Alecatq yeah, but Harry had to play for him, and I had to make J a seeker for the story to fit. I know he's really a chaser, but then my plot bunny wouldn't have worked. Glad you liked the shades bit!
Wintermoon2 – Sirius was standing next to Harry, so he could see from the side. And the glasses weren't that dark; all they had to do was obscure his eye colour. Lol. Thanks for the review, I'm glad you still like it. The story should be finishing soon, that was kinda the grand finale. But there's a few more chapters yet, I can't leave Harry stranded in the past now, can I?
StarWars-Freak – Sorry! I haven't abandoned it, I promise. Its nearly done though… just a few more chapters.
zippy puppy3 – that was quite rude, you know.
offc little bro - *grins* thankyou!
HarryGryffinGirl - glad you like the cookie!
HermioneGreen – thanks, I'm glad you like it.
Marauder-luver-forever – you're addicted? I'm flattered! Have a marshmallow!
Funness – Tell me about it! I hate my life! Thanks for the review!
I have a website! The address is www.darkside.freeuk.com if anyone reading has a story that they have done that they like, why not post it to me, and I'll put it up? I'll post pretty much anything that is well written and doesn't have too many spelling mistakes! Lol.
~...~ = parseltongue.
SPOT THE LINE I STOLE FROM DONNIE DARKO!!!!!
"No, why not stay longer?"
"There's really no need to go."
"I'm sure you can stay with one of us for the summer hols, even!"
"C'mon, Harry, please don't go."
The last was said softly by James, who was sitting on his bed with Lily and Iris casting healing charms on his injured wrist. He was looking with pleading hazel eyes at his future son, and Harry could feel them tugging his heart.
"No, I have to go back. This is just too hard. I loved meeting everyone, but I can't do this any longer," Harry said firmly.
"When are you going?" Iris asked, tears swimming in her bright blue eyes. Harry stroked Topaz, who was coiled around his arm, and looked away.
"Tomorrow morning."
Lily let out a sob, and James pulled her onto the bed with his good hand. He wrapped comforting arms around her, and muttered something soothing into her ear. Harry watched them with a curious tight pain in his heart. Lily looked up, and saw the look in his eyes. She muttered something to James, and the messy haired teen reached out and pulled Harry into the hug. The other four quietly slipped down to the common room, leaving the trio alone together.
"I'm sorry…" Harry muttered, hiding his face in Lily's silky red hair. She was smaller than he was, he realized with a half-hearted grin.
"Don't be," she replied, sniffing. James wiped the tears off of her smooth cheeks with his thumb.
"No, its not your fault. You can't stay forever."
"But Gods I want to."
"Why? Isn't your time better? Don't you have friends there?"
"Yeah… but I'm not looking forward to
getting back to Voldemort."
"Voldemort…" Lily said in a terrified whisper, her green eyes wide and scared.
"He's still there in your time? Oh no…"
"You know of him?"
"Well duh! When we graduate, we're all going to be Auroras so that we can kick his ass to hell and back!" James said defiantly. "He's never going to hurt anyone we love again."
"Who…" Harry had to swallow before he went on, not really sure that he wanted to know the answer. "Who did he hurt?"
James sniffed. "Lily's parents, my family and Remus' are in hiding. Sirius' family like him, but haven't joined him. Everyone knows the Malfoys are with him. Snape's dad, although I heard his mum wasn't too happy… wait a minute, shouldn't you know this? Wouldn't we have told you?"
"Don't ask… you'll know in time," Harry whispered, tears running down his cheeks.
"It's late, we should sleep," Lily said softly. "Goodnight, Harry. Goodnight, love." She kissed them both on the cheek, leaving faint traces of glitter and tears on their skin, before leaving and shutting the door behind her. James jumped back on his bed and pulled the hangings around himself. Harry sat on Sirius' bed, feeling lost and alone. He was asleep by the time the others looked in.
***
The next morning they all gathered in the boy's dorm after breakfast to say goodbye. Lily and Iris were sobbing, being comforted by Sirius and James. Peter looked upset, although he appeared glad to see the back of Topaz. Remus was searching for something in his bag.
"Here you go, Harry," he said once he had found what he was looking for. "Photos."
Harry took the package hesitantly. "Thank you."
"Don't look until you're home. Have you got everything?"
"Yeah. Firebolt, cloak, clothes. That was all I came with."
"Harry, wait." Lily stepped away from James and took Harry's hand, her green eyes sad and sorrowful. He looked down in surprise as she slid something onto his finger. It was a silver ring with runes inscribed around it. "I want you to have this. I know something happens to me, and I don't know what or when, so I want you to have this now. I always wanted to pass it on. It belonged to my mother, and my grandmother before her. Take care of it."
"I will," he promised, hugging her tightly.
"Hey, you might as well keep this too," James said awkwardly, holding out something in a box.
"What is it?"
"A snitch I nicked years ago. Not quite as good as a ring, but…" he tailed off, hugging Harry fiercely before stepping back and blushing. "Take care, ok?" he said gruffly, looking away.
"Goodbye and thank you," Harry said, looking round. "I don't want to, but I have to. Um… I guess that's it. Bye."
He pulled the piece of paper, covered in Hermione's handwriting, out of his pocket and recited the words, closing his eyes when he was done. He still felt the same disorientating sensation as before, though. When he opened his eyes again, he was in the common room again, with Ron and Hermione staring at him expectantly.
"Did it work?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, it worked."
"How long did you stay?" Hermione asked excitedly.
"A week or so."
"What happened??" Ron exclaimed.
***
After Harry had told his two friends exactly what had happened, they sat down together to look at the photographs Remus had given Harry. The dark haired boy felt tears prick in his eyes as they looked at the shots. It appeared that Remus had had his camera with him the whole week, and there were lots of shots of the seven of them, and quite a few with the young werewolf too.
"Who's that?" Hermione asked, pointing at a picture of the picnic when Peter had ran into the lake.
"Who?" Harry asked leaning over. "Oh, that's Iris. She was Sirius' girlfriend, and Lily's best friend. I wanted to know what happened to her, actually. I've never heard of her in this time."
"We should owl Sirius."
"We did, remember? Hedwig will probably be back in a few days, depending on where he is. I hope he's in France, somewhere close. Then Hedwig might make it back by tomorrow night!"
"Wishful thinking, Harry. Hey, what's that?!" Hermione asked, looking at another picture.
"Oh…" Harry reached into his pocket, and placed Topaz gently on his lap. "This is Topaz."
~Topaz, this is Ron and Hermione.~ he hissed.
~I'm please to meet them~ the snake hissed back.
"Woah!" Ron cried.
"Ah! A snake!" Hermione screamed, running up the stairs to her dorm.
Ron looked at Harry blankly. "What's her problem? It's just a snake. Topaz, did you say it was called?"
"Yeah. She says she's pleased to meet you. Do you want to talk to her? I'll translate."
"Um, ok. Ask her… where she came from."
~Where did you come from?~ Harry hissed.
~I was bred in a place in Diagon Alley, London. I was not the only one of my kind – heightened survival abilities and so on. But I was the cleverest, and I escaped. Unfortunately, I was unfamiliar with the ways of the world, and a pet store owner took me and placed me in a glass cage to be sold. I was bought for the school, along with those other snakes, and I was there for a few weeks, being transfigured into this, and charmed with that, until I found you.~
Harry told this to Ron, who sat gaping for a while, before asking incredulously. "Really?"
Harry laughed. "Yes, really."
"Woah. Ask her how old she is."
~how old are you?~
~Three hundred and six years, five months, twenty eight days, six hours, forty two minutes and twelve seconds~
~Wow~
"What did she say?" Ron asked excitedly.
"Three hundred and six years, five months, twenty eight days, six hours, forty two minutes and twelve, now 15 or so, seconds."
"Wow."
"That's what I said."
"Hey, can I see the photo's again?"
"Sure. Boy, does Remus look good in these shots. So healthy and happy. Sirius too."
"Yeah. And you look so much like your Dad."
"I had to pretend to be him, remember?"
"Yeah. Man, Harry, your mum is HOT!"
"Hey! That's my mother you're talking about!"
"Well, it's true. Iris is too. Wonder what happened to her?"
"Like I said, I've never heard of her. It's odd, she was my mum's best friend and dated the marauders on top of that."
"Maybe you should ask Dumbledore."
"No! He'll wonder how I know about her at all."
"Um… say… I know! Your photo album! Go get it!"
The pair quickly dashed upstairs, and Ron waited impatiently while Harry rummaged through his trunk, flinging clothes right and left in his search. Finally, the album was found, and the two boys sat on Harry's bed, flicking through.
"Iris is in at least half of these shots. You could say that you'd noticed that she was in a lot of the pictures, and wondered about her. Its only eight fifteen, you could go to Dumbledore now. Lights out isn't 'till 9:30. You have plenty of time."
"Ok, I will. Look after Topaz for me?"
"Yeah, ok. She isn't poisonous, is she?"
~Topaz, are you poisonous?~
~Yes. Why?~
~Ron wanted to know. I'm going to see the headmaster, to ask why I hadn't heard of Iris before. Are you ok with staying here with Ron?~
~Of course. I won't bite him. You like him, and I would never hurt someone close to you, you are my master. If you tell me to stay here, I will stay~ the snake said matter of factly.
"You'll be ok," Harry told Ron, deliberately not answering the question. Fortunately, Ron didn't seem to notice and simply nodded as Harry headed out the door.
Once Harry had managed to get up to Dumbledore's office, the headmaster was alone. The office was exactly the same as he remembered, same pictures of old headmasters on the walls, same weird instruments on the desk, same ruby studded sword in its case.
"What can I do for you, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, smiling. "Would you like some Hot Chocolate?"
"Yes please."
Dumbledore pushed a button on his desk, and in a very short while, Dobby appeared. He was wearing odd socks, a red mini dress which trailed on the floor behind him, a stripy tie and a baseball cap, worn backwards.
"Harry Potter, Sir! Headmaster!" he said in his squeaky voice. "What can Dobby be doing for you, Sirs?"
"Two hot chocolates, nice and sweet. And some biscuits, please."
"Yes Sir, right away Sir!" Dobby squeaked, disappearing almost before he had said the last word.
"So, Harry, what have you come here to see me about?" Dumbledore asked, peering at Harry over the top of his spectacles.
"Well, I've been looking over the photo album Hagrid gave me-"
"Sirs! Here is your food, is there anything else Sirs require?" Dobby asked as he reappeared, a sliver tray in his hands. He slid the tray onto the desk, and bowed."
"No Dobby, that is all, thank you."
"Ok Sirs, enjoy it and goodnight."
"Yeah, I as looking over the photos, and I noticed that this woman appeared in at least half of them. I was wondering who she was."
"Can I see?" the headmaster asked, sipping his hot chocolate.
Harry slipped a photo of Lily and Iris out of the book and silently handed it to the old man. Dumbledore looked at it, and smiled sadly.
"Her name is Iris."
"Is? So she's still alive? How come she hasn't contacted me? How come no one told me about her?" Harry asked, nibbling on a chocolate hobnob.
"She is alive. She is in St. Mungo's."
"Why?"
"Voldemort."
"Is she insane?"
"No. She is in a coma, and has been for twenty years. She was attacked in her seventh year, a few days after Gryffindor won the cup."
Harry was stunned. A couple of days after he had left, Iris had been attacked! If only he had known sooner, he could have warned her! But no… that would've changed the past. But since his voice was one she had heard just before her attack, and it was still the same, whereas Remus' or Sirius' would be different, maybe he could snap her out of it! "I'd like to visit her," he said softly.
"I can arrange that. I'll come with you, if you like."
"Thank you sir."
"I beg your pardon for asking, but why do you want to see her? You've never met her."
"Uh…" Harry looked at the headmaster, wondering if he dared to tell him. He was likely to get expelled for meddling with time, but… he decided to take the safer option. "I want to meet her, because she knew my parents, like Sirius and Remus, and even the rat. If she ever comes out of the coma, she'll be able to tell me about them. I can tell from the pictures that she was close to them. And maybe I sound like my dad did when he was my age. Maybe my voice will snap her out of it."
"All right. I'll arrange for you to visit tomorrow. Now, you'd best be getting to bed. Goodnight, Harry."
"Goodnight Sir."
Sorry again about the wait! I'm just more interested with Crazy in Love, as it's a slash story, and so more to my liking. Not that I don't like this story, but Harry has just punched Draco in the face, and I'm having soooo much fun writing it! Lol.