AN: ok im going to be making this AU, it's still after gof, and ill continue into the 5th yr based on jk's version.
Chapter 5
"Ok Harry, your turn." Mrs. Weasley said as she handed him the jar of floo powder. School started in three days and they had yet to get their supplies. So far only Hermione and Ron had already gone through the fireplace; Harry, Ginny and the twins were all still left. Determined not to get off at the wrong gate this time, Harry grabbed a handful of powder and stepped forward. He shot Mrs. Weasley what he hoped to be a reassuring smile, he could tell that she too had not forgotten the last time he had used floo with them, before throwing the powder into the flames.
"Diagon Alley!" He shouted clearly before stepping in. Feeling the familiar spinning sensation, Harry closed his eyes and tucked his elbows in, hoping for it to be over with soon. Amazingly it was. Harry felt rather than saw himself land in the Leaky Cauldron, though that didn't stop him from stumbling as he got out of the fireplace.
Harry reached and cleaned his glasses off before taking another step forward; he didn't want to bump into anything or anyone. It's true what they say about losing a sense, the other four all kick up to a super human level. As Harry was momentarily blinded his other senses all turned up a notch, all that is, except his hearing. Why was it so silent? Where was everybody? The bar should be teeming with patrons, all doing some last minute shopping or getting a drink. Ron and Hermione were supposed to be there, waiting for him. Looking up for the first time, Harry was able to see the room clearly.
He barely had time to register Sirius' grinning face before something came flying at him. Instinctively Harry reached for the object and caught it. Bad idea. Not a second later he became aware of an all too familiar and all too unpleasant feeling. It was much quicker than flooing, but far more terrifying to Harry.
Yes, port keys were one of his least favorite things in life, that along with Voldemort, the Durseleys, Slytherins, and them. But now, if Harry guessed correctly, he would only have to be dealing with them.
All too soon Harry landed. He seemed to be getting better at port keys because he managed to stay on his feet, however awkwardly it was.
~
Hermione and Ron were worried. When they had been abducted by two masked men they had been terrified, that terror had changed to anger when they realized who the two men were; James and Sirius. They had hid and bound them, not too tightly behind the bar in the Leaky Cauldron, promising that they would see Harry at school.
When Mrs. Weasley had came and rescued them fifteen minutes later they had been relieved… at first. Mrs. Weasley had found them a bit too easily. How did she know where they were, and why weren't there ministry officials swarming the place when Mrs. Weasley sent out an alarm? It had taken Hermione a few seconds to figure out why, and Ron only a couple more.
"You knew!" Ron said rounding on his mother. "You knew and you helped them!" He yelled accusingly. Mrs. Weasley had just blushed and shook her head.
"I did not Ron, I was merely informed of their plan and were to find you two." She said as a way of explanation. "They told me that they would hide whoever came out before Harry there." She added as they exited the pub and entered Diagon Alley. "I couldn't go first just in case they really did do it, who would find me? Fred and George would probably think it was all fun and offer to help them capture Harry, and I didn't want him to feel as though we betrayed him when he did find out."
Ron still didn't look satisfied. "Where did they take him?" When she didn't answer immediately he began shouting. "Do you not remember what happened to him last year with a port key? Can you imagine what this is doing to him?" He said attracting the attention of some other witches and wizards.
Molly Weasley had had enough. "Do not raise your voice to me young man." She said sternly but quietly, not liking the crowd that was slowly beginning to form around them. "I was not aware that that was how they were transporting him, I was only sent an owl minutes before we left informing me to check behind the bar for whoever came out first." She said as they began to hustle towards Gringotts. "Now, I want you to apologize."
Ron lowered his head and mumbled an apology though his eyes still blazed. He was so angry as he trailed behind his family down Diagon Alley that he failed to notice when Hermione hung back and fell into step beside him.
~
Sirius cringed when he caught sight of Harry's face. It was not a happy expression. But, Sirius sighed, that was to be expected. Sirius even sympathized with what Harry was going through; after all he had been…disagreeable with James when he had suddenly reappeared. No, that had not been pretty.
Flashback
"Moony please make him at least listen to me!" James begged Remus as they followed Sirius into his room. "I can explain everything if he will just let me speak to him for five minutes!" James said getting more and more exasperated with each article of clothing that Sirius put into his duffle bag on the bed.
"Sorry James but I'm not sure if I can forgive you myself." He said and then held up his hand when he saw James open his mouth, most likely to argue. "No, I will eventually forgive you, but it is hard to forget that you didn't trust me enough to let me know that you were alive. I went through hell believing that three of my friends were dead and the other a traitor. I can't even imagine what Sirius went through." Remus finished surprisingly calm.
James had the grace to look shamefaced. "We had no idea that Peter framed Sirius, we thought you two would be raising Harry for us."
"What about when you two returned to England, four years ago!" Remus countered coolly.
"We never had enough time to finish what we started with Pettigrew, what with all the disguises we took on it was hard enough to take enough time off to search for him. He was always just slipping through our fingers. Lily's dealing with the Peter issue as we speak, otherwise she'd be here with us now." James finished and watched angrily as Sirius grabbed his bag and strode out the door, bumping James aside on the way out.
"Don't worry," Remus said placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "He's just hurt right now, he'll come around sooner or later."
But James didn't want to wait; he needed Sirius to come around now! Irritated, James followed Sirius out of the room and into the living room. He raised his wand as Sirius was about to step into the green flame. Ignoring Remus shouts, James yelled, "stupefy!" And Sirius fell to the ground stunned.
"Was that really necessary?" Remus asked James as he eyed Sirius' prone form in barely disguised amusement. "I remind you once again that I did say that I would forgive you, eventually." He added quickly when James turned to him, arm raised.
James smiled back. "Yes, yes you did. So I will spare you, for now." He said as he directed Sirius back towards his room. Remus followed warily. He stood back as James contorted Sirius' body into a sitting position before lowering him into a chair. He then put a quick immobilize curse on him followed by a silencing charm. Remus watch on worriedly, fearing the extremes he knew James was willing to in order to get Sirius back.
James seemed oblivious of Remus' presence as he worked over Sirius before finally waking him up with a quick enervate. "Now, Sirius," he said as he got down on his knees while Remus stared in shock. James never knelt down to anyone, ever. "Lily and I did what we did for everyone's, yours, Remus', and Harry's included, safety. When I heard about your imprisonment, I swore I'd find Peter and make him pay. Unfortunately Dumbledore, who we never contacted directly, we were always on the receiving end of the orders, did not agree. He never gave me a chance to explain that you were innocent of Peter's murder. Please, don't repeat that mistake, you've seen what can happen. Give me a chance."
Silence followed. Sirius only gazed at James with a glazed expression; not even attempting to speak once the mute charm had been removed. Though once he gained movement of his body, this was no longer true.
Caught unaware, James could only blink as Sirius came flying at him, fist raised. He acknowledged the first punch to the belly with a grunt, telling himself that he deserved this. The second punch caused his lip to bleed and his face to sting. But, when Sirius managed to smash his nose that did it.
James tackled Sirius. Sirius, being the one starved for twelve year and on the run for the past year, easily went down under the stronger, fitter James. James grabbed his arms with his two hands and forced them to Sirius' side. Though Sirius had been weak, he was still not easy to pin down, especially when he was fighting with such rage.
Panting James stratled Sirius while still keeping his arms in a firm grasp. "I probably deserved that." Sirius nodded his agreement enthusiastically. "But I will not stand there while you beat me to death." Sirius became silent again and stubbornly fixed his eyes on an object over James' shoulder. "Dammit please forgive me Padfoot, I came as soon as I could!" Sirius nodded. Encouraged, James smiled. That was a start a-.
James knew no more as a sudden blackness quickly engulfed him. Sirius pushed James' dead weight off himself with the help of Remus. "About time." He growled as he ignored Remus' offered hand as pulled himself up. "Now what to do with him? Should we age him twelve year? Disguise him as me and throw him into Diagon Alley?" Sirius suggested as he stared as James' body.
Remus sighed in exasperation. He hadn't pulled James off Sirius just to have Sirius start suggesting ways to get rid of James! Remus started to seriously doubt for the first time if the two could ever be friends again. "Well," Sirius continued. "I suppose we could just curse him incurably and in an extremely embarrassing, disfiguring, hideous, disgusting, obvious, way!" He said conversationally.
Remus shook his head reproachfully. Sirius was not to be deterred though, "fine, fine, I'll just tie him up while we discus his punishment over lunch. How about we make Lily disappear, a little of his own medicine eh?" Remus stared at his friend as though he had grown another head when he lifted his wand.
"NO!" Remus shouted lunging for Sirius.
Sirius deftly jumped aside. "Relax, I am only going to tie him up." He flicked his wand and pointed at the still living and physically intact James. "See?" He said as he ushered Remus out of the room, throwing a quick wart-spreading spell over his shoulder.
Once in the kitchen Sirius allowed Remus to get him a drink while he sat down to plan. Remus joined him moments later, a water in one hand, a paper in the other. Sirius absently drank down the water, barely noticing Remus as he schemed. It went on for this for another minute before both men shot out of their chairs together.
"Look!" "I got it!" They shouted in unison. Sirius paused to see what had gotten the normally calm werewolf so excited. "What?" He demanded impatiently, he really did have a brilliant plan.
"This!" Remus said excitedly thrusting the Daily Prophet into Sirius' hands. "You're free! James and Lily caught Peter! Lily and Dumbledore just testified along with some others!"
Sirius couldn't believe it. Even as he read the words in the Breaking News sheet from the Daily Prophet. He was safe! He didn't have to run or hide anymore! And it was all thanks to- Lily and James.
Great. Just great. That's exactly what he needed, being beholden to James. Wait, he reminded himself. They got me into this in the first place; it was only fair that they got me out of it. Though it did take them awhile, fourteen years to be exact. Now that was not something easily forgotten.
Remus was confused as he watched the many emotions flicker over Sirius' face, rapidly going from stunned to happy, and then to something he couldn't quite identify. "What's wrong Padfoot?" He questioned as Sirius slumped back down almost wearily into his chair. "You're clear, you know, the thing you have been praying for fourteen years!" He reminded his friend helpfully.
"Guess this means I can't trap James in the portrait with my mother now can I?" Sirius grumbled in response.
Remus laughed and shook his head no.
"Not even temporarily?" He asked hopefully.
"Nooooo." Remus stressed out the word clearly hoping to disabuse Sirius of any other notions of retribution.
"Fine, be an old fart, let's just sit here and be nice and boring." Remus raised his eyebrows at that. Sirius may be a lot of things but boring was certainly not one of them. "Or," Sirius began again persuasively, " we could wake up Jamie boy an see if he's up to some good old Marauder fun!" He said excitedly. It was amazing what being pardoned could do to speed up one's forgiveness.
Remus let Sirius enjoy his moment of euphoria before bringing him back to earth with one sentence. "You do remember that you're not to leave this house don't you?" He said pointedly, stretching his arms and indicating the room. It had been like this the whole summer. Someone would say something, almost always about one of the missions; and Sirius would always butt in and offer advice, however stupid, as though he were part of the assignment. And every time Sirius would end up angrier than before. It was pitiful almost.
Sirius wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulders and shook his head sadly. "Dear dear Remus, your age is finally getting to you isn't it? Remember, can you do that for me? I'm ffrreeee, I'm frreee-"
"I know that you idiot!" He shouted interrupting Sirius as he let go and started searching for the duffle bag he had packed earlier. "I was simply going to suggest that you wait until Dumbledore returns with Lily. She might want to see you, and Dumbledore might have a mission for you." Remus offered hoping to entice Sirius to stay with a chance of getting "some action" as he liked to refer to assignments as.
Sirius agreed and the two went off to untie James.
Twenty minutes later Dumbledore arrived with a paper in his hand, and it wasn't about Sirius' release. He had thrust it at Sirius, drank some tea, and had started to leave before Sirius had asked what he was to do.
"Find out who sent them, why they were there, and who saw them." He answered without even looking over his shoulder. Sirius slumped in disappointment at his first task. It wasn't anything life threatening, hell all the action had already taken place. He was stuck with the leftovers. Dejectedly Sirius threw down the paper in disgust as he stood to leave. How the hell was he suppose to find out who saw Dementors in an all muggle-populated area?
Remus had picked up the paper interested in what Sirius found so repulsive. After reading two sentences he knew something was wrong. "Uh Lily," he began tentatively. "Doesn't your sister live in Little Whinging?"
End Flashback
~
Harry was beyond angry, he was furious with the two men standing before him grinning like escapees from Bedlam. Why wouldn't they leave him alone? The fact that Sirius was helping only added to Harry's hurt, he felt somewhat betrayed that Sirius was going along with this as though James had never disappeared.
It seemed as though they had enough fun just staring at Harry because after another moment they turned towards each other and, mostly likely smiled though Harry wasn't sure and frankly he didn't care, then began moving closer towards Harry. Sirius bent slightly and, waving his wand with a little more flourish than was necessary, untied Harry's invisible bindings.
If the gesture was meant to reassure Harry they were mistaken. He had never known that he had been tied up, sad but true, the short while that he had been in the chair. James meanwhile had pulled up to chairs to be across from Harry's, one with a white bowl on it. Taking the chair with the bowl James sat down and placed the bowl on his lap. Harry pointedly ignored him.
Turning to face his godfather once he had sat down, Harry spoke for the first time. "You do know that it is illegal to kidnap me, don't you?" Sirius scratched his head and tried to look confused. He turned to James who was mimicking his gestures.
"Uh James…could we…would we be doing something," he dropped his voice down to a whisper and looked around the room cautiously before leaning in to James. "Illegal." He said before bringing his hand to his mouth as though that word had come out of it. James and Sirius apparently thought this was the funniest thing that had ever happened, Harry wasn't so amused.
While Dumb and Dumber giggled like little schoolgirls Harry examined the chamber for a possible escape route. It wasn't entirely hopeless. There was the usual fireplace and floo network, though not a favorite method of travel for Harry it worked nonetheless. The bedrooms upstairs surely had windows, maybe even a fire escape if he was lucky. In a corner stood two broomsticks, though definitely old, in good condition. All had distinct potential.
Though Harry doubted that he would be able to escape through the door it was still a possibility if they were unconscious and couldn't follow. Harry also would be harder to track that way. Now what to knock them out with?
Harry scanned the hearth of what he assumed was Godric's Hollow for something heavy. Aha, there was a large black ladle dangling over the fireplace. The kind you saw in pictures books of witches stirring cauldrons with. It would work.
By now James and Sirius had gotten over they're fit of giggles and were watching, unbeknownst to Harry, him as he obviously scanned the room for a way out. "Sorry Harry Godric's Hollow is sealed, the only way to get in or out is through port key or apparation. Since you don't have a port key and don't know how to make one, which takes days by the way, you can't get out that way. You haven't even opened a book yet on apparation, so that's out too. Guess you're stuck with us." James finished happily.
Harry stared fixedly at a point above Sirius' head, mumbling to himself about trying to apparate. "No, no don't want to try that my boy, you'll get splinched for sure, why you don't even have your own wand now do you? How do expect to apparate without a wand?" Sirius said picking up on Harry's mumblings while waving the boy's wand before his face annoyingly.
Harry continued to mutter under his breath about it being better than being here. "Aww, that's not nice now is it Harry? The fun has yet to begun!" Sirius yelled laughing, mostly to himself, over his ever so witty rhyme.
~
Three hours later James and Sirius broke for lunch, offering for Harry to eat with them. Harry was honored that they were letting him, their kidnapped victim, the privilege of dining in their company. Though that was not the case, far from it infact, Harry decided he did need to eat. Besides, maybe if he proved he was trustworthy enough not to be watched every second they ate they'd leave him alone long enough to escape when they went to sleep. Oh no, Harry hadn't thought about that. Night. What if they expected him to sleep him, and… live here? There was no way in hell that would happen.
Three hours earlier Harry had remained silent even after James had handed over his bowl to him. And yep, he had guessed correctly, Hermione would be proud; it was a pensive. Harry wasn't shocked that it was a pensive, not even that James had one. But when James had given it to him and willingly suggested that Harry take a look he had been blown away.
A pensive was like a muggle diary, the most private possession one could own, only ten times more private and personal because it was absolute truth, with visuals. Too surprised to speak, Harry had let curiosity take over as he delved in. Harry had watched himself as a toddler, waddling onto a baby broomstick with his "dadda" as his mother came flying out a door at the same time threatening to kill James.
He witnessed the meetings where Dumbledore and they planned their "deaths." Harry then watched the night that had plagued his nightmares the most often from another point of view. He saw their grief when they thought they had lost him, their happiness when they accomplished all of Dumbledore's tasks, and finally their despair when they learned of the Sirius situation. (sorry couldn't help meself)
Harry learned first hand how much they tried to right the wrongs done to their friends, how deeply they cared for those people. He couldn't help but feel guilty when he watched his mother cry over him, berating herself for giving up her baby's life for the good of England. Harry hated himself after viewing that particular scene, he felt like a monster. He, Harry Potter, was a hypocrite.
He always ran into danger, not caring who he'd hurt if he weren't to come back, almost every year. Harry had blamed them for Sirius' imprisonment, and his life at the Durseley's. But if they hadn't made the choice they did, would any of them be alive today? Would any of them want to be alive in a world run by dark wizards?
Harry had shaken his head after being pulled out of the memories; it didn't do to dwell in the past. He couldn't change it so why bother going over what ifs? Even though Harry had melted a bit towards them, the fact remained that he was still seriously angry with them.
AN: plz review