Impossibilities

Chapter 12 - Magic Carpets and Dead People Who Aren't Dead Anymore

Dedication: For Kat, my super-duper 400th reviewer as well as so very faithful editor *grin* and for Shei and her outstanding reviews, info, movie clips, pictures, random facts, and other entertaining nonsense.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: sorry it took so long, school is hell... here goes nothing. *cracks knuckles and starts typing*

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There have been countless tense moments throughout the history of mankind. Humans seem to have a knack for getting themselves into (and occasionally back out of) tight places. Time and time again we stick our noses where they don't belong and our compensated accordingly for our meddling.

We vow every time to learn from our mistakes, to think before we speak, to look before leap, and to weigh all the possible consequences thoroughly.

Boy, are we ever a bunch of liars.

Despite the fact that making errors seems to be the human forte, it is very doubtful that there was ever a previous state of affairs that could compare to the sticky situation James Potter had currently worked his way into.

Obviously this girl who stood before him knew Harry well, and so he could hardly hope that she wouldn't know what his father ought to look like. James needed an explanation, and he needed one fast...

...Unfortunately that masterful brain, so quick and clever when it came to making innocent excuses for the countless pranks the Marauders had pulled, seemed to be drawing a blank...

Hermione Granger was used to being patient. She didn't like it, but after four years of being best friends with two of the most trying teenage boys in the whole of Hogwarts, she had obtained a certain level of tolerance. Even so, the dark-haired young man that stood before her now was quickly using up his allotted quota.

"You haven't answered my question," Hermione stated flatly once the silence had stretched out for too long, "What is going on?"

James gave his head a dazed shake. Must think fast, must think fast... "Erm-" he managed weakly, his eyes not quite meeting Hermione's, "nothing." Oh that was intelligent Potter.

Hermione eyes narrowed suspiciously, "Who are you?"

"I- er... why do you want to know?" James answered warily, desperately searching for a way out of this confrontation. Keep her talking, find an escape... He attempted an innocent smile.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Look, does Professor Dumbledore know you're here?" She asked with a sigh.

"Well, yes actually," James answered feeling slightly relieved- if he could just get her to drop the whole thing, if he could quietly slip away...

No such luck. Instead of leaving, Hermione came closer, "What's your name?"

James froze. "Um... Albert..." he ventured slowly, knowing his hesitation had lasted far too long to make that statement convincing. Let her go away... Dumbledore will kill me if he finds out I've-

"Your name is Albert?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

"Yes..." James replied, sounding more hopeful than sincere. Why did I pick that name?

Hermione considered him for several moments, head tilted to one side, before asking, "Are you related to the Potters?" She seemed slightly embarrassed to be asking such a question.

James opened his mouth but didn't speak, not knowing what to say. He did look awful lot like Harry... rather difficult to claim it was coincidence... yet the only thought running though his mind was, Why, oh why did I pick the name Albert...

"Hermione?" A new voice suddenly echoed down the hall breaking the uncomfortable silence filling the air around James and Hermione.

Hermione turned to see who it was, and James quickly began to edge towards the nearest exit. He was just about to turn and sprint away when the speaker came into entirely into view.

It was Harry.

James hesitated.

"Hermione, what's taking you so long?" Harry didn't seem to notice James standing halfway in the shadows, "Ron and I've been waiting, I want to show you both som-"

Harry let his sentence trail off, he had spotted James. He glanced in rapid succession from Hermione to his father as his eyes widened with panic, but that expression quickly shifting to mere amused resignation.

Half covering his face with his hands, Harry shook his head as a smile pulled at the edges of his lips. This most definitely was not how he had intended upon introducing people to his father.

Hermione stared at Harry with confusion while James tried unsuccessfully to hide a grin of his own.

"Harry do you know this man?" Hermione asked uncertainly.

Harry dropped his hands from his face and managed to school his features into a calm expression. "Yes, actually," he said slowly, "although I can't imagine what he's doing here." Harry gave James a meaningful look, before turning to smile innocuously at Hermione.

James stepped totally clear of the shadows to gaze disdainfully down his nose at his son. "I beg your pardon," he said indignantly, "what ever do you mean by that?"

"Harry?" Hermione said slowly, "Who is this?"

The grin on Harry's face faltered slightly at the question. "Well, it's sort of complicated..." he said, nervously pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "See- this is, well he's..."

Hermione blinked at him, "You're stuttering Potter." James snorted, but quickly turned into a cough as Harry's scowled darkly at him.

"Look, Hermione- It's just-" Harry paused and Hermione rolled her eyes with exasperation.

Harry twitched his fingers nervously. "Hermione," he said resignedly, "meet James Potter, er... Dad, this is my friend Hermione." He held his breath once he'd finished speaking, and nervously watched Hermione's face as the words sunk in.

"James P-Potter?"

Hermione's eyes bulged. She looked rapidly from one face to another. James eyes twinkled and he gave a modest bow, Harry managed a weak grin.

Suddenly feeling extremely dizzy, Hermione closed her eyes. This was all just some crazy dream, this wasn't happening, it was impossible... She cautiously opened one eyelid. Harry still hovered nervously to one side. She opened the other and.... yes, there was James... still grinning and still very much alive.

Now, nevermind the fact that the utterly inconceivable was happening, and nevermind that this whole scenario was probably tell tale evidence she was losing her mind, and nevermind the thousands of books she had read claiming that this was all impossible... Hermione had been brought up polite, and those manners --drilled into her until they were habit-- now took control.

Regaining her composure and extending a hand to shake James', Hermione calmly stated, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

And then, just as calmly and composedly, Hermione fainted.

James reacted instantly, catching Hermione before she could hit the ground. Harry hurried forward his face tight concern.

"Is she... alright," he asked hesitantly.

"Oh she's fine," James stated confidently, " In fact, I think she took that... rather well," he added with all the pretenses of complete seriousness.

Only by repeatedly reminding himself he had only known his father for less than twenty-four hours was Harry able to restrain himself from whacking James soundly on the head.

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Magic carpets, though not exactly illegal, have been frowned upon for centuries in the wizarding world. At one point they were a fairly common means of travel, but by now-- with their definite shortcomings in comparison to broomsticks-- very few remain in England.

Most of even the huffiest pure-blood wizards would agree that muggles were in the right on the matter, rugs should be kept on the floor and available for the sole usage of warming feet. They just weren't reliable enough for transportation.

Cedric sat frozen in the center of an ancient looking carpet, he hardly dared to breathe less an accidental movement spell out disaster. To his left, Lily chatted amiably with Gus, apparently oblivious to the danger this voyage was subjecting her to. Cedric could not understand how she could be so calm when the ground was speeding by down below faster than the eye could follow.

Oh sure, flying on a broomstick is one thing- you have complete control of where you're going- but having your life resting upon a rickety antique rug, piloted by a man who seemed to be missing a few of the more imperative brain cells, is an entirely different matter all together. Having died once Cedric now had a good deal more respect for his own mortality.

Chancing another glance at the ground, Cedric was surprised to find they were flying considerably lower this now- he hoped that was conscience decision on Gus' part and the magic carpet wasn't just deciding to give out on them.

"Are we almost there?" Cedric asked timidly, he hoped he didn't let too much of his anxiety creep into his voice.

Gus grinned cheerfully at him, completely oblivious to Cedric's obvious uneasiness, "Quite so, Mr. Diggory, look up north a bit and I'll bet you can see the castle."

The castle...Hogwarts... that was the only reason Cedric had allowed himself to be taken on this trip that seemed to be positively begging for disaster.

Cedric, of course, was very eager to reunite with his parents but he agreed, however reluctantly, that it was for the best to sort things out with Professor Dumbledore.

All three of them fell silent as Hogwarts drifted closer and closer.

Lily sighed wistfully remembering how life had been while she had attended school there. Things had been so simple back then, her biggest problems had been finishing her transfiguration essay. Now she was trying to figure out how to explain the fact that she was back from the dead...

Gus directed the carpet to as high open-topped tower and they each clambered off. The instant Cedric's feet hit solid ground he silently swore to himself never to ride on a carpet again.

"Won't it be difficult to explain if someone sees us?" Cedric asked cautiously as Gus marched purposefully towards the open archway leading down into the castle.

"No worries, we'll be just fine," Gus called cheerfully over his shoulder not pausing for an instant as he made his way down the spiral staircase. Cedric watched him apprehensively for a moment before turning imploringly to Lily.

"Aren't you the least bit concerned?"

Lily grinned, "Nah," she motioned for Cedric to follow her as she started down the stairs herself, "I'm not concerned, I'm terrified."

That wasn't quite what Cedric had been hoping to hear, but with a heavy sigh he too began the long descent.

"What are we doing?" Cedric asked in bewilderment a few minutes later.

Gus was strolling happily along ahead of him and Lily, holding his lighted wand point high above his head. Cedric didn't recognize the area they now walked in, in fact he had been very lost for a while now. The expression on Lily's face indicated she was as confused as he was.

"We're almost there," Gus said amiably, turning his head to nod good-naturedly, "Just a bit of a detour to avoid the crowds."

Cedric glanced uncomfortably at the dusty suits of armor lining the grimy walls on either side of him and bit back a sour retort. He'd learned that arguing with Gus would get you no where real fast. The guy could discredit any argument you had before you had a chance to voice it. Damn, that could be irritating.

Cedric plodded on in stony silence for several minutes until he ran smack into Lily, who had halted suddenly.

"Sorry-" he began sheepishly.

"Shh!" Lily admonished him. Cedric scowled at his feet and resisted the urge to grumble rude words to himself. Lily ignored his obvious annoyance and instead concentrated on listening for sounds in the hallway up ahead.

She motioned for Gus to put out his wand, and then waited in the near-complete darkness for a reoccurrence of the sound she could have sworn she'd heard. Cedric leaned against the one wall his eyes following Lily's line of sight nervously. His apprehension was all the greater due the serious expression on Gus' face. In the time Cedric had known him, he had never seen Gus look the least bit anxious.

Lily drew in a sudden sharp breath. An instant later Cedric realized why, up ahead the thin glow of a lit wand point danced against the walls. As the shadowed figure who held it came around the corner it glanced up momentarily illuminating the wand-bearers face.

It was Sirius Black.

Cedric too gasped- this was the man who was had escaped from Azkaban, he had tried to kill Harry... he'd killed thirteen Muggles with a single curse. This man was dangerous!

Unfortunately Cedric's gasp didn't go unnoticed by Sirius as Lily's had. Lily, Gus, and Cedric heard Sirius mutter a few quick words and the passage way was instantly filled with bright light.

Sirius stared.

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Professor Dumbledore looked gravely upon his one-time pupil and fought to keep the twinkle from his eyes.

James Potter certainly had a knack for getting into trouble.

"I should have known better than to leave you on your own."

James hung his head slightly, "Suppose so..." He then grinned at Dumbledore, "I can't imagine how dull life must have been without me."

Across the room Harry snorted and rolled his eyes. A still unconscious Hermione lay on a couch beside the chair he was perched on. James gave his son a withering glare before turning back the headmaster.

"What do we tell her?"

Dumbledore raised and eyebrow, "We tell her the truth of course. Miss Granger is a bright girl, she was bound to find out eventually anyway."

"Do you think that's wise?" James asked uncertainly.

"Do we have another choice?"

"Well..."

"Besides a memory charm."

"Well..."

"...or anything illegal."

"...guess not."

A soft groan could be heard for Hermione's position on the couch and Harry jumped up quickly when her eyelids began to flutter.

"How are you feeling, Miss Granger?" Dumbledore asked kindly, he pulled up a chair and sat down next to her.

Hermione blinked her eyes blankly for several moments before muttering, "Professor?" her eyes darted around the room, resting momentarily on James before coming back to meet Dumbledore's, "What is going on, how did I get here, who is-"

Dumbledore held up a hand, stemming the flow of Hermione's questions. He beckoned James forward. "I'd have thought James would have enough manners to already have introduced himself," he said with mock disapproving.

James gave small bow, grinning cheekily. "I did introduce myself, sir- she didn't believe me."

Hermione had by now regained enough of her composure to arch one eyebrow in annoyance, "Professor this man was claiming to be-" she paused and gave Harry a quick nervous glance, "he said he was Harry's dad..." She trailed off uncertainly.

Harry grinned in spite of himself. "It's true Hermione," he said elatedly, "You've finally met the infamous James Potter."

James laughed sheepishly and Dumbledore chuckled quietly to himself as he watched the surprised expression on Hermione's face.

"But... Harry, that's impossible," Hermione looked at Dumbledore with distress, "Professor, surely you don't believe this- it must be a trick." She shrank back fearfully on the sofa. The possibility that this was all some elaborate trap loomed ominously in her mind. "...Sir?"

Dumbledore met her gaze with calm seriousness. "I realize that this is all very complicated, but I assure you its quite true." He gestured at James, "That man is indeed James Potter, Harry's father."

"That impossible," Hermione stated in frustration.

Dumbledore sat back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap. "Impossible is such a delicate word- life is made up of nothing but impossibilities. Your friend Harry here is a prime example." Harry looked up in confusion and Dumbledore gave him a small smile before he continued, "The fatal Killing Curse is unstoppable and unblockable and yet you sit with, talk with, eat with, and study with one of its survivors everyday. Is it so very hard to believe there may have been more than one survivor that fateful night."

Hermione's forehead was furrowed with concentration. How could they expect her to believe this... but this was Professor Dumbledore and Harry- neither of whom would ever lie to her about something like this.

Perhaps it was possible, despite the fact it defied all grounds of logic.

"Stop scowling Hermione," Harry said with a laugh, "Try all you like, but you can't make it make sense. I know- I've tried."

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A/N: Excuse all mistakes, i wasn't able to get kat to edit this before i posted... hope its ok

I need some fresh ideas... this story is slowing down... I know where i wanna go with it... but it's not GOING! *heavy sigh* any and all ideas are welcome! *hopeful grin*

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED! I ALWAYS LOVE 'EM! PLEASE CONTINUE TO REVIEW!!!!!!!!!

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Oh yes... and Jeva... i liked the wolf story... very cool!!!! *grin*

All my peoples who are characters, i haven't forgotten you, i've already got a plan for ya in the next chapter... little side plot thingy, but ya know...

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!