls Dormitory with her collecting tin in her hands.

"It is a bit much during the first meeting Hermione." Harry added, though he was smiling.

"Oh, alright. Fine." Hermione said, setting her tin down on one of the tables.

"Now can we go?" Ron asked impatiently.

"Oh, stop Ron. It took me a minute to go up to my dormitory to get it. It did not take that long." Hermione said. Not even saying a word as Ron opened his mouth to retort, Harry made his way out of the common room, knowing that they would follow. As Harry made his way along the corridors he hoped that his father would like his best friends. Not that it would change anything if he didn't, but Harry just hoped that he would.

Once they reached the panting of the Lost Boys, Ron and Hermione stopped arguing.

"Password?" Said Peter Pan who was currently hanging upside down from a tree.

"Wendy." Harry said.

"Right you are." And the painting opened for Harry, Ron and Hermione to enter. Harry went in first and looked around. There was no one there.

"Oh, it's so pretty," Hermione said from Harry's side.

"No one here." Ron said, from Harry's other side.

"That's his cloak." Harry said pointing to it where it lay on the couch. "They must be upstairs, or downstairs." And he walked over to the stairs. Once he was standing next to the stairs, Harry could hear voices coming from those that lead up. He waved Ron and Hermione over to him, and began to climb them when he heard some of what was being said, and stopped on the second step.

"My day was going great, but he had to go and ruin it." Harry heard James say.

"It couldn't have been that bad." That voice belonged to Remus.

"Yes Remus. It was that bad. I mean you should have heard him. And what he said, " James was talking again, but Harry couldn't hear the rest of what he said because at that moment Hermione spoke in his ear.

"Harry, what," But Harry waved at her to be quite so he could hear.

"...care. As if." Harry only caught the end of what James had said. "It was such a nice day. I had to leave," Harry couldn't clearly hear what word he said, butit could havemaybebeen'castle'. "He had to go out of his way to cross paths with me. I wouldn't have said anything to him, I wouldn't have bothered him, but no."

Harry suddenly felt a small lurch in his stomach. James wasn't talking about him, was he?

Remus said something again, but Harry couldn't hear it. But what ever he had said, made James snort with laughter.

"Were you not paying attention Remus? I have been trying. He's the one in the relationship that's making things difficult. I know this is going to sound incredibly mean, but why did he have to survive the war?"

"James." Harry heard Remus say sternly.

"No, really Remus. As if things weren't messed up and different when I came back as it is, he's still alive. It's just," James sighed. "It's not fair that he lived through the war and Lily didn't."

Harry heard enough. Turning around, he made his way back down the staircase and out of the portrait hole, slamming it shut behind him. Hermione and Ron, startled at first, didn't hesitate before taking off after their friend.

Present

"And, then he just stormed out." Hermione said to James when he found them in the hallway.

Sirius, Remus, and James had been sitting in the Study when they heard the Portrait hole slam. Just as they reached the living room, they saw two people hurriedly leaving. Remus and Sirius said that they recognized the two by their hair as being Ron and Hermione, Harry's best friends. Unsure of why they were leaving, and who had slammed the Portrait hole, James and Remus followed after them. Once in the corridor, they saw Ron and Hermione standing about half way down, watching a persons walk away from them. The messy black hair that covered the head of the person told James at once that it was his son that was walking away from his friends. Confused, James and Remus walked up to Ron and Hermione and asked what had happened. It seemed that Harry had heard some of what James, Remus and Sirius had been discussing.

"But, why would hearing that upset him?" James asked the two teenagers standing in front of him. "Surely he knew that," James started saying, but at the looks of pure shock on the two's faces, he stopped.

"You and Harry were aware of the fact that James was speaking of Severus Snape, I hope?" Remus asked.

"Oh!" Said Ron, his narrowed eyes that had been on James widening at once. "That makes a bit more sense."

"Um, no." Hermione said, unnecessarily after Ron had spoken. "Harry believed that you were talking about him."

"He can't have," James said, staring at her, in his turn of shock. "He must know, I mean, I'm his dad," He stumbled on.

"Do you know where Harry would have gone?" Remus asked. Ron and Hermione shook their heads. Turning to look at James who was still standing dumbstruck, Remus said, "Finding Harry and explaining to him that you were talking about Snape would be the best move right now."

"Right." James said, nodding, looking down the corridor. "I'll go look for him now," He started walking down the corridor, despite having no idea of where he was going. Once at the end of the corridor, James made a right. After walking along another corridor for a short time, he made a left, and walked along yet another corridor, but finally came to a stand still.

"Alright, he's your son. Father's intuition should kick in any time now." James stated out loud as he looked down the empty corridor. But no sudden thoughts of where Harry might be came to him. James didn't have the slightest clue as to where to even begin a search. Just as he was about to make a move, James realized that the corridor was no longer empty of anyone besides himself.

"Hello Mister Potter. I was looking for you." Simpered Umbridge once she came in haling distance of James. James bit back a groan.

"And your reason for looking for me would be?" James asked bluntly when Umbridge didn't follow through on her explanation. What more could she have to say to him that she didn't already say during their first run in? For a second, James thought he saw her smile falter, but when she spoke, it was with even sweeter then before.

"The Minster of Magic is currently at Hogwarts and wishes to speak with you." She said.

"I'm busy at the moment." Umbridge seemed very thrown by this reply.

"The Minster of Magic is a busy man Mister Potter, surely I do not need to remind you of this. And he is taking time out of his busy schedule to speak with you. I cannot think of anything that could make you too busy to speak with him." Umbridge said, sweetly after she had collected herself. James wasn't fooled though; he heard the command underneath the over-the-top sweetness. On normal days, James would tell Umbridge to piss of, but then again, on what used to be normal days James was working in the Ministry of Magic and would never dare to not do as the Minster said.

As James stood sizing Umbridge up, he thought that he might as well go and see what Fudge wanted. He had no clue where Harry was, and there was nothing to be done about the whole 'Harry Situation' until James knew that little bit of information. And even if he did find Harry, maybe it would be best to give him time to cool off; Merlin knows the teenager was bound to be highly emotional right now.

"Very well." James said flatly, knowing as soon as he spoke that he should have just went on with his search for Harry. "Where is the Minster now?"

After watching James walk hoplessly away, Remus turned to Ron and Hermione.

"If you see Harry before James gets a chance to speak with him, please explain the situation. And tell him that James wants to talk to him when he's ready." Remus said calmly to the two teenagers.

"We will." Hermione said, while Ron nodded his head next to her. They both turned and walked away, back to Gryffindor Tower Remus guessed. Remus turned and headed back into the living quarters where he knew Sirius was waiting. Sure enough, Sirius was sitting on the back of the couch, facing the door waiting for someone to come back in and tell him what was going on.

"Harry, Ron, and Hermione heard some of what we were talking about up stairs. Problem is, Harry thought that James was talking about him instead of Snape." Remus explained walking over to Sirius who hopped off the back of the couch. Sirius swore under his breath.

"Where's Harry and James now?" Sirius asked.

"No idea. Harry was walking away when we got out into the corridor and by the time James went after him, he was long gone." Remus said rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"And James is looking for him any way even though he has no idea of where to find Harry?" Sirius asked, even though he knew the answer.

"Yes."

"I think I have an idea of where Harry might be. And, I think that maybe I should have another talk with him before he talks to James." Srius said and then transformed before Remus could say anything. As a dog he ran over to the door, opened it with a paw, and had whipped his tail out of sight before Remus could yank it back into the room to make him answer some questions.

A.N- If you guys want to hate me for taking so long to get this chapter up and out, please do. Cause I don't think I feel enough toward myself. But, I promise all of you that the lack of updates wasn't because I forgot about this or didn't care.

I still had some left over Writers Block from the last chapter. Every time I sat down to write, I didn't like what I was writing. The emotions for this chapter weren't how/what I wanted, and I didn't want to give you guys something that didn't pass my 'well it doesn't make me really happy, but it's got the feel I want' test. On top of that, I got a new laptop which didn't have what I did have of chapter 25 on it, and the computer that did have chapter 25 in it, was/is slowly crashing. Yesterdayish it was behaving long enough for me to get on it, however and save the chapter.

The shortness of this chapteris killing me, but the sight of the 'last updated 7-12-05' kills me more. But review for it and tell me to get my butt moving and the next chapter will be out and be longer and good...er. (Yes I know, I'm trying to be funny to make you like me)

Please, please, review and tell me you hate me, tell me this chapter falls flat (cause I get the feeling it does), or be a wonderful person and tell me that you thought it was okay. Whatever floats you boat will make my day one away or another.

A big, big, big thank you goes out to Fire and Napalm for acting as Beta for this chapter, and maybe more to come if she's still up for it. (She didn't do the last part so if it sucks, it's all me.) She's one of the reasons this chapter is out now instead of mondayish because it would take till then for me to get a spell check on my laptop.(I wrote the last bits of this chapter on the Wordpad thing that comes on computers when you buy them.)

Review, and I'll love you...aw, who am I kidding I love you for reading anyway.

"Keep Li/oving" and Till next time, which I promise wont be that long again!