A Time Out of Memory
by S. L
Dumbledore had Harry's attention immediately. He leaned over his desk attentively, ignoring James' strangled sob. He knew how James felt, and after all that was his grandfather... forget that they had never known each other.
Right now though he was interested only in Voldermort. After all, his grandfather was only one more Potter to add to his list. Harry wanted to make him pay.
"What must be done sir?" He asked over James' soft cries.
Dumbledore gave the elder Potter a sorry look then looked back to Harry. "Susan Potter is an Aurora and one of my members of the Order. James' father was neither of these, though a good man and a strong fighter. They really wanted Susan, they killed the spare."
Kill the spare...
Kill the spare...
The words rang through Harry's head as they had since Cedric was killed. The night when Voldermort had returned. That awful night.
"You see," Dumbledore went on, unaware the of what his words had stirred. "We don't exactly know where she has been taken. This has happened many times before, but since we have no inside operatives we do not know where Voldermort keeps his prisoners. Now that you're here however..."
Harry swallowed. "You want me to tell you?"
"If you would Harry." Dumbledore nodded. "I know we agreed that you should with hold information, but this is very important. Important for you, too I should think. Seeing as who she is. We need to know where he is, how many people should be guarding her, how long she has and any other information we can use to help her escape."
Swallowing, Harry sat back in his chair. He hadn't wanted to think on any of this ever again. The time that he had spent as Voldermorts prisoner. It still hurt, he had tried to forget. Now however, he had to remember, to save his grandmother.
For some reason his throat had closed up, but he managed to speak through that. "Alright, I'll tell you. Though call Taylor for me sir he can still fill in my gaps." Dumbledore nodded and left the room to find Harry's godfather.
Harry looked down at his father who was slumped in his chair. "I'm sorry," he said softly.
"I can't believe it," James said, he hadn't cried much, though Harry could still see tears in his eyes. He looked more shocked than anything. "Why would he kill my father? He hasn't done anything to him. Why?" He turned to look at Harry.
How Harry hated this. "It's all a game to him," Harry said looking away. "He doesn't care who is killed just so long as his actions reward him fear. He want to be feared, it's what he lives off of. His Death Eaters? I'd bet you that not a single one actually believes in what they are working for. They are cowards, every one of them, too afraid to fight for the light side.
"In killing just one insignificant person, like your father, he doesn't reward himself with anything. Though in killing one hundred insignificant persons he gains uncertainty. For then other insignificant persons begin believing that their lives, too might be in danger. That unless they join the dark side then they too could be killed- or at least that's what Voldermorts hoping for.
"But truly good people. They see his destruction as wrong, awful, and wish for the end to near. Good people, they are not cowards, they believe in what is right, and will fight for it with everything they've got, even if they know they are losing.
"You have to be a good person James, because I know you are. You can't see this as a way that Voldermort has just gained the upper hand again, no, not at all. You have to see this as a reason to fight back, one more reason as to why Voldermort shall be destroyed."
Harry closed his eyes. "For he will be destroyed James, and I have a feeling that you shall play a large roll in his destruction."
His father wasn't moving, simply staring blankly at Harry's desk. Harry began to hum then, it was a soft sounding song, though one that had always made him feel better. It was the song of the phoenix.
Fawkes, hearing the song of his kin, perked up and trilled along with Harry, his head arched highly and his wings spread out. After another measure the phoenix flew from his perch to land on James' lap, still singing his song. Harry had stopped to watch.
The bird continued his song, comforting, sad and beautiful all at once. Suddenly Fawkes quit his song and blinked his eyes once. Then one single tear fell from the phoenix's eyes and landed on James' clasped hands.
"Thanks Fawkes," was the low reply. "Thanks Harry."
Dumbledore and Taylor chose that minute to walk through the doors, the latter staring at James' with a forlorn look in his eyes.
Harry knew that for some reason his godfather had chosen not to seek out any of the Marauders, or even speak to them other than short hellos or explanations in class. He didn't really know why the elder Sirius did that, but he thought that maybe he didn't want to get close to them again, that he didn't want to remember them. It all came back to Azkaban. No for the first time Harry damned Wormtail for all that he had caused his family.
Taylor took a seat next to Harry, averting his eyes from both the Potters. Dumbledore took his seat.
"Now James you can either chose to stay and hear the plans to save your mother, or you may leave." Dumbledore said sadly. "I will not deny you the right to do either."
"I'll stay." James' voice had taken on a hardened edge.
The headmaster nodded. "Alright then, Harry you may begin."
Harry took a deep breath, it was going to be hard to relive those memories again.
~
James listened while Harry talked about Voldermort. He had somehow blocked his mind from thinking about what they were really talking about, his mother, and that his father had even died. If he didn't think about it then it couldn't hurt him, right?
He didn't know why Harry knew so much about the subject, nor did it seem to matter any more. It was curious, though James was glad he was here to help. Taylor too seemed to know a lot.
Once they finished with their retelling Dumbledore nodded. "Your information is invaluable, though I daresay you already know that. I'm sorry that you had to go through that again." Harry nodded stiffly.
"It seems then that we have a sort period of time in which to work." Dumbledore looked ten years older. "I shall call a meeting of the Order and keep you posted on our actions. James I must urge you not to worry over your mother. If anything she has more of a chance of making it out of Voldermort's clutches that any one ever has before."
Then the headmaster nodded with finality. "James, both you are Harry are omitted from classes today and tomorrow, as is Professor Taylor. I shall find a replacement to teach Defense. Sean, I will be expecting you to attend the meeting of the Order and to help me devise a plan. Harry I would like you to try and remember anything please come speak with me. You are dismissed."
James was vaguely aware of Harry helping him from his seat and out the door, though Taylor remained behind. He didn't know for how long they had been walking before James registered Harry was helping him walk, but when he did he shrugged his friend off.
"How did you know all that?" He asked faintly.
Harry shrugged. "It's no concern really, just another piece of my past."
James regarded him strangely, he didn't know why he said what he did next, it just popped out.
"Why is your patronus... me?"
Many expressions crossed Harry's face, none of them pleasant and none of them confusion. It seemed he had known about James for a long time.
"You don't chose the form of your patronus, it's just something that is a part of you. Whether your present, past or future." He paused. "Since I haven't known you in the past, I believe that our trust comes from the future. Somehow I have the feeling that you shall be a very great friend in my life."
James nodded. "So you knew it was me then?"
Harry smiled. "It wasn't hard, besides with your reputation and nicknames like 'Moony', 'Wormtail', Padfoot', and 'Prongs' it wasn't hard to guess. Besides some other things that added up." He didn't say what those other things were, and James didn't ask.
He didn't feel like he needed to ask. He didn't much care anymore. He was just glad, that Harry was his friend at that moment and thought he could be right. Maybe they would be great friends in the future, maybe they were great friends now?
~
Both Harry and James had stayed away from their friends that night, deciding instead to sneak off to a secret room James knew about. After going by the kitchens and nicking a few things off the house elves of course. No one bothered them all night nor the next day when they returned to their common room.
Of course that could have had something to do with them returning to the common room when classes were being held and no one was in the common room.
The two boys hadn't talked, but just having the others company helped each in their own weird ways. James was still getting over his fathers death and his mother's kidnapping and Harry was thinking about his troubled past.
"Your parents were killed by Voldermort right?" James asked as they settled before the fireplace. He had given up on calling the Dark Lord You- Know-Who. What Harry had said about fear made sense and he wouldn't give Voldermort the satisfaction of having one more person fear his very name. Even if he couldn't hear James, it just didn't seem to matter anymore.
"Yes," was the quiet answer. "When I was a baby."
James sniffed. To lose your parents when you were so young... at least he had had seventeen years with his father and hopefully many more years with his mother. "So who did you grow up with?"
At this Harry smiled a little bit. Not a happy smile, but a hateful sort of smile. "My aunt and uncle, muggles all the way even though both my parents were magical."
"Were they nice?"
"Nice? They hated magic, and they hated me."
James sniffed again. "What about your godfather? Didn't you say that Taylor was your godfather? Where was he?"
Unfortunately Harry stiffened. "In hiding," he finally said though James could barely hear his voice.
The bell rang through the common room and James looked at his watch. The last class of the day had just ended, which meant that everyone would be coming to the common room to drop of their things before hurrying to dinner. In a couple of minutes this place would fill up and they wouldn't be alone anymore.
James looked at Harry. "Do you-" he took another breath. "Do you think my mum will be alright?"
His friend smiled. "Her time has not yet come, she has a purpose yet to fulfill on this earth before she can be left to peace. She will be safe soon, do not worry."
Slowly James nodded. Why was it that he could trust Harry's word so confidently? How was it that Harry always seemed to know what was going to happen? James decided that he had a lot more to think about that Voldermort and his parents. There was something very strange about this years happenings.
The first few students trickled into the common room, ignoring Harry and James' presence. They were mostly first and second years, all running to get to dinner first.
James sat on silently, trying to decide whether or not he should make an appearance at dinner. Harry didn't move at all, perhaps he wasn't going to go? James couldn't do that though, already his stomach was starting to rumble. Perhaps he'd just nip by the kitchens again?
He really didn't feel like facing his friends yet. Nor any of the others. He didn't think he'd be able to handle that today. Though he knew he would have to sooner or later. He had good friends and they were probably already worried sick over him. Maybe he should just go by dinner, even if just for a moment?
He looked at his watch again. It was five minutes into dinner and still there were a few students who were popping into the common room. None of the seventh years had come yet, though he had thought he might have seen Peter for a moment. Not that Peter was any company to have after your father has just died.
James sighed and looked into the fire thinking about his parents again. He kept trying to make himself quit it, but he couldn't help it. They were always there.
He'd only been turning over these thoughts for a moment when a strangled sigh burst through the calm of the common room. Then he found a soft weight thrown at him. A girl hugged him around the neck with all the small strength she could muster. She appeared to be sobbing silently, whether for him or herself James didn't know. All he knew was that he was grateful for the hug.
He hugged her back and ran his fingers through her long red hair.
Awww... I know I said that I was probably going to keep them fighting for a little while (assuming you can all guess who the red head is), but this was just so cute. I'm not sure if this chapter fits well, so tell me what you think. Also a great thanks to all my loyal readers and those reading this for the first time- don't forget to review please! And to those who have reviewed thanks:
~smileygirlo3
~ The Lost Girl
~Naeginnie6 (three reviews!)
~Olivia
~Bon
~Jeanne
~Mayleesa
~Piper Halliwell
~Bad Gurl
~Ivy
~Kay Potter 13
~Jen
~Giesbrecht
~Lauryn
~cleary
~Gabbie
~AJaKe
~yilly
~Mnemosyne
~Sarah
~vmr
~Gia
~Chibi Ucchan
~Tiger Lily
and
~Kitty Kat
And also I am still looking for someone to read my chapters before I post them. It would be a great help to get someone's opinion before I do so. So if you think you would be intrested just say so in your reviews and I'll email you. THANKS!
by S. L
Dumbledore had Harry's attention immediately. He leaned over his desk attentively, ignoring James' strangled sob. He knew how James felt, and after all that was his grandfather... forget that they had never known each other.
Right now though he was interested only in Voldermort. After all, his grandfather was only one more Potter to add to his list. Harry wanted to make him pay.
"What must be done sir?" He asked over James' soft cries.
Dumbledore gave the elder Potter a sorry look then looked back to Harry. "Susan Potter is an Aurora and one of my members of the Order. James' father was neither of these, though a good man and a strong fighter. They really wanted Susan, they killed the spare."
Kill the spare...
Kill the spare...
The words rang through Harry's head as they had since Cedric was killed. The night when Voldermort had returned. That awful night.
"You see," Dumbledore went on, unaware the of what his words had stirred. "We don't exactly know where she has been taken. This has happened many times before, but since we have no inside operatives we do not know where Voldermort keeps his prisoners. Now that you're here however..."
Harry swallowed. "You want me to tell you?"
"If you would Harry." Dumbledore nodded. "I know we agreed that you should with hold information, but this is very important. Important for you, too I should think. Seeing as who she is. We need to know where he is, how many people should be guarding her, how long she has and any other information we can use to help her escape."
Swallowing, Harry sat back in his chair. He hadn't wanted to think on any of this ever again. The time that he had spent as Voldermorts prisoner. It still hurt, he had tried to forget. Now however, he had to remember, to save his grandmother.
For some reason his throat had closed up, but he managed to speak through that. "Alright, I'll tell you. Though call Taylor for me sir he can still fill in my gaps." Dumbledore nodded and left the room to find Harry's godfather.
Harry looked down at his father who was slumped in his chair. "I'm sorry," he said softly.
"I can't believe it," James said, he hadn't cried much, though Harry could still see tears in his eyes. He looked more shocked than anything. "Why would he kill my father? He hasn't done anything to him. Why?" He turned to look at Harry.
How Harry hated this. "It's all a game to him," Harry said looking away. "He doesn't care who is killed just so long as his actions reward him fear. He want to be feared, it's what he lives off of. His Death Eaters? I'd bet you that not a single one actually believes in what they are working for. They are cowards, every one of them, too afraid to fight for the light side.
"In killing just one insignificant person, like your father, he doesn't reward himself with anything. Though in killing one hundred insignificant persons he gains uncertainty. For then other insignificant persons begin believing that their lives, too might be in danger. That unless they join the dark side then they too could be killed- or at least that's what Voldermorts hoping for.
"But truly good people. They see his destruction as wrong, awful, and wish for the end to near. Good people, they are not cowards, they believe in what is right, and will fight for it with everything they've got, even if they know they are losing.
"You have to be a good person James, because I know you are. You can't see this as a way that Voldermort has just gained the upper hand again, no, not at all. You have to see this as a reason to fight back, one more reason as to why Voldermort shall be destroyed."
Harry closed his eyes. "For he will be destroyed James, and I have a feeling that you shall play a large roll in his destruction."
His father wasn't moving, simply staring blankly at Harry's desk. Harry began to hum then, it was a soft sounding song, though one that had always made him feel better. It was the song of the phoenix.
Fawkes, hearing the song of his kin, perked up and trilled along with Harry, his head arched highly and his wings spread out. After another measure the phoenix flew from his perch to land on James' lap, still singing his song. Harry had stopped to watch.
The bird continued his song, comforting, sad and beautiful all at once. Suddenly Fawkes quit his song and blinked his eyes once. Then one single tear fell from the phoenix's eyes and landed on James' clasped hands.
"Thanks Fawkes," was the low reply. "Thanks Harry."
Dumbledore and Taylor chose that minute to walk through the doors, the latter staring at James' with a forlorn look in his eyes.
Harry knew that for some reason his godfather had chosen not to seek out any of the Marauders, or even speak to them other than short hellos or explanations in class. He didn't really know why the elder Sirius did that, but he thought that maybe he didn't want to get close to them again, that he didn't want to remember them. It all came back to Azkaban. No for the first time Harry damned Wormtail for all that he had caused his family.
Taylor took a seat next to Harry, averting his eyes from both the Potters. Dumbledore took his seat.
"Now James you can either chose to stay and hear the plans to save your mother, or you may leave." Dumbledore said sadly. "I will not deny you the right to do either."
"I'll stay." James' voice had taken on a hardened edge.
The headmaster nodded. "Alright then, Harry you may begin."
Harry took a deep breath, it was going to be hard to relive those memories again.
~
James listened while Harry talked about Voldermort. He had somehow blocked his mind from thinking about what they were really talking about, his mother, and that his father had even died. If he didn't think about it then it couldn't hurt him, right?
He didn't know why Harry knew so much about the subject, nor did it seem to matter any more. It was curious, though James was glad he was here to help. Taylor too seemed to know a lot.
Once they finished with their retelling Dumbledore nodded. "Your information is invaluable, though I daresay you already know that. I'm sorry that you had to go through that again." Harry nodded stiffly.
"It seems then that we have a sort period of time in which to work." Dumbledore looked ten years older. "I shall call a meeting of the Order and keep you posted on our actions. James I must urge you not to worry over your mother. If anything she has more of a chance of making it out of Voldermort's clutches that any one ever has before."
Then the headmaster nodded with finality. "James, both you are Harry are omitted from classes today and tomorrow, as is Professor Taylor. I shall find a replacement to teach Defense. Sean, I will be expecting you to attend the meeting of the Order and to help me devise a plan. Harry I would like you to try and remember anything please come speak with me. You are dismissed."
James was vaguely aware of Harry helping him from his seat and out the door, though Taylor remained behind. He didn't know for how long they had been walking before James registered Harry was helping him walk, but when he did he shrugged his friend off.
"How did you know all that?" He asked faintly.
Harry shrugged. "It's no concern really, just another piece of my past."
James regarded him strangely, he didn't know why he said what he did next, it just popped out.
"Why is your patronus... me?"
Many expressions crossed Harry's face, none of them pleasant and none of them confusion. It seemed he had known about James for a long time.
"You don't chose the form of your patronus, it's just something that is a part of you. Whether your present, past or future." He paused. "Since I haven't known you in the past, I believe that our trust comes from the future. Somehow I have the feeling that you shall be a very great friend in my life."
James nodded. "So you knew it was me then?"
Harry smiled. "It wasn't hard, besides with your reputation and nicknames like 'Moony', 'Wormtail', Padfoot', and 'Prongs' it wasn't hard to guess. Besides some other things that added up." He didn't say what those other things were, and James didn't ask.
He didn't feel like he needed to ask. He didn't much care anymore. He was just glad, that Harry was his friend at that moment and thought he could be right. Maybe they would be great friends in the future, maybe they were great friends now?
~
Both Harry and James had stayed away from their friends that night, deciding instead to sneak off to a secret room James knew about. After going by the kitchens and nicking a few things off the house elves of course. No one bothered them all night nor the next day when they returned to their common room.
Of course that could have had something to do with them returning to the common room when classes were being held and no one was in the common room.
The two boys hadn't talked, but just having the others company helped each in their own weird ways. James was still getting over his fathers death and his mother's kidnapping and Harry was thinking about his troubled past.
"Your parents were killed by Voldermort right?" James asked as they settled before the fireplace. He had given up on calling the Dark Lord You- Know-Who. What Harry had said about fear made sense and he wouldn't give Voldermort the satisfaction of having one more person fear his very name. Even if he couldn't hear James, it just didn't seem to matter anymore.
"Yes," was the quiet answer. "When I was a baby."
James sniffed. To lose your parents when you were so young... at least he had had seventeen years with his father and hopefully many more years with his mother. "So who did you grow up with?"
At this Harry smiled a little bit. Not a happy smile, but a hateful sort of smile. "My aunt and uncle, muggles all the way even though both my parents were magical."
"Were they nice?"
"Nice? They hated magic, and they hated me."
James sniffed again. "What about your godfather? Didn't you say that Taylor was your godfather? Where was he?"
Unfortunately Harry stiffened. "In hiding," he finally said though James could barely hear his voice.
The bell rang through the common room and James looked at his watch. The last class of the day had just ended, which meant that everyone would be coming to the common room to drop of their things before hurrying to dinner. In a couple of minutes this place would fill up and they wouldn't be alone anymore.
James looked at Harry. "Do you-" he took another breath. "Do you think my mum will be alright?"
His friend smiled. "Her time has not yet come, she has a purpose yet to fulfill on this earth before she can be left to peace. She will be safe soon, do not worry."
Slowly James nodded. Why was it that he could trust Harry's word so confidently? How was it that Harry always seemed to know what was going to happen? James decided that he had a lot more to think about that Voldermort and his parents. There was something very strange about this years happenings.
The first few students trickled into the common room, ignoring Harry and James' presence. They were mostly first and second years, all running to get to dinner first.
James sat on silently, trying to decide whether or not he should make an appearance at dinner. Harry didn't move at all, perhaps he wasn't going to go? James couldn't do that though, already his stomach was starting to rumble. Perhaps he'd just nip by the kitchens again?
He really didn't feel like facing his friends yet. Nor any of the others. He didn't think he'd be able to handle that today. Though he knew he would have to sooner or later. He had good friends and they were probably already worried sick over him. Maybe he should just go by dinner, even if just for a moment?
He looked at his watch again. It was five minutes into dinner and still there were a few students who were popping into the common room. None of the seventh years had come yet, though he had thought he might have seen Peter for a moment. Not that Peter was any company to have after your father has just died.
James sighed and looked into the fire thinking about his parents again. He kept trying to make himself quit it, but he couldn't help it. They were always there.
He'd only been turning over these thoughts for a moment when a strangled sigh burst through the calm of the common room. Then he found a soft weight thrown at him. A girl hugged him around the neck with all the small strength she could muster. She appeared to be sobbing silently, whether for him or herself James didn't know. All he knew was that he was grateful for the hug.
He hugged her back and ran his fingers through her long red hair.
Awww... I know I said that I was probably going to keep them fighting for a little while (assuming you can all guess who the red head is), but this was just so cute. I'm not sure if this chapter fits well, so tell me what you think. Also a great thanks to all my loyal readers and those reading this for the first time- don't forget to review please! And to those who have reviewed thanks:
~smileygirlo3
~ The Lost Girl
~Naeginnie6 (three reviews!)
~Olivia
~Bon
~Jeanne
~Mayleesa
~Piper Halliwell
~Bad Gurl
~Ivy
~Kay Potter 13
~Jen
~Giesbrecht
~Lauryn
~cleary
~Gabbie
~AJaKe
~yilly
~Mnemosyne
~Sarah
~vmr
~Gia
~Chibi Ucchan
~Tiger Lily
and
~Kitty Kat
And also I am still looking for someone to read my chapters before I post them. It would be a great help to get someone's opinion before I do so. So if you think you would be intrested just say so in your reviews and I'll email you. THANKS!