A/N: Sorry for the delay – so without further ado!

Disclaimer: Not…..mine…………………………………………..

Chapter 4

Tapping her foot impatiently against the carved leg of the library table, Hermione contemplated what had gone on, if anything, in the narrow library aisle. Probably nothing, she told herself and she turned her eyes and tried to focus them on the ingredients of the cleansing potion they were making. Lily was sitting silently across from her but was still giving her a little look that said "I know about you and - " ah. But Hermione must not get ahead of herself. Meanwhile was starting to wonder when Dumbledore would find a way for them to return to their own time – she had never seen Harry so happy before and wondered if she herself wanted to go back to 1997. She did. As much as she liked it here she needed to go back. To her own time.

"I'll see you later Lily."

"Right."

Hermione packed her bag and started walking without much direction and eventually meandered her way and found herself in front of the big stone gargoyle.

"Is the professor in his office?"

The gargoyle was still, stone and grey – brooding in stillness.

"I'll take that as a yes." Hermione shifted her feet uncomfortably. "Will I be disturbing him if I went up there?"

Suddenly the gargoyle sprang to life. "You know," he said in a friendly voice that quite didn't suit him, "you are the first one apart from Dumbledore himself to actually speak to me. I get sick of just hearing the damn password every time. They don't seem to realise that I get LONELY al by myself while all the other gargoyles are up on the roof tops." The stone seemed to rumble a little as the gargoyle sulked.

"Well. I'll make sure that I tell others…erm…that come here to…er…have a, a chat with you next time then." Hermione said uncomfortably.

"Thank you." Said the gargoyle emphatically. "Password?"

"Um…chocolate frogs. Isn't it?"

"Go on up."

***

Harry watched his father as he caught the snitch. And let it go. And caught it. And let it go. It almost became a rhythmic game to him as his green eyes travelled in loops as he followed the snitch's movements. It was so easy to just grab out and catch it. As he had done countless times. But this time, James was catching the snitch and Harry was watching. Suddenly James's game became immature and childish to him – when James had let the snitch fly particularly long, Harry caught it deftly between his index and thumb.

"Sorry to say this old boy," he addressed hi father, "but this is boring isn't it? Why don't we go outside and have a proper game?"

Harry released the snitch.

James caught it with ease.

"We don't have enough people."

"Scared Potter?" Wow. That sounded like Malfoy.

"One on one then? Better and better." James smirked as he raised himself off the couch. Harry followed him down to the quidditch pitch.

"Uh oh." Ron said, abandoning his homework and following him down.

"Is James going to get his arse kicked by Harry?" Sirius followed and asked Ron, "Because he needs it."

"I don't know. I don't know." Ron mumbled darkly.

***

James selected his Nimbus from the broom cupboard and beckoned for Harry to choose a broom too.

Cleansweep ones. Comet 100s. These were old brooms. Where were the Nimbus 2001s? Cleansweep 7s? Shaking his head, Harry selected the newest and best looking broom of the lot.

"That is mine." Sirius's voice came from the doorway.

"I can borrow it? May I?"

Sirius smiled, "Sure. As long as you win James and deflate his head." Behind him Ron looked nervous. Harry ignored the nagging in his head, "He's your DAD."

"Whatever" he mumbled. Grabbing Sirius' Nimbus, Harry followed his dad out.

Sirius and Ron stood in the centre of the pitch, snitch grasped in his hand. Harry and James faced each other at opposite ends of the field. Sirius nodded to both of them. Harry kicked off from he ground. The Nimbus was still a smooth flyer, albeit a little slower. It needed more physical touch from Harry to manoeuvre it around and it was practically dodgy next to his own beloved Firebolt, sitting in his closet in Gryffindor Boy's dormitories, 1997. Oh well, if life gives you a lemon…make a lemon squash? Was that the quote he had heard on some American show? Harry flew this way and that, just to test the broom out. Knowing Sirius, he had probably put some charms on it. But then again he was sure that his father would have done the same.

"Hey guys!" Sirius called form down on the ground. "I've let the snitch out. Let the games begin."

Harry immediately focused and he could see from about a 100 meters away, so had James.

"It's frightening how I can't tell which one is which from down here." Sirius remarked.

"They are father and son duh…" Ron muttered then mentally slapped himself.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

Suddenly the air above them seemed to crack. Sirius and Ron both craned their heads up. James and Harry were flying through the air with incredible speed, both chasing after the glitter of gold. Ron looked nervous. Sirius looked exited.

"Yes, go Granger! Go! Kick that proud arse of James' for me! Whoo-hoo!"

Ron raised his eyes toward the sky again. He himself kept quiet, cheering for neither father nor son.

Suddenly the air went still. Harry held the struggling snitch – safely enclosed in his fist, James staring at him with his mouth wide open. Ron could see easily from that distance that James was clearly shocked at being outdone. First came the shock then…jealousy…then resolute anger it seemed. What had Harry gotten himself into?

Harry twisted and turned, trying to loose James or perhaps trying to catch up with him… on a broom stick, travelling fast with the wind violently whipping against is face, Harry couldn't tell. It was almost like looking at a mirror image of him while he was playing quidditch. All he concentrated on was the tiny glimmer of gold only so far from him. He reached his arm out and with surprise found that James' arm, his father's arm was also stretched out – they were both reaching for the snitch. Harry decided to take a risk and launched himself forward and snatched the snitch out of the air – he toppled forward but managed to hang on. He could feel the futile beating of the snitch's tiny wings against his closed palm. It was a familiar feeling. His face broke into a wide grin. Ah ha! No longer was he just a comparison to his father the legendary seeker. He was the legendary seeker. Oh dear…he was beginning to sound like James…speaking of which… His father seemed to be in a state of shock then jealousy and anger came over his face.

"Again?" Harry asked, letting the snitch go.

James caught it. "Again."

"Hey you two! Come down!" Sirius called from below.

James didn't reply but he let the snitch fly off, while staring at Harry.

"You're good Granger."

"Thank you." Harry replied with a slight incline of his head.

"Not good enough I'm afraid…" James flew right beneath Harry and tore off.

Alarmed, Harry immediately accelerated, and flew after his father.

James went into a steep dive and Harry followed. Then it suddenly occurred to him. There was no snitch. His father was pulling a Wronski Feint. Hah! As if Harry would fall for that. It was his specialty. Harry stopped in mid-dive and flew back up, his green eyes searching for the snitch.

Damn that Granger! No one had ever seen through his tactic. Furious, James pulled out of the dive.

***

"Where's everyone?" Hermione entered the empty common room. Lily sat on the armchair reading a muggle novel, quite alone, albeit a few first years sat around the table with their potions homework.

"They're down at the quidditch pitch." Lily replied.

"Why? Is there a match?"

"Apparently, it's a Potter vs Granger."

"What?!"

"James and Harry are playing one-on-one quidditch. I excused myself from watching that spectacle. James would probably win and gloat over it for the rest of eternity."

"Oh no! But he won't! He won't win!" Hermione turned on her heel and raced out of the portrait hole, running down to the quidditch pitch.

Lily frowned. James won't win? She had to see that. She slammed her novel hut and raced after Hermione.

***

A/N: It looks like there is going to be some father son rivalry….REVIEW!