One week from the Christmas, the older Sirius ended up having a huge shock.
He was in the staff room, trying to find his cloak, so he could go outside
and have a snowball fight with all of his friends. Unfortunately, as he
opened the closet, a Boggart popped out of it and Sirius ended up facing
his biggest fear.
Harry lay on the floor, not moving, his glasses were askew and he was deathly pale. Sirius gasped and his knees gave way as he collapsed. His wand rolled out of his hand and Sirius just stared at Harry's lifeless form with tears welling up in his eyes. Without warning, he burst into tears and covered his face with his hands.
It was ten minutes later when Lupin found him. He took one look at Harry's lifeless body and Sirius' sobs and figured what was going on. He walked towards it and said "Riddikulus" The Boggart burst into wisps of smoke, while Sirius carried on sobbing. Lupin knelt down next to him and gave a 'manly' hug.
"It's alright Padfoot, Harry's fine" Lupin told his friend. Sirius carried on crying.
"I'm so pathetic" he choked. Lupin shook his head.
"You're not. You just care deeply for Harry because you feel that he's family" Sirius carried on sobbing. Lupin sighed.
"Harry's been really worried; he thinks that something's bad happened to you, why don't you go out and see him?" Sirius nodded, picked up his wand and stuck it into his robe pocket and walked out of the staffroom. It was a few minutes before he walked back in, looking rather red in the face.
"I forgot my cloak"
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It was the day before the Quidditch match and Harry was still fretting over what to do about Cho, but at the moment, he was too busy having a snowball fight. Harry, Ron, the young James, the older Sirius, Peter and Lupin were on one team, while the older James, the young Sirius, Remus, both Lily's and Hermione were on the other.
"Come on Harry! You can throw better than that!" The younger Lily yelled out, only to be hit in the face by Ron's snowball.
"Oops, sorry, I meant to get Hermione" Ron said, looking apologetic.
"Right! Ron Weasley, you're going down" and with that, Lily grabbed hold of a huge snowball and aimed it right at Ron's face.
"Lils! That's unfair!" James cried.
"Who said anything about snowball fights being fair?" Lily questioned.
"Hey Hermione!" Hermione whirled around, only to be hit on the forehead by Lupin. Lupin roared with laughter and collapsed onto the ground. Hermione narrowed her eyes and started rolling her sleeves up.
"Right! Professor Lupin! You're dead meat!" and with that, Hermione picked up a whole load of snow and dumped it on Lupin's head. Everyone burst out laughing at Lupin's face; it was one of sheer horror at something so cold being dumped on him.
The older Sirius grinned at Lupin; they both nodded, then grabbed hold of Hermione. Sirius had a hold of her arms, while Lupin had a hold of her legs.
"What do you think you're-? PUT ME DOWN!" Hermione shouted in fear, when she noticed that they were drawing nearer to the lake.
"Don't worry Hermione, we'll save you! Harry Potter and Ron Weasley to the rescue!" Harry yelled happily. Harry quickly got hold of a load of snow and aimed it at Sirius' head. His aim was true, when he heard a shriek of surprise.
"AAAHHH! HARRY JAMES POTTER! YOU'LL BE NEXT!" Sirius shouted. Harry laughed, then quickly made an attempt to free Hermione, but failing miserably.
"Mum! Help!" Harry called desperately as Sirius and Lupin neared the lake. Hermione screamed in horror, then actually started crying.
"NO! PLEASE! I'LL-I'LL DO ANYTHING! J-JUST DON'T THROW ME IN!" Hermione cried. Lupin and Sirius quickly put her down as Hermione started hyperventilating.
"Hermione!" Harry cried out in alarm. As he moved closer to her, she smiled wickedly and pushed Harry into the lake.
"Hey! What did you do that for?" Ron yelled angrily.
"Ha ha! You guys thought I was really scared!" Hermione said, laughing. When Harry came up for breath, he had gone blue from the cold.
"I-It's f-f-f-freezing in h-here! H-H-H-HERMIONE! I-I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Harry shouted.
"Don't worry Harry, we'll get revenge for you" Remus said and with that, both the young Sirius and Remus picked Hermione up and chucked her in the lake. Unfortunately, Remus lost his balance and went in with her.
"Oh . . . my . . . GOD! I-IT'S BLOODY FREEZING IN HERE!" Remus shouted, while his teeth were chattering madly.
Sirius and James both roared with laughter at this. Remus grinned and whispered something in Harry's ear. Harry grinned back and nodded.
They both got out of the lake and made towards the young James and Sirius.
"NO! TAKE ME INSTEAD OF THEM!" Everyone turned and to Harry's, Ron's and Hermione's surprise, it was Peter.
"What?" Harry questioned him.
"Don't throw them in! Take me instead of them!" Peter told them. Remus looked at him uncertainly.
"You sure?"
"Yeah!"
Harry and Remus grinned, grabbed hold of Peter and threw him in the lake. He came up, gasping for breath. He was shivering madly.
"Gosh! It's really c-c-cold in here!" Peter said. Peter quickly got out of the lake and wrapped his arms around himself.
"Isn't there a towel around here?" Peter questioned, shakily.
"No" the older Sirius replied.
"Hey Harry!" Everyone spun around to see Cho running towards them. Harry quickly got out of the lake and immediately his hand jumped to his hair.
"Alright Cho?" Harry asked. Cho smiled.
"I was hoping to talk to you" Cho said, looking hopeful.
"Uh . . . sure, okay" Harry said, looking nervously around "Wanna talk somewhere else?" Cho nodded and together, they walked off near the Hogwarts entrance. Both the Sirius' started sniggering.
"God Prongs, he's just like you!"
Both of the James' smiled. The older Lily couldn't help looking amused.
"Well, there's one thing that Harry is, that you never were" Lily said with a grin on her face.
"Oh yeah? And what was that?" James questioned her.
"He's sweet, he also seems to be rather nervous around girls, oh and he doesn't hex everyone in sight" Lily added.
"He does seem rather nervous around girls, doesn't he?" James said, looking thoughtful.
"No, he's just nervous in front of Cho" Ron told him.
"Hmmm, maybe we should help boost his confidence-"
"NO!" Ron and Hermione yelled out in unison.
"Huh? What?" Everyone turned to look at them both, who were going rather red.
"Why can't we help-?"
"Because, we like him the way he is, we don't want him turning into a big- head" Hermione explained. Ron nodded in agreement.
Lupin smiled.
"The voices of reason" he said, with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Well, normally, Hermione's the voice of reason" Ron said.
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Harry and Cho were standing in an empty classroom. Cho sat on a desk, while Harry tried his best to look cool and leaning against the wall, but he knew he was failing miserably by how hot he felt, therefore he knew he was blushing.
"So, what is it?" Harry asked.
"It's about tomorrow's match" Harry felt his stomach lurch.
"I-I'll let you win, it's okay, I just don't want to see you get hurt-" Harry said quickly, but he was silenced when Cho placed a finger on his lips.
"You're going to play like normal, I don't care if I get hurt, I'm not going to take advantage of you, I just want you to play like you did in third year" Cho said quietly. Harry felt himself go hot.
"Look, I really don't think-"
"Harry, please! Just-just play like normal! If I get hurt, I'm not going to blame it on you, let's just pretend we don't know one another tomorrow and try and win for our houses, then we can talk after the match, okay?" Cho said, sounding slightly desperate. Harry nodded.
"Alright, but just so long as neither of us are gonna be mad at each other for whoever wins the match tomorrow, agreed?" Harry asked, holding out his hand. Cho smiled and shook his hand.
"Agreed"
"You know something Harry, I-I really like you" Cho said, blushing madly. Harry felt himself go numb with shock as Cho moved closer to him.
"R-Really?" Harry asked hoarsely. Cho smiled and carried on moving closer to him.
"Yeah, really, I like you more than a friend and I think you're really cute" Cho said, going redder by the minute.
"W-Well, I r-really like you too" Harry stammered. Cho was so close to Harry now that Harry could stare into her bright blue eyes. . .
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"Where IS he?" Ron cried out for the millionth time that day. Everyone had returned to the Gryffindor common room and had dried off from their snowball fight.
"He's probably still talking with Cho or something" Hermione said, trying to reassure Ron.
James was now pacing the Gryffindor common room.
"No one's seen him?" he asked. Everyone shook their heads.
"James, you don't need to worry, he'll be in the castle somewhere" Lily told him. James ran a hand through his hair.
"I know, but . . . hey wait a minute! Do any of you guys know where the Marauders map is?" James asked Ron and Hermione.
"Hey, use this Marauders map" The younger James told his older self. The older James took it gratefully and whispered "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good"
When the Marauders map appeared, James' eyes scanned the map, then his face broke out into a grin.
"What is it?" Sirius asked, looking over his shoulder. He took one look at the Map and broke into a grin as well.
"What is it?" Lupin asked.
"Nothing, nothing" James said with a smirk on his face. He took another look at the Map and gasped.
"He's coming this way, quick, put the map away, I don't think he'll appreciate us knowing where he was"
"Where was he?" Ron asked. James waved it away and quickly sat down and tried to engage Lily in a conversation.
Harry was still in disbelief when he clambered into the Gryffindor common room, he didn't even notice the hundreds of pairs of eyes on him as entered the common room.
"Hey little man, where've you been?" James asked casually. Harry looked at him in a daze and sank down into the nearest chair and let out a sigh.
"I haven't been anywhere, why?"
"What kept you?" Ron asked. Harry blushed.
Harry muttered something.
"Is it Cho?" Hermione asked. Harry looked at her in surprise, but nodded. Ron sniggered, but stopped when Hermione caught his eye.
"What did she want?" Ron questioned him.
"Stop interrogating the poor boy, maybe he doesn't want to tell you" Lily told them. Harry shrugged, but smiled.
"So-what-what did she want?" Ron asked, trying his best to sound casual.
"She- "Harry began, but his voice seemed to have died in his throat, he cleared his throat and tried again "She-er-"
"Did you kiss?" Hermione asked, looking curious. James', Sirius', Lupins and Peter broke into grins, while Lily cocked an eyebrow in curiosity.
Ron's eyes widened as he stared at Harry.
"Well?" he demanded. Harry looked around at everyone's expressions, he felt himself go hotter and slowly, but surely, he nodded.
"HA!" Ron cried out as all the males burst into laughter. Lily just beamed at him. A reluctant grin spread over Harry's face as he watched Ron laughing his head off.
"Well?" Ron demanded suddenly "How was it?" Both Lily's tutted at this. The older James couldn't help grinning.
"Weird" Harry said.
"Weird? What do you mean 'Weird'?" Peter asked him.
"It just felt 'weird'" Harry answered.
"Oh" Ron's smile faded "Well, that's a good description; if someone ever asked you what your first kiss was like you say 'it was weird'"
Harry blushed bright red, while Hermione tutted.
"Ron, leave him alone" Ron shrugged his shoulders, while Harry started fanning himself with his hand.
"I'm feeling a bit hot, I'm gonna go and have a shower, see you guys later" and with that, Harry dashed up the boys' dormitories.
"Wait! HARRY! There's something Ron and I wanted to ask you!" Hermione shouted, racing up the boys' dormitories after him.
Everyone looked dumbstruck.
"Does Hermione always do that?" Lupin asked. Ron nodded.
"Yep, she normally goes up to the boys' dormitories when there's something important going on or if it's Christmas" Ron told him. Lily smiled.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! OPEN THIS DOOR OR I'LL HEX YOU!" Hermione's voice could be heard.
Sirius laughed nervously.
"I wouldn't want to be in Harry's shoes right now"
Everyone agreed silently.
"What?!" Harry asked, sounding angry.
"Harry, Ron and I wanted to ask you something"
"Well, what is it?" Harry asked.
"RON! GET UP HERE NOW!" Hermione shouted.
"Coming Mum" Ron said, cheekily.
"RON! I'M WARNING YOU!"
"ALRIGHT! CALM IT WOMAN!" Ron yelled back.
Ron and Hermione quickly made their way into the boys' dormitories, shut the door and turned around to face Harry.
"Well, you know about Voldemort's-oh Ron stop it!" Hermione said angrily as Ron flinched "Well his rise, you remember when we had that horrible Umbridge woman and you stood up and said that we had to prepare ourselves for the real world" Harry nodded slowly, not knowing where this was going.
"Well, we were thinking we need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use spells and correct us if we're going wrong"
"Yeah, we've got Lupin" Harry told them.
"But Harry, Lupin isn't enough, we need more lessons now" Ron said.
"Yeah, start a weekend Defense against the Dark Arts club, Lupin'll be in charge" Harry said. Ron and Hermione exchanged exasperated looks.
"Harry, it isn't as simple as that, Lupin's busy most of the time"
"Well, what are you suggesting then?" Harry asked them both, looking curious.
"Harry, isn't it obvious? We're talking about you!"
Harry looked at them both confused.
"Me what?"
"We're talking about *you* teaching us Defense against the Dark Arts" Harry stared at them both as if they were mad.
"Are you crazy? ME?!"
"It's an idea" Ron said. Harry rolled his eyes and stormed down the boys' dormitories and into the common room.
"But I'm not a teacher, I can't-"
"Harry, you're the best in the year at Defense against the Dark Arts" said Hermione.
"Me?" Harry said, grinning "Come off it, Hermione you've beaten me in almost every test"
"Actually, I haven't" Hermione told him.
"What?"
"You beat me in third year when Lupin taught us, but I'm not talking about exam results Harry, think of the things that you've *done*" Hermione said.
Everyone looked at the scene in interest. James, Sirius, Lupin and Lily were looking confusedly at them.
"How'd you mean?"
"You know what, I don't think I want a teacher who's this stupid" Ron said grinning.
Harry flushed.
"Let's think" Ron said, trying his best to look stupid "First year- you saved the Philosopher's stone from You-Know-Who"
"But-But that was just luck" Harry exclaimed "It wasn't-"
"Second year" Ron interrupted him "you killed a Basilisk and destroyed Riddle"
"Yeah, but if Fawkes hadn't have turned up, I would've-"
"Third year" said Ron, raising his voice slightly "you fought off about a hundred Dementors at once"
"That was just a fluke, if the Time Turner-"
"Last year" Ron was almost shouting now "You faced You-Know-Who *again* and- "
"LISTEN TO ME!" Harry said angrily. Ron and Hermione were both smirking at him. Lily and James's jaws had dropped in shock, while Sirius and Lupin just looked impressed. The younger ones couldn't stop staring at Harry in shock.
"It sounds great when you guys say it like that, but most of it was just luck! Half the time I didn't have a clue what I was doing and- STOP LAUGHING!" Hermione and Ron had both burst out laughing. Harry couldn't take it anymore and he felt his anger erupt.
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, DO YOU?! NEITHER OF YOU-YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO FACE HIM! YOU THINK IT'S JUST MEMORISING A BUNCH OF SPELLS AND THROWING THEM AT HIM, LIKE YOU'RE IN CLASS OR SOMETHING! YOU CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT AND YOU FEEL AS IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE-M-MURDERED OR TORTURED OR YOU HAVE TO STAND THERE AND WATCH YOUR FRIENDS DIE!-THEY NEVER TAUGHT US THAT IN CLASSES, WHAT IT'S LIKE DEALING WITH THINGS LIKE THAT! AND-AND YOU TWO SIT THERE ACTING AS IF I'M SOME CLEVER LITTLE BOY TO BE STANDING HERE, ALIVE, LIKE DIGGORY WAS STUPID, LIKE-LIKE HE MESSED UP -BUT YOU DON'T GET IT, DO YOU? THAT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN ME! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF VOLDEMORT HADN'T HAVE NEEDED ME-"
"Whoa Harry, calm down mate!" Ron said, looking alarmed. Everyone stared at Harry in complete shock.
"See Harry, this is why we need you, you've had experience facing him" Hermione whispered "Could you at least think about it?"
Harry's breathing had finally gone back to normal, he nodded slowly.
"Alright, now excuse me, I'm going to bed" and with that, Harry walked off to the boys' dormitories, while everyone looked after him apprehensively.
Harry lay on the floor, not moving, his glasses were askew and he was deathly pale. Sirius gasped and his knees gave way as he collapsed. His wand rolled out of his hand and Sirius just stared at Harry's lifeless form with tears welling up in his eyes. Without warning, he burst into tears and covered his face with his hands.
It was ten minutes later when Lupin found him. He took one look at Harry's lifeless body and Sirius' sobs and figured what was going on. He walked towards it and said "Riddikulus" The Boggart burst into wisps of smoke, while Sirius carried on sobbing. Lupin knelt down next to him and gave a 'manly' hug.
"It's alright Padfoot, Harry's fine" Lupin told his friend. Sirius carried on crying.
"I'm so pathetic" he choked. Lupin shook his head.
"You're not. You just care deeply for Harry because you feel that he's family" Sirius carried on sobbing. Lupin sighed.
"Harry's been really worried; he thinks that something's bad happened to you, why don't you go out and see him?" Sirius nodded, picked up his wand and stuck it into his robe pocket and walked out of the staffroom. It was a few minutes before he walked back in, looking rather red in the face.
"I forgot my cloak"
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It was the day before the Quidditch match and Harry was still fretting over what to do about Cho, but at the moment, he was too busy having a snowball fight. Harry, Ron, the young James, the older Sirius, Peter and Lupin were on one team, while the older James, the young Sirius, Remus, both Lily's and Hermione were on the other.
"Come on Harry! You can throw better than that!" The younger Lily yelled out, only to be hit in the face by Ron's snowball.
"Oops, sorry, I meant to get Hermione" Ron said, looking apologetic.
"Right! Ron Weasley, you're going down" and with that, Lily grabbed hold of a huge snowball and aimed it right at Ron's face.
"Lils! That's unfair!" James cried.
"Who said anything about snowball fights being fair?" Lily questioned.
"Hey Hermione!" Hermione whirled around, only to be hit on the forehead by Lupin. Lupin roared with laughter and collapsed onto the ground. Hermione narrowed her eyes and started rolling her sleeves up.
"Right! Professor Lupin! You're dead meat!" and with that, Hermione picked up a whole load of snow and dumped it on Lupin's head. Everyone burst out laughing at Lupin's face; it was one of sheer horror at something so cold being dumped on him.
The older Sirius grinned at Lupin; they both nodded, then grabbed hold of Hermione. Sirius had a hold of her arms, while Lupin had a hold of her legs.
"What do you think you're-? PUT ME DOWN!" Hermione shouted in fear, when she noticed that they were drawing nearer to the lake.
"Don't worry Hermione, we'll save you! Harry Potter and Ron Weasley to the rescue!" Harry yelled happily. Harry quickly got hold of a load of snow and aimed it at Sirius' head. His aim was true, when he heard a shriek of surprise.
"AAAHHH! HARRY JAMES POTTER! YOU'LL BE NEXT!" Sirius shouted. Harry laughed, then quickly made an attempt to free Hermione, but failing miserably.
"Mum! Help!" Harry called desperately as Sirius and Lupin neared the lake. Hermione screamed in horror, then actually started crying.
"NO! PLEASE! I'LL-I'LL DO ANYTHING! J-JUST DON'T THROW ME IN!" Hermione cried. Lupin and Sirius quickly put her down as Hermione started hyperventilating.
"Hermione!" Harry cried out in alarm. As he moved closer to her, she smiled wickedly and pushed Harry into the lake.
"Hey! What did you do that for?" Ron yelled angrily.
"Ha ha! You guys thought I was really scared!" Hermione said, laughing. When Harry came up for breath, he had gone blue from the cold.
"I-It's f-f-f-freezing in h-here! H-H-H-HERMIONE! I-I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Harry shouted.
"Don't worry Harry, we'll get revenge for you" Remus said and with that, both the young Sirius and Remus picked Hermione up and chucked her in the lake. Unfortunately, Remus lost his balance and went in with her.
"Oh . . . my . . . GOD! I-IT'S BLOODY FREEZING IN HERE!" Remus shouted, while his teeth were chattering madly.
Sirius and James both roared with laughter at this. Remus grinned and whispered something in Harry's ear. Harry grinned back and nodded.
They both got out of the lake and made towards the young James and Sirius.
"NO! TAKE ME INSTEAD OF THEM!" Everyone turned and to Harry's, Ron's and Hermione's surprise, it was Peter.
"What?" Harry questioned him.
"Don't throw them in! Take me instead of them!" Peter told them. Remus looked at him uncertainly.
"You sure?"
"Yeah!"
Harry and Remus grinned, grabbed hold of Peter and threw him in the lake. He came up, gasping for breath. He was shivering madly.
"Gosh! It's really c-c-cold in here!" Peter said. Peter quickly got out of the lake and wrapped his arms around himself.
"Isn't there a towel around here?" Peter questioned, shakily.
"No" the older Sirius replied.
"Hey Harry!" Everyone spun around to see Cho running towards them. Harry quickly got out of the lake and immediately his hand jumped to his hair.
"Alright Cho?" Harry asked. Cho smiled.
"I was hoping to talk to you" Cho said, looking hopeful.
"Uh . . . sure, okay" Harry said, looking nervously around "Wanna talk somewhere else?" Cho nodded and together, they walked off near the Hogwarts entrance. Both the Sirius' started sniggering.
"God Prongs, he's just like you!"
Both of the James' smiled. The older Lily couldn't help looking amused.
"Well, there's one thing that Harry is, that you never were" Lily said with a grin on her face.
"Oh yeah? And what was that?" James questioned her.
"He's sweet, he also seems to be rather nervous around girls, oh and he doesn't hex everyone in sight" Lily added.
"He does seem rather nervous around girls, doesn't he?" James said, looking thoughtful.
"No, he's just nervous in front of Cho" Ron told him.
"Hmmm, maybe we should help boost his confidence-"
"NO!" Ron and Hermione yelled out in unison.
"Huh? What?" Everyone turned to look at them both, who were going rather red.
"Why can't we help-?"
"Because, we like him the way he is, we don't want him turning into a big- head" Hermione explained. Ron nodded in agreement.
Lupin smiled.
"The voices of reason" he said, with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Well, normally, Hermione's the voice of reason" Ron said.
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Harry and Cho were standing in an empty classroom. Cho sat on a desk, while Harry tried his best to look cool and leaning against the wall, but he knew he was failing miserably by how hot he felt, therefore he knew he was blushing.
"So, what is it?" Harry asked.
"It's about tomorrow's match" Harry felt his stomach lurch.
"I-I'll let you win, it's okay, I just don't want to see you get hurt-" Harry said quickly, but he was silenced when Cho placed a finger on his lips.
"You're going to play like normal, I don't care if I get hurt, I'm not going to take advantage of you, I just want you to play like you did in third year" Cho said quietly. Harry felt himself go hot.
"Look, I really don't think-"
"Harry, please! Just-just play like normal! If I get hurt, I'm not going to blame it on you, let's just pretend we don't know one another tomorrow and try and win for our houses, then we can talk after the match, okay?" Cho said, sounding slightly desperate. Harry nodded.
"Alright, but just so long as neither of us are gonna be mad at each other for whoever wins the match tomorrow, agreed?" Harry asked, holding out his hand. Cho smiled and shook his hand.
"Agreed"
"You know something Harry, I-I really like you" Cho said, blushing madly. Harry felt himself go numb with shock as Cho moved closer to him.
"R-Really?" Harry asked hoarsely. Cho smiled and carried on moving closer to him.
"Yeah, really, I like you more than a friend and I think you're really cute" Cho said, going redder by the minute.
"W-Well, I r-really like you too" Harry stammered. Cho was so close to Harry now that Harry could stare into her bright blue eyes. . .
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"Where IS he?" Ron cried out for the millionth time that day. Everyone had returned to the Gryffindor common room and had dried off from their snowball fight.
"He's probably still talking with Cho or something" Hermione said, trying to reassure Ron.
James was now pacing the Gryffindor common room.
"No one's seen him?" he asked. Everyone shook their heads.
"James, you don't need to worry, he'll be in the castle somewhere" Lily told him. James ran a hand through his hair.
"I know, but . . . hey wait a minute! Do any of you guys know where the Marauders map is?" James asked Ron and Hermione.
"Hey, use this Marauders map" The younger James told his older self. The older James took it gratefully and whispered "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good"
When the Marauders map appeared, James' eyes scanned the map, then his face broke out into a grin.
"What is it?" Sirius asked, looking over his shoulder. He took one look at the Map and broke into a grin as well.
"What is it?" Lupin asked.
"Nothing, nothing" James said with a smirk on his face. He took another look at the Map and gasped.
"He's coming this way, quick, put the map away, I don't think he'll appreciate us knowing where he was"
"Where was he?" Ron asked. James waved it away and quickly sat down and tried to engage Lily in a conversation.
Harry was still in disbelief when he clambered into the Gryffindor common room, he didn't even notice the hundreds of pairs of eyes on him as entered the common room.
"Hey little man, where've you been?" James asked casually. Harry looked at him in a daze and sank down into the nearest chair and let out a sigh.
"I haven't been anywhere, why?"
"What kept you?" Ron asked. Harry blushed.
Harry muttered something.
"Is it Cho?" Hermione asked. Harry looked at her in surprise, but nodded. Ron sniggered, but stopped when Hermione caught his eye.
"What did she want?" Ron questioned him.
"Stop interrogating the poor boy, maybe he doesn't want to tell you" Lily told them. Harry shrugged, but smiled.
"So-what-what did she want?" Ron asked, trying his best to sound casual.
"She- "Harry began, but his voice seemed to have died in his throat, he cleared his throat and tried again "She-er-"
"Did you kiss?" Hermione asked, looking curious. James', Sirius', Lupins and Peter broke into grins, while Lily cocked an eyebrow in curiosity.
Ron's eyes widened as he stared at Harry.
"Well?" he demanded. Harry looked around at everyone's expressions, he felt himself go hotter and slowly, but surely, he nodded.
"HA!" Ron cried out as all the males burst into laughter. Lily just beamed at him. A reluctant grin spread over Harry's face as he watched Ron laughing his head off.
"Well?" Ron demanded suddenly "How was it?" Both Lily's tutted at this. The older James couldn't help grinning.
"Weird" Harry said.
"Weird? What do you mean 'Weird'?" Peter asked him.
"It just felt 'weird'" Harry answered.
"Oh" Ron's smile faded "Well, that's a good description; if someone ever asked you what your first kiss was like you say 'it was weird'"
Harry blushed bright red, while Hermione tutted.
"Ron, leave him alone" Ron shrugged his shoulders, while Harry started fanning himself with his hand.
"I'm feeling a bit hot, I'm gonna go and have a shower, see you guys later" and with that, Harry dashed up the boys' dormitories.
"Wait! HARRY! There's something Ron and I wanted to ask you!" Hermione shouted, racing up the boys' dormitories after him.
Everyone looked dumbstruck.
"Does Hermione always do that?" Lupin asked. Ron nodded.
"Yep, she normally goes up to the boys' dormitories when there's something important going on or if it's Christmas" Ron told him. Lily smiled.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! OPEN THIS DOOR OR I'LL HEX YOU!" Hermione's voice could be heard.
Sirius laughed nervously.
"I wouldn't want to be in Harry's shoes right now"
Everyone agreed silently.
"What?!" Harry asked, sounding angry.
"Harry, Ron and I wanted to ask you something"
"Well, what is it?" Harry asked.
"RON! GET UP HERE NOW!" Hermione shouted.
"Coming Mum" Ron said, cheekily.
"RON! I'M WARNING YOU!"
"ALRIGHT! CALM IT WOMAN!" Ron yelled back.
Ron and Hermione quickly made their way into the boys' dormitories, shut the door and turned around to face Harry.
"Well, you know about Voldemort's-oh Ron stop it!" Hermione said angrily as Ron flinched "Well his rise, you remember when we had that horrible Umbridge woman and you stood up and said that we had to prepare ourselves for the real world" Harry nodded slowly, not knowing where this was going.
"Well, we were thinking we need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use spells and correct us if we're going wrong"
"Yeah, we've got Lupin" Harry told them.
"But Harry, Lupin isn't enough, we need more lessons now" Ron said.
"Yeah, start a weekend Defense against the Dark Arts club, Lupin'll be in charge" Harry said. Ron and Hermione exchanged exasperated looks.
"Harry, it isn't as simple as that, Lupin's busy most of the time"
"Well, what are you suggesting then?" Harry asked them both, looking curious.
"Harry, isn't it obvious? We're talking about you!"
Harry looked at them both confused.
"Me what?"
"We're talking about *you* teaching us Defense against the Dark Arts" Harry stared at them both as if they were mad.
"Are you crazy? ME?!"
"It's an idea" Ron said. Harry rolled his eyes and stormed down the boys' dormitories and into the common room.
"But I'm not a teacher, I can't-"
"Harry, you're the best in the year at Defense against the Dark Arts" said Hermione.
"Me?" Harry said, grinning "Come off it, Hermione you've beaten me in almost every test"
"Actually, I haven't" Hermione told him.
"What?"
"You beat me in third year when Lupin taught us, but I'm not talking about exam results Harry, think of the things that you've *done*" Hermione said.
Everyone looked at the scene in interest. James, Sirius, Lupin and Lily were looking confusedly at them.
"How'd you mean?"
"You know what, I don't think I want a teacher who's this stupid" Ron said grinning.
Harry flushed.
"Let's think" Ron said, trying his best to look stupid "First year- you saved the Philosopher's stone from You-Know-Who"
"But-But that was just luck" Harry exclaimed "It wasn't-"
"Second year" Ron interrupted him "you killed a Basilisk and destroyed Riddle"
"Yeah, but if Fawkes hadn't have turned up, I would've-"
"Third year" said Ron, raising his voice slightly "you fought off about a hundred Dementors at once"
"That was just a fluke, if the Time Turner-"
"Last year" Ron was almost shouting now "You faced You-Know-Who *again* and- "
"LISTEN TO ME!" Harry said angrily. Ron and Hermione were both smirking at him. Lily and James's jaws had dropped in shock, while Sirius and Lupin just looked impressed. The younger ones couldn't stop staring at Harry in shock.
"It sounds great when you guys say it like that, but most of it was just luck! Half the time I didn't have a clue what I was doing and- STOP LAUGHING!" Hermione and Ron had both burst out laughing. Harry couldn't take it anymore and he felt his anger erupt.
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, DO YOU?! NEITHER OF YOU-YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO FACE HIM! YOU THINK IT'S JUST MEMORISING A BUNCH OF SPELLS AND THROWING THEM AT HIM, LIKE YOU'RE IN CLASS OR SOMETHING! YOU CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT AND YOU FEEL AS IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE-M-MURDERED OR TORTURED OR YOU HAVE TO STAND THERE AND WATCH YOUR FRIENDS DIE!-THEY NEVER TAUGHT US THAT IN CLASSES, WHAT IT'S LIKE DEALING WITH THINGS LIKE THAT! AND-AND YOU TWO SIT THERE ACTING AS IF I'M SOME CLEVER LITTLE BOY TO BE STANDING HERE, ALIVE, LIKE DIGGORY WAS STUPID, LIKE-LIKE HE MESSED UP -BUT YOU DON'T GET IT, DO YOU? THAT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN ME! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF VOLDEMORT HADN'T HAVE NEEDED ME-"
"Whoa Harry, calm down mate!" Ron said, looking alarmed. Everyone stared at Harry in complete shock.
"See Harry, this is why we need you, you've had experience facing him" Hermione whispered "Could you at least think about it?"
Harry's breathing had finally gone back to normal, he nodded slowly.
"Alright, now excuse me, I'm going to bed" and with that, Harry walked off to the boys' dormitories, while everyone looked after him apprehensively.
