W-what? What's happened?

"You alright?"

Harry registered that he was lying on the ground and the voice he heard was not that of Ron. Or Hermione.

Or in fact anyone he knew.

It sounded like someone he knew, only twenty years younger. Maybe. Possibly. It couldn't be.

One eye slid open.

Sirius.

...At thirteen?

"You're awake! Mate, you scared me!" Sirius hauled him to his feet. Harry didn't resist. Then Sirius got this funny look on his face. "Best. Prank. Ever."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're gonna love this, Prongs."

Prongs.

Prongs?!

"What is it?"

Sirius pulled a mirror from his pocket and showed him his face. Still very confused, Harry was finding it difficult to register what was happening until Sirius explained it.

"How did you enchant your eyes the exact shade of Lily Evans'? She's gonna be so mad."

Harry smirked, still confused and uncertain, but knowing he had to live up to his newfound reputation. Of his father. His father.

Totally normal.

"Well, that's a perk." What was that spell anyway? What had it done?

"You should've seen it! Wish she'd been there. This flash of light, you were gone! And then back again, in a heap. With Evans' eyes."

Wait, why was he called Prongs anyway? Surely his father hadn't become an animagus at age thirteen... had he?

Or was he really so great at magic?

"Better go and show 'em off."

Wondering if his identity was going to be exposed, Harry drew in a sharp breath. "Nah, let's not."

"Why not?! It's the greatest prank of the century!"

Harry rolled his eyes and took a chance. "So was last week's."

Seemed the chance had paid off. Sirius smirked triumphantly. "I know! I mean, a flower crown that couldn't be taken off and turned into rotting meat as soon as she put them on? Genius."

"Maybe we shouldn't get her mad again." Harry sincerely hoped he hadn't got it wrong.

Sirius peered at him in surprise. "What? Why would Macdonald be mad?"

Oh. Not his mother, then.

"I got confused. Maybe it's the spell. C'mon, Padfoot, let's get out into the fresh air."

"Padfoot?" Sirius stared at him as if he'd gone crazy. Harry went cold. Sirius was now looking confused and alarmed. "What are you talking about?"

So he didn't have the nickname yet...?

"Um... your name?"

Sirius' face lit up suddenly. "Genius, Prongs! What d'you think my form'll be? Hope the name fits."

"Um..." Harry was in a quandary. "What fourfooted animals are there?" He studied Sirius for a moment as they headed towards the door. "Maybe you'll be a dog."

"Yeah... a big, black dog." Sirius shoved his hair out of his face. "That'd be me."

"Ever seen a dog go grey?"

Sirius snorted with laughter. "Not for a while yet, mate." He slung a companionable arm around Harry's shoulders.

Great... now I really am James for Sirius.

This is wild.

Yep, it's short, but I wanted to get it out. Expect subsequent chapters to be longer. Also, James knows his form but hasn't been able to transform yet. Sirius knows it's fourfooted but nothing more. Peter hasn't got it yet.