Welcome to chapter two of my fic and big thanks to those who reviewed my first ;0) I apologise in advance if the next two chapters get a bit corny, I promise this isn't turning into a romance! I just needed to get a group of characters together who wouldn't usually do so and I thought what better than a formal occasion? I picked this one because I thought it would interest Harry the most and give him a few happy moments until I heap a load of crap onto him (cue evil laugh)
Anyway on with the show....
Chapter Two: Familiar Faces
Harry felt his head spinning, coloured lights flashing inside his head, he felt sick with dizziness and all of a sudden........
THUD.....Harry landed in a heap on something warm and soft. He instantly panicked, warm, soft things were never a good sign in the wizarding world, it usually meant something evil was luring you into a false sense of security. On closer inspection of his surroundings Harry was put at ease. He had, in fact, landed on someone's bed. He stared at the bedroom around him. Sunlight poured in from a large window to his left, he guessed he was now in summer, but in which year he had no idea. Why had he stared into that damn Pensieve? Lupin would be really cross when he found out. Harry hoped he would find out because he had never managed to get out of one of these things by himself.
The only way to describe the room he was in, Harry decided, was messy. Robes of all colours carpeted the wooden floor. In one corner lay a heap of screwed up paper and in the other a massive pile various food wrappings.
'Whoever ate all of that would put fat cousin Dudley to shame!' thought Harry.
A loud crash from beneath him brought Harry around from his favourite Dudley memory - the time Hagrid had given him a pigs tail. The bang made Harry yell in surprise. Before he could ask himself where the noise came from his question was answered. From underneath the bed came a familiar but irate voice.
'Sirius Black I'll kill you one of these days' came the voice confirming Harry's suspicions - it was Lupin.
In less than a second his future headmaster emerged from under the bed, his young face beaming scarlet with fury, frustration filling his pale brown eyes.
'Oh I give in' sighed Remus ' Sirius get up here now! If you don't find it soon I'll have to tell James!' he yelled through the doorway.
Harry's eyes widened....Sirius?.....and James?.....They were here? The Pensieve incident had happened so fast Harry hadn't even thought of the consequences. He was about to meet his father, to see his father and his godfather together. Harry sat very still. These thoughts took a time to register. He was going to see his dad. His throat tightened unbearably, his eyes ached as he tried to fight back emotion. The young boy didn't have long to digest what he was hearing as seconds later heavy footsteps came thundering up the stairs, just like Dudleys used to when Harry lived in the cupboard under the stairs. The bedroom door crashed open, and there, stood in the doorway, was none other than Sirius Black.
Harry let out a hushed gasp.
'Moony, no, you cant, give me ten minutes'. Sirius stuttered aghast, his dark, rounded eyes pleading his case.
Harry couldn't believe what he saw. Sirius Black? But he looked so different. His face was no longer sunken and waxy, but dark and handsome. This couldn't be the same man! Harry had to pinch himself to remember that he was in the past, Sirius looked no older than a man in his early twenties, he had no clue what was to come. He stared, amazed at the broad, strong man before him.
'I'll find it. Don't tell James, just give me ten minutes', the pleading continued.
'James will be here in five, you have until then', came Remus' firm reply.
With that the two men commenced frantically searching around the room, Remus scouring the mess on the floor while Sirius searched the wardrobe on the far wall.
'Wonder what they're looking for', thought Harry regaining his composure. He felt rather useless sitting there on the bed but he knew he couldn't help. The Pensieve had merely transported him into a memory, not back in time, Remus and Sirius were completely oblivious to his presence, they could neither see nor hear him. The past had already been written, he could in no way change it, instead he sat there helplessly watching the two men hunt around for their missing object. Harry sat contentedly as the men rummaged around him. Lupins face was a picture as he scavenged amongst the pile of food packages.
'You know Sirius', he said in a superior tone, 'if you tidied up once in a while things wouldn't get lost so easily'
'You know Sirius blah, blah, blah' mocked his friend in a high pitched voice 'Honestly Moony, you are turning into a woman' he laughed
Lupin looked un-amused. Even at such a young age Remus had a tired look about him, unsurprising maybe for someone who turned into a werewolf once a month.
'This is not a laughing matter Sirius' he scolded 'Your best friend is getting married in one hour and you've lost the bloody ring!'
Married?....Ring?.....
'No, it cant be', thought Harry 'This is mum and dads' wedding day '
The front door slammed downstairs making Sirius jump. Before Harry could think about what was happening something shiny caught his eye. There gleaming in the sunlight next to his left hand was a small, golden ring. Harry jumped up quickly and bounded over to the windowsill where Sirius was frantically rummaging .
'Sirius! Sirius!', he cried, 'it's on the....' What was the point? Sirius couldn't hear him. If he never found the ring nothing could be done about it, that was history. Harry slumped sadly onto a chair in the corner of the room completely forgetting that someone had just entered the house until the bedroom door opened. From behind the door appeared a man Harry never thought he would see. Tall and skinny, unruly black hair, thick round glasses. The man was a replica of Harry except for the colour of his eyes which shone a glowing hazel.
'Dad' breathed Harry hardly able to make a sound, tears rolling freely down his young face.
'Come on you two, what are you doing? You should be ready by now' - even his voice was like Harry's - 'God, Sirius what the hell happened in here? Do you ever tidy up?' he laughed.
'Erm , well, um, hi, hi there James' Sirius stammered nervously, fear overtaking his handsome face. 'All ready for the big day? He attempted to sound cheery.
'Yeah all ready', came the reply 'Wish I could say the same for you to come on'
'Well, um James, sorry but..', Lupin started. Black began visibly panicking.
'What is it Moony?' asked James, as his eyes scoured the mess. 'Oh Padfoot' he exclaimed marching towards the bed 'When I asked you to look after Lily's ring I didn't mean sleep with it!', he laughed retrieving the ring from it's hiding place and holding it in the air.
Sirius looked like he would faint.
'Oh well, you know me' he winked, a smile of relief spreading across his face.
'Mmm' sighed James 'Well come on then, get ready'
With that Sirius left the room .Harry laughed loudly to himself, 'Yes! They found it!'
In just a few minutes Sirius was back in the room, changed into his wedding clothes. He and James wore identical black dress-robes, embroidered with scarlet and gold at the cuffs.
('Just like true Gryffindors', thought Harry) James also wore a crimson cloak which was held together at his chest with a sparkling gold brooch. Remus left the room and headed off towards the now vacant bathroom to change.
The groom and his best man sat down on the bed and Harry, slightly uneasy of imposing, joined them.
'Nervous?' Sirius asked
'Oh God wait until it's your turn! I can't stop worrying about the stupidest things. I've changed my mind about these robes five times today already!'
'Don't worry, you look great, you'll do Lily proud' comforted his best friend, his voice full of sincerity.
'Where the hell is Remus? He's been in there fifteen minutes! I'm telling you Prongs he's turning into a woman!'
The pair laughed. Just then Remus returned dressed in brand new, scarlet robes.
'About time!' cried 'James 'We'll be late'.
With that the three Marauders Dissapperated taking Harry along with them, to the next stage of Remus Lupin's memory.