LEGEND REWRITTEN by JKReviewer
Chapter one – It was the summer of '91
Harry sighed deeply as he pulled on his clothes. On his face played the biggest smile ever. Today was his eleventh year old birthday and he just knew it would be such a good day.
He walked over to the window in his room and looked out, taking in the amazing sunrise. It always reminded him of something but he couldn't remember what. He shook his head at the silly thoughts and wandered back to his nightstand to find his shirt.
Only problem was, his entire room was a mess just like always. Where could it be? He rubbed some sleep out of his eyes yawning widely. Normally he didn't sleep much, but waking up at six am might have been a bit too early. His never-ending smile widened. Birthdays should be everyday.
Finally, after digging through everything from posters to hairbrushes he found the shirt he was looking for. It was his favorite, the red one with the yellow patterns. He pulled it over his head and sneaked towards the door to the hallway.
Slowly, and very carefully he opened the door to see if anyone was out in the hall. It was dead quiet, only the large clock at the end of the hall could be heard. The first sunrays were creeping down the hall dividing it in shadow and light. He opened the door the rest of the way and tip-toed out into the hallway.
He stopped when he reached the door to his parent's room. Carefully he leaned in and pressed his ear against the door. Nothing. It was completely silent, which was odd he thought as you could always hear the clock they had in their room.
"Must have put a silence charm on it…" he whispered to himself. He shrugged it of. His parent's did that sometimes. Why, he didn't know. Typical grownups…
After having sneaked all the way down the hall without making a sound, he slowly descended the stairs. A mischievous grin placed on his face now. He was a boy on a mission. Every year on his birthday his parents would wake up before him and make a great breakfast. Each year he would come down hoping to surprise them with his presence but he had never made it before.
Some people might think it strange that he wanted to get up early on his birthday to play a trick on his parents – but it was a family game that no-one knew. And on top of that his father had promised him something if he ever made it. Something 'cool'. Too bad his parents always seemed to know where he was and what he did.
But this year he would make it. He would walk in on them with a big grin on his face and they would almost jump in surprise.
He passed the old paintings in the entrance hallway. He old picture of Godric Griffindor smiled at him and shook his head. Harry put a finger to his lips and smiled to indicate that neither of the paintings should start talking now. Godric, who was the only one awake at the moment anyway, nodded briefly and smiled as he used his wand to cast a fake silencing spell on himself.
"Crazy painting…" Harry muttered, but a smile was still on his face. Where his mom and dad had gotten all these paintings, he wondered as he took a quick glance at the other ones. As far as he knew only two of the paintings were of family; the picture of his mother's parents, and the great potter family painting at the end of the hall.
His mother and father had always insisted that all the paintings be packed when they had moved around when he was little. He couldn't remember it that well, but when he had been seven years old they had had to move in the middle of the night.
"The dark people are here…" his mother would whisper and within five minutes his father would have transfigured everything into buttons and his mother would have charmed it indestructible and weightless. Then they would run, and leave their 'home' behind.
He sighed happily. Three years it had been, since they had to run the last time. He really liked this place and he would hate it if they had to abandon it.
Carefully he avoided the squeaking floor board that would have exposed his arrival, and finally he was at the kitchen door. He was just about to open it, when he remembered the awful screeching sound it could make sometimes. Silently he brought out his wand from inside his robes.
He stared at it for a moment. Eleven inches, Holly and Phoenix feather. His parents had bought it for him at his fifth birthday. Most kids, he knew, didn't get theirs until they got their Hogwarts letter or similar – but his father had convinced his mother that he would need.
By law of course, he wasn't allowed to use it, but his mother had charmed it so that the ministry of magic wouldn't know if he used it. He chuckled silently.
Only reason his mother had ever allowed him to carry it around was because she thought he only knew simple spells like Lumos. If only she knew what his uncle's and his dad had taught him in secret over the years. "Got to protect our legacy…" or something they always said. He shook his head and sighed in near perfect imitation of his mother. If only she knew…
"Silencio" he whispered and the door glowed briefly. He pocketed his wand and pushed the door in slowly. This was it - his moment of victory. A silly grin played on his face as the door opened all the way. The kitchen was separated into two parts and just around the corner he could hear the voices of his parents. He sniggered.
"You think his up yet?" he could hear his father say. His voice sounded eager as a little child waiting for Christmas to come. His mother sighed loudly.
"James, honestly – could you have a little patience for once?" she replied with an amused tone in her voice.
"But what about the presents and the breakfast… Don't you think he wants it now?" his father tried as a come back. Harry could hear him tripping in anticipation.
"You are acting like a little child James. I think Sirius is a bad influence on you!" she replied with a small laugh.
"I am not"
"Is too"
"Am not"
"Is too"
"Shhhhhh…" Another voice suddenly said breaking the famous Lily / James quarrel. "If he wasn't awake before he certainly is now with all your talking. Merlin, you are acting like you aren't a day out of Hogwarts."
Harry's eyes widened as he recognized the voice. "Uncle Moony I didn't know you would be he…" he yelled as he jumped free of hiding. But he stopped his talking suddenly as he realized that he was all alone in the kitchen. Puzzled he started looking everywhere in the kitchen for his parents; in the cupboard, under the table and even in the refrigerator.
"Mum? Dad? Where are you?" he asked out in the room. Where could they have gone? He had heard them only seconds before jumping out to surprise them. What a mystery he thought as he ran a hand through his hair.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY" someone roared behind him causing him to jump in cover behind a chair in part fright, part surprise. He chanced a scared look over the chair, who would attack him on his birthday? He feared the worst, but regained his happy smile in a second as he recognized his father and mother beaming at him from the entrance.
Besides them, also wearing a smile but a frown too were one his two uncles, Remus Lupin. Well he wasn't really his uncle, but since his dad counted him and his other "uncle" Sirius as brothers – he had always known them as uncles Moony and Padfoot.
"Why are you scaring him like that?" he asked with an amused frowning expression. His mother pouted, faking guilt, but her sparkling eyes gave her away.
"Awww… Remus it's tradition" she whined. His father put an arm around her, and they both made puppy eyes at his uncle. Suddenly they all started laughing madly. Harry was about to say something about their silly behavior and how they had hidden, but was suddenly jumped by his parents in a fierce family group hug.
When his father finally let go his mother was still hugging the daylights out of him. Finally she let him go so he could breathe. He rearranged his glasses and looked up at her. She was positively glowing, and looked very proud.
"Come on your presents are waiting and look…" she said with watery eyes. She brought out something from behind her back. "…look what an owl dropped of this morning."
She handed him a thick, heavy envelope. He quickly grabbed it and tore the animal covered seal open.
He was pretty sure he knew what it was but he just couldn't wait to have his hopes confirmed. He finally got the letter and unfolded it in a second.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmaster
He looked up at his parents with a huge grin. They both looked very proud, even though they had always talked about him going there as granted. "Uhhhh… I remember my eleventh year old birthday like it was yesterday!" his mother squealed.
"Mom and dad were so proud – they even took me out shopping for my wand and stuff that very day. Petunia of course went ballistic."
His father made a funny noise that sounded as a not very efficiently suppressed snort. Moony just laughed.
Harry quickly took a seat by the over filled table. Food was everywhere. Somehow he always looked more forward to eating the delicious meal than opening the presents. That sort of came in second place today.
His mother would always make him his favorite food; raspberries and pancakes. Not very healthy or nothing, but when it is your birthday the normal rules doesn't apply. Just as he was about to take the first bike a gigantic roar followed by a crashing sound could be heard from their backyard.
Remus and his father wiped out their wands so fast Harry didn't even see it and aimed them at the door. Both had puzzled frowns on their faces.
A strange bark like sound could be suddenly be heard and the adults lowered their guard and laughed loudly. Only seconds after, a gigantic black dog jumped through the open window, and in one leap talked Harry out of his chair and onto the floor.
It started licking him everywhere and drooled on his face. He tried pushing it of but it was way too heavy and instead he started laughing heartily. The dog barked alongside his laugh and waged its tail happily before his mother finally pushed it of with a levitation spell.
"Sirius stop drooling on the floor…" she managed to say before the big dog jumped up and put its paws on her shoulders. She almost fell under the weight, but managed to stay standing – only to get a big wet dog kiss from Sirius. He barked loudly before running away, into hiding under the table.
Harry watched with amusement as his mother ducked and fired a spell in under the table, that slowly after sent uncle Padfoot flying out of his hiding place. Sirius (now in human form) slowly stood with a wounded expression and glared at Lily.
"You are no fun no more Lily…" he exclaimed with a pout, making Moony and his father roll over in laughter.
"When was I ever fun Sirius…" she said back, trying to hold back a laugh.
One thing Harry could say about his birthdays was: they were always memorable. But then again; with all the marauders in one room things tended to get exciting. Finally they settled down and he got to eat his strawberries. Ummm…
Another thing he loved about his birthday was that it brought his entire "family" together. Sometimes either Moony or Padfoot stayed with them a couple of days, but it had become uncommon that they were here at the same time. Always out on "Order Business" they would say. Sigh.
"Come on Harry – it's time for presents!" his father said, snapping him out of his trance. He turned to him with a smile of anticipation and took the present his Sirius had held up for him to take.
Slowly he tore the wrapping of the present. It was a long smooth box, a little heavy too. It actually seemed to rumble a bit sometimes. Strange. Finally he had the last of the gold/red wrapping of and found it to be a big wooden box. Curiosity overcame him and he opened it slowly, hoping it wasn't an "everything-eating ferret", like Sirius had brought them the last time he visited. He gasped loudly as he saw what was inside.
"It's from Moony and me…" Sirius exclaimed with a proud grin on his face. Harry said nothing for a few seconds. He just stared at it with big round surprised eyes. Remus started laughing softly at Harry's odd expression.
"Is this…" Harry began. Trying to form an entire sentence seemed difficult at the moment. "Is this mine?" He looked up, still wearing a silly expression as if someone had clued his eyes completely open.
* * *
James chuckled silently to himself as he watched his son stared wide-eyed at the package he had just opened. The expression on his face was priceless – I'm glad he liked Sirius and Remus' present that much. It cost them a fortune if what Sirius said was right.
"You like it?" Sirius joked. It would have been silent as a tomb if the four grownups hadn't been sniggering over the comical look on the youngsters face.
"WAAAAAUUWWW" Harry suddenly yelled, making everyone jump back in surprise. The next few minutes were completely mad and hectic as Harry first started jumping around, then he tackled Sirius and Remus thanking them for the present, then we went around and showed it to them all in turn as if they had never seen it before.
"This is so cool…" he was still mumbling minutes later. They had eaten most of the breakfast by now, especially Sirius who had eaten twice the portions on James and Remus plates.
A strange look passed over Harry's face as if having just realized that it indeed was the fastest racing broom in existence in his hands.
"Can we go try it now… Can we dad?" he begged, not really counting as a question but more as a 'you-come-with-me' order. He grabbed his fathers hand and started dragging him towards the door.
"Don't you want to see what mom and dad got you before going outside?" Lily said with a sing-song voice. Harry stopped in his tracks, pondering his options.
James smiled as he walked over to Lily and put an arm around her. She withdrew something from behind her back and presented the envelope to their son.
"Happy birthday Harry…"
* * *
The well kept grass felt like a neat rug under Lily's bare feet, and the mild wind made her hair fly freely all over the place. It was a glorious summer morning as the sun had finally appeared completely over the mountains to the east.
This would have been beautiful and normal even to a muggle – if it hadn't been for the presence of two black haired males on flying brooms.
"Be careful…" she shouted at the two most precious things in her life as they fought a fierce mid-air duel for a peculiar red ball. Suddenly they both made a neck-braking loop before barrel-rolling back to original position. She gasped involuntarily.
A soft laugh could be heard from beside her. "Don't worry Lily… Those two were born on brooms!"
Remus turned to her, with a strange smile on his lips. "Well almost…" He began laughing loudly, recalling the old memory that was Harry's birth. Lily scowled at him for making fun of her, but she could only keep up the appearance for a second before she too started laughing. It was indeed fun when you looked back at it.
But once again one of Sirius bright ideas had turned out to be a near disaster – just like they always did. Her smile vanished briefly as she thought about the one real mistake Sirius made unknowingly. But she wouldn't give in to dark thoughts today she reminded herself, it was after all a joyous day of celebration.
She loved birthdays, even when they wasn't her own. Somehow she could remember every one of her birthdays and they had all been fantastic.
She giggled in a very girlish way that reminded her of her own dorm-mates from Hogwarts; back when the Marauders were "The coolest guys alive!" Sigh.
"I'll go prepare the Floo Transport…" he said walking back towards the house, not having completely wiped of the smile from before. Lily turned her head slowly and looked at her oldest friend, wondering,
He seemed so happy these days. So content with life. He had changed so much. Changed so much since that day. A shiver ran down her spine, and she shook lightly. Thinking about that day could still make her go all cold inside.
She had never believed in fate or prophesies before that night – even after Dumbledore told her about the one concerning Harry and them she had been skeptic. But not anymore…
She looked up again, blocking the sun with her hand and a fond smile crept to her lips.
"I could have lost them both that night!" she whispered to herself. "If it hadn't been for Remus and Sirius…" The last part said so low that she wasn't even sure she had actually said it. She didn't dare say it out loud. She chuckled. "Superstition too, Lily… tut tut!"
Her cheery smile disappeared again. It always did when she thought about that fateful Halloween. Luck, some had called it. Fate others would say. She wasn't even sure anymore. It all just seemed like coincidences, but then again. It was as if someone knew it would happen.
She remembered that late night visit from Remus. Around midnight, maybe a quarter to, he had ran the doorbell. He wasn't even supposed to be there; what if someone followed him? She would never forget the strange look on his face when he said he had to show them something. He eyes looked so hollow and emotionless, and his voice was an example of bad acting.
For a moment she feared the Imperius Curse, but being the charms expert she was she had of course checked him quickly. Nothing. So strange…
"Lily watch out…" she heard someone suddenly yell, breaking her form the old memory. She didn't even have time to react before someone swooped down on her from above, and lifted her up in the air graciously.
"James, put me down…" she whined as her husband quickly climbed to a hundred feet above their house. He only laughed and started circling around the house.
"Why? You don't like this?" he said playfully, silencing her with a kiss. It was an old trick he had learned when Lily tried forcing him into more homework back in their 7th year.
Two minutes later, when Lily finally remembered that other matters where at hand, she broke apart. Her cheeks had reddened a great deal and she was slightly out of breath. James didn't look any worse and in the 'process' he had lost his glasses.
"We- We have to get down now…" she whispered. He only nodded and even though he had no way of seeing he landed the broom perfectly right outside the backdoor. Lily straightened her clothes a bit, preparing to look presentable to Remus and Sirius when she went inside. No need.
"Pro-o-ongs I was eating here…" Sirius, who stood a foot away, still eating breakfast, whined. "And then you two ruined it with your never-ending mushy-mushy!" Lily could feel her cheeks redden slightly; she had somehow always been a little shy about kissing James around the Marauders. Old habit I guess…
"I found your glasses on the ground for some reason James…" Remus said, smirking. "You must have dropped them for some reason…" The adult starting laughing – or more precisely: Sirius laughed loud enough for the four of them with Remus as the jokers sidekick.
Harry just rolled his eyes, like he always did, before grabbing his mother's hand dragging her inside towards the fireplace.
* * *
Harry gasped for breath, but only for a second. No time for silly things like breathing now. He turned the nose of the broom and began a steep dive, trying to keep up with his dad.
Suddenly his father turned left and began climbing, but Harry called his 'Swifty Feight' and began a sharp right speedup just as his father turned.
They were now neck to neck, only inches from colliding. His dad smiled proudly at him, just like he always did when Harry saw through him. True, James Potter was still the best Chaser of the too – but only till Harry got some real practice he would always say.
He couldn't wait till his second year so he could play for his team – the very thought of playing in front of a filled audience made his stomach jump.
"It is time to go…" his father mouthed and pointed to the ground. Harry nodded and a big smile spread across his face. The World Cup. It was all there was on his mind at the moment, he didn't even think when he landed – but since he had his father's genes and a good deal of training – he could do it blindfolded.
"Lily watch out…" uncle Moony suddenly yelled. At first Harry was alarmed, but when he turned and saw the smile he calmed. Suddenly something red swooped down and picked up his mother before flying of again.
If he hadn't known better he would have thought a loose giant owl with a red necktie behind it, but he didn't even have to look to know it was one of his father's tricks.
He could he his mother yell something at his father, but her voice sounded playful – not angry. "Thhh… Adults. And they tell me to behave." He said with a sigh.
Ten minutes later, after watching the goriest snogging scene in a long time – plus the after occurring blushes and bad jokes, he had finally managed to drag all the adults to the fireplace. He couldn't wait any longer.
He threw the floo powder in and with a yell he was gone in a whirl of green…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
All right… That's it for Chapter one! Hoped you liked it, although nothing much happened! It is meant as an "introduction" of sorts and to clear up the events of the prologue! (Although many of the things are still shrouded in mystery… hmm! :P)
I hope everyone will review, even those that already have reviewed this story before – it will help keep track of how you think the story is evolving…
If you liked the way I wrote chapter one, don't worry there will more of the gloomy stuff but if you know me you know I also have a tendency to write more adventure/action things too!
I have great things planned and too all those with fears, let me reassure you that I will keep this in the same "line" as the other one… :D
Thanks for reading! And thanks to those who already reviewed! Your kind words mean a lot too me…
To: Robin4 (uhhh I feel so honored! :) , Szihuoko (update? Why of course) , Keyboarder8 (mistakes? Spelling eroors? What?) , Dracoz-snug-love (it's ok! And of course he would you just read it :) , PeZ-yUaN (thx…. And sï!) , Lagalos (thx a lot) , Hippyman69 (huh?) , panuru4u (I am proud now… :D Hope this chapter clears it up for ya!) , LogicalRaven (Really? Wow that really means a lot too me – most important review I ever got! Thank you… :) , CyberdogZ ('what to say' ? is that all I get? j/k :P) ,
(ohhh and please refrain from telling jokes or commenting on non-important stuff in my reviews – thank you!)
Jkreviewer!