Chapter 3

Oranges-They Can Change Your Life

   Dan opened the door to the Potters' house. He still couldn't see anyone inside, but heard soft whispering. Then he heard James' angry voice again.

   "I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" he shouted. Dan could feel bits of spit on his shoulder.

   "I didn't know! I just found out! I'm sorry!" bawled Dan.

   "I always knew you were Death-Eater material!" yelled back James. "Always mysterious, you were! I never should have trusted you to come in our home!"

   "James!" said Lily "Calm down! I'm sure Dan has an explanation…"

   "FOR WHY HE WANTS TO KILL US?" bellowed James. Dan could just imagine James with gritted teeth, his foot digging into the carpet.

   "I never wanted to kill you," whispered Dan, shuffling his feet. "I just found out Voldemort's evil plot. But I am no longer a Death-Eater." Suddenly, Dan saw James and Lily standing before him.

   "Can you see us now?" asked Lily softly.

   "Yeah," said Dan in amazement. "Yeah, I can see you…"

   "Good," said Lily. Then she turned to her husband.

"See? He's not a Death-Eater anymore if he could see us!"

   "He could just be PRETENDING to see us!" said James, clenching his fists and digging his feet harder into the rug.

   "Dan," said Lily, turning back to him. "What am I doing now?" She made her eyebrows go into an arch and moved her arms like a robot.

   "Putting your eyebrows into an arch and moving your arms like a robot," Dan said firmly. James finally looked like he believed him.

   "Welcome to the good side." said James.

   "Dan," said Lily "We need some oranges for Harry. Can you go to Diagon Alley and get some for us? The fireplace is right next to the…wall."

   "Sure," said Dan, grinning. He grabbed some Floo Powder and shouted "DIAGON ALLEY!" and disappeared.

   Dan had come back after several hours, because the fireplace, for some reason, wasn't working, and he couldn't Apparate, so he had had to take the Knight Bus.

   As Dan was walking up the street, he saw the house in ruins.

   "Oh my god!" he said, and ran over to the house, bags full of oranges and all.

   When he got there, he saw Sirius Black, James best friend, standing there in shock. The Potters were nowhere to be seen. Little Harry was gone. Were they all dead? Or had they escaped?

   Dan ran up to Sirius and asked him "What happened? Are they all right? Where's Harry? WHERE ARE THEY?"

   "Lily and James are dead," whispered Sirius.

   "Oh my god," breathed Dan. Then he gathered up his courage and asked Sirius "Where's Harry? Is he OK? I mean, you're the godfather, and all."

   "Harry was taken by Hagrid to give to Dumbledore to give to his aunt and uncle," said Sirius.

   "Petunia and Vernon! How could they do that to the poor boy!" said Dan before thinking. Then he asked Sirius what had happened.

   "Voldemort came here. He killed James, and then he killed Lily. He tried to kill Harry too. But he couldn't do it. The curse had rebounded on Voldemort, and Voldemort is now on the run, reduced to something barely alive. Harry is alive, and Voldemort has been conquered. Harry is now a hero. He now has a lightning bolt scar on his forehead." Sirus breathed in deeply.

   "But why did the curse rebound?" asked Dan, clutching the oranges.

   "Nobody knows," said Sirius. He saw the bag of oranges and asked, "Can I have one?"

   "S-sure," stuttered Dan, and handed one to Sirius.

   "It's amazing," he thought to himself as Sirius was trying to peel the skin off the orange. "How a man's life can change so quickly…and so fast."

 A/N: That's not the end! Next chapter we will fast-forward ten years!