WHEN TIME STANDS STILL
babyjay: Thanks for reviewing!
missprongs: Thank you.
I-want-to-fly: Thanks – They're not too nice, are they? But it's fun to write.
GwEnDoLyN P. MaLfOy: Thanks – here's the ASAP update!
coco bean: Thanks; I'm glad you liked it.
PadfootandProngs91: Thanks – characterization has been fun!
Miss Malfoy3: Thanks, here it is.
PrOnGs Da GrEaT: OK, for the sake of your sanity...
colorado-chick: As requested, updated!
gaul1: Thanks, will do.
Kazaera: Thanks; I was afraid I'd get a lot of flak for JP & SB being so horrible.
Kaaera: Yeah, the Harry we know doesn't exactly take things lying down, does he? ;)
supernova8610: Thank you.
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana: This chapter will answer that question for you.
SPASH Panther: Yup, if only they'd kept their mouths shut...
An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin: Thanks... even if it was bedtime reading! ;)
Kata Malfoy: Yeah – JP & SB should be very afraid... but it wouldn't be like them, would it?
JerseyPike: Should I change the future? I'd love to keep Padfoot alive... and I'd be guilty about changing what JKR did!
Mayumi-8805: In all this, I wonder who's having fun. Probably Remus.
blip-dragon: Well, that'll change... a little.
Rosaleena: Thanks – reviews make me update quicker.
wintermoon2: Thanks! I'll update as soon as I can, just for all those compliments. ;)
Amandinka: Wouldn't be much fun if they were angels, would it?
Von: Poor Harry! Typical... for him, that is.
Amanda: Thanks! Which is the other?
Jeanne2: Uh-uh. I'm not telling.
The Lady Reaper of the Shadows: Did that mean next chapter, or next question? Here's the update, anyway.
Neo-Queen Serenity: Now, would I reveal that so soon? ~Evil laughter~
EmeraldKatsEye: Thanks – and that probably makes sense. The length of the author's notes horrifies me sometimes. ;)
sweets2: The world Harry comes back to... well, that has to do with how he got sent to the past. I'm saying no more.
Lily and James Potter: I hope so too.
Constance Truggle: Thanks – will Harry reveal that much? Not saying.
volleypickle16: Thanks; I will.
kittenlover2: Thanks for reviewing.
Japonica: Too much sun and too much rain – we get that here too ;) Here's the update.
The Vampire Story Hunter: Read and see.
The One Hobbit: Yeah, they have to change sometime.
Silvercrystal77: Thanks – I hope you like this chapter.
Marauders3: Oh, they will.
Musicstarlover: Since you asked...
Indiangurl: Yeah, nice to imagine the reactions if Harry says that.
Stefanie2: Thanks, and I will.
Brenna8: "And NOT after you." Precisely. ;)
Watcher Tale Neith: Thanks – this chapter isn't funny... not really... but the next one will be, a little.
Dadaiiro: Now, do you really expect me to answer all that?
violet-angel07: Maybe I ought to change to Aragorn or someone before the end if I want James and Sirius to be remotely human. ;)
Ally of Pirate's Swoop: Thank you!
Limegreenlion: Thanks for the review.
CHAPTER 16: WAR AND PEACE
"Can you believe his nerve?" James said angrily, adding jam to his buttered toast. "We actually offered to... to ignore the fact that he's probably a git to match Snivelly – and he said he'd had enough!"
Peter nodded fervently. He hadn't the faintest idea what James was talking about, but as long as it was Thomson, and not he himself, being railed about, he was quite willing to go along.
"I know," he said sympathetically. "I mean, you and Padfoot actually went so far as to speak to him..."
Remus glared at both of them.
"What?" Sirius said. "You can't take his side, Moony."
"Actually, I can. You've both needed the telling for a very long time, and I've never been able to bring myself to do it."
James scowled.
"Oh, so you think we're arrogant and –"
"Yes, I do. And if you really threatened him with your wand, I don't blame him for saying so."
"Right," Sirius muttered. "I expect now you think we should go apologise to that – that –"
"Well, it couldn't hurt."
James, Sirius and Peter all stared at Remus incredulously.
"Think about it," Remus said. "Anyone trying to curse either of you would still be moaning in the Hospital Wing. You really did go too far."
"Remus," Peter said, sounding horror-struck, "how can you even suggest... apologise to Thomson? Prongs and Padfoot... apologise..."
Remus shot him a dark look. "The sooner Prongs and Padfoot realize that they're not gods descended to earth for the betterment of lesser beings, the better it will be for everyone – them included."
*~
When Harry woke up, the dormitory was empty. A glance at his watch told him that he had to run to be on time for Transfiguration. He jumped out of bed, dressed, and made it to the Great Hall just in time to gulp down some breakfast. He met Lily outside the Transfiguration classroom, dishevelled and out of breath.
"At last," she said, looking very disapproving. "I thought you planned to skive off this morning."
"I wouldn't dare," Harry muttered. "You're too much like Hermione."
"Hermione?"
"One of my friends. Let's just say she'd never let me hear the end of it if I skipped two classes in a row."
"I see." Lily looked like she'd like to say more, but Alice McKinnon and Frank Longbottom were standing with them. "Come on, then."
They went on with Self-Transfiguration that day. Defence had always been Harry's best subject; he had no success turning his eyes brown, as Professor McGonagall demanded. But then, he wasn't really trying – he did not need to look even more like James Potter than he did already.
*~
"Now?" Sirius asked as Professor McGonagall dismissed them.
"Yeah," James murmured. "Be careful, though... don't want to do him any permanent damage..."
"Wait for it... let McGonagall leave..."
"You use Furnunculus, I'll use the Body Bind. One of us is bound to get him."
"And once we've given him a preview of what will happen if he remains intractable..."
"He'll answer anything."
Sirius and James grinned in anticipation as Professor McGonagall walked out.
"She's gone..."
"Wait a sec," James whispered. "Evans is in the way... let Harry... there – NOW!"
He and Sirius whipped out their wands.
*~
Harry had been watching James and Sirius surreptitiously all through the lesson. He could tell they were planning something – anybody even remotely associated with Fred and George Weasley could spot plots a mile off. He was ready for them.
Professor McGonagall left. Harry gathered up his quill and parchment and turned to go.
He sensed movement behind him, and whirled about in time to see James and Sirius raising their wands. He snatched his own.
*~
"Furnunculus!" Sirius shouted. At almost the same instant, James yelled "Petrificus Totalus!"
Almost before they'd got the words out, they heard Thomson's voice.
"Protego!"
Neither Sirius nor James could duck in time to avoid the spells as they rebounded.
*~
Harry lowered his wand and surveyed his future father and godfather, who were looking at him murderously. Lily, on the other hand, was smiling in approbation.
"They've had it coming," she said cheerfully. "But you had better lift the curses, Harry; we have a class to get to. We don't have time to waste hauling them to the hospital wing."
Harry nodded.
"Finite Incantatem." He watched James and Sirius get to their feet. "I did warn you."
*~
"You deserve it," Remus said.
"Oh, thanks, Moony," Sirius snarled. "Take his side. I knew you would."
"I'm not taking anybody's side. You were the ones who used the curses to begin with."
"Yes, but..."
"But what? You wouldn't have let anybody off as lightly, you know."
Sirius and James exchanged a look. Remus pressed his advantage.
"Think for a minute instead of grabbing your wand. If it had been Snape trying to hex either of you, you wouldn't have let him off without three or four jinxes apiece."
"Maybe Moony's right," Sirius said finally. "We did go a bit too far, Prongs."
*~
Their next class was Charms. Professor Flitwick had them practicing Shield Charms, which meant there was a lot more activity in the class than usual. Lily was very good, but not good enough to prevent a well-placed Disarmer from relieving her of her wand.
Alice had to look at something in the greenhouses, so when Professor Flitwick let them off ten minutes early she hurried outside. Harry and Lily were stopped, as they were leaving the classroom, by Sirius and James.
"I... er... I want to talk to you," James said.
"Here?" Harry asked, looking pointedly at the students streaming out on either side of them.
"Outside... we have the rest of the day free. Don't worry," he added hastily, as Harry glanced around. "Peter has Double Muggle Studies next, he won't be coming."
Lily and Harry exchanged glances, but there seemed to be no getting out of it short of hexing James right there under Professor Flitwick's nose. Neither of them dared.
"Well?" Harry demanded, as soon as they were away from all potential eavesdroppers. "What is it?"
"We... er... we..."
"That is," Sirius said, "we... the thing is..."
"We wanted... we..."
"Potter," Lily said, "if that's all you can say, we have work to be getting on with."
"No," Sirius said hastily. "We just wanted to say... Harry... we're..."
He and James looked at each other.
"We're sorry," James said finally, colour rising in his face. "In Transfiguration, and last night – and for some time before that – we did a lot we shouldn't have done."
"We said a lot we shouldn't have said."
"I hope you can forgive us, Harry," James finished.
Lily stared at him.
"Do my ears deceive me? Did the omnipotent and omniscient James Potter, hero of Gryffindor House, just apologise?"
James flushed an even deeper shade of red.
"I... I guess I owe you an apology too, Evans."
"You do," Lily agreed, "but I don't imagine that anything short of Voldemort walking in here will make you apologise twice in one day."
"Well, you're wrong," James said. "I – I'm – sorry."
He drew a deep breath, as if it was the hardest thing he'd ever done.
"You do a lot you shouldn't do – and not just to me," Harry said finally.
"I know," Sirius said. "I... we won't ask you things now Harry. We understand you may not want to tell us. But we're sorry."
"That's okay," Harry said.
Lily nodded.
"This had better last, Potter – if your penitence wears off tomorrow morning..."
"One thing, Harry," James said suddenly. "Do you know Snivelly? Snape, I mean," he amended quickly as Lily looked at him.
"Yeah, I do."
"Know him well?"
"Well enough," Harry said, amused.
"How?"
"What he means," Sirius clarified, "is that since we would never commit the terrible crime of subjecting our son and godson to that slimy git, how do you know him well enough for him to have told you we were... er... too arrogant for our own good?"
"Oh – he teaches Potions at Hogwarts in my time."
James gaped.
"Dumbledore appointed that... that... Snape –" as Lily caught his eye " – a Professor? He forces hundreds of innocent children to deal with him every day?"
"Er... yeah... and for some reason he hates me more than he hates most people."
"I wonder why," Lily said, looking at James.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I wasn't going to put that part about the attempted jinxes in, but since a lot of people (including Musicstarlover and Indiangurl – thanks a ton for being my four-hundredth and four-hundred-and-first reviewers!) wanted it... I just hope you liked it. R&R, people! Oh, and one thing... a lot of people have said they'd rather not have the replies to reviews. Tell me whether or not you want them.
babyjay: Thanks for reviewing!
missprongs: Thank you.
I-want-to-fly: Thanks – They're not too nice, are they? But it's fun to write.
GwEnDoLyN P. MaLfOy: Thanks – here's the ASAP update!
coco bean: Thanks; I'm glad you liked it.
PadfootandProngs91: Thanks – characterization has been fun!
Miss Malfoy3: Thanks, here it is.
PrOnGs Da GrEaT: OK, for the sake of your sanity...
colorado-chick: As requested, updated!
gaul1: Thanks, will do.
Kazaera: Thanks; I was afraid I'd get a lot of flak for JP & SB being so horrible.
Kaaera: Yeah, the Harry we know doesn't exactly take things lying down, does he? ;)
supernova8610: Thank you.
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana: This chapter will answer that question for you.
SPASH Panther: Yup, if only they'd kept their mouths shut...
An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin: Thanks... even if it was bedtime reading! ;)
Kata Malfoy: Yeah – JP & SB should be very afraid... but it wouldn't be like them, would it?
JerseyPike: Should I change the future? I'd love to keep Padfoot alive... and I'd be guilty about changing what JKR did!
Mayumi-8805: In all this, I wonder who's having fun. Probably Remus.
blip-dragon: Well, that'll change... a little.
Rosaleena: Thanks – reviews make me update quicker.
wintermoon2: Thanks! I'll update as soon as I can, just for all those compliments. ;)
Amandinka: Wouldn't be much fun if they were angels, would it?
Von: Poor Harry! Typical... for him, that is.
Amanda: Thanks! Which is the other?
Jeanne2: Uh-uh. I'm not telling.
The Lady Reaper of the Shadows: Did that mean next chapter, or next question? Here's the update, anyway.
Neo-Queen Serenity: Now, would I reveal that so soon? ~Evil laughter~
EmeraldKatsEye: Thanks – and that probably makes sense. The length of the author's notes horrifies me sometimes. ;)
sweets2: The world Harry comes back to... well, that has to do with how he got sent to the past. I'm saying no more.
Lily and James Potter: I hope so too.
Constance Truggle: Thanks – will Harry reveal that much? Not saying.
volleypickle16: Thanks; I will.
kittenlover2: Thanks for reviewing.
Japonica: Too much sun and too much rain – we get that here too ;) Here's the update.
The Vampire Story Hunter: Read and see.
The One Hobbit: Yeah, they have to change sometime.
Silvercrystal77: Thanks – I hope you like this chapter.
Marauders3: Oh, they will.
Musicstarlover: Since you asked...
Indiangurl: Yeah, nice to imagine the reactions if Harry says that.
Stefanie2: Thanks, and I will.
Brenna8: "And NOT after you." Precisely. ;)
Watcher Tale Neith: Thanks – this chapter isn't funny... not really... but the next one will be, a little.
Dadaiiro: Now, do you really expect me to answer all that?
violet-angel07: Maybe I ought to change to Aragorn or someone before the end if I want James and Sirius to be remotely human. ;)
Ally of Pirate's Swoop: Thank you!
Limegreenlion: Thanks for the review.
CHAPTER 16: WAR AND PEACE
"Can you believe his nerve?" James said angrily, adding jam to his buttered toast. "We actually offered to... to ignore the fact that he's probably a git to match Snivelly – and he said he'd had enough!"
Peter nodded fervently. He hadn't the faintest idea what James was talking about, but as long as it was Thomson, and not he himself, being railed about, he was quite willing to go along.
"I know," he said sympathetically. "I mean, you and Padfoot actually went so far as to speak to him..."
Remus glared at both of them.
"What?" Sirius said. "You can't take his side, Moony."
"Actually, I can. You've both needed the telling for a very long time, and I've never been able to bring myself to do it."
James scowled.
"Oh, so you think we're arrogant and –"
"Yes, I do. And if you really threatened him with your wand, I don't blame him for saying so."
"Right," Sirius muttered. "I expect now you think we should go apologise to that – that –"
"Well, it couldn't hurt."
James, Sirius and Peter all stared at Remus incredulously.
"Think about it," Remus said. "Anyone trying to curse either of you would still be moaning in the Hospital Wing. You really did go too far."
"Remus," Peter said, sounding horror-struck, "how can you even suggest... apologise to Thomson? Prongs and Padfoot... apologise..."
Remus shot him a dark look. "The sooner Prongs and Padfoot realize that they're not gods descended to earth for the betterment of lesser beings, the better it will be for everyone – them included."
*~
When Harry woke up, the dormitory was empty. A glance at his watch told him that he had to run to be on time for Transfiguration. He jumped out of bed, dressed, and made it to the Great Hall just in time to gulp down some breakfast. He met Lily outside the Transfiguration classroom, dishevelled and out of breath.
"At last," she said, looking very disapproving. "I thought you planned to skive off this morning."
"I wouldn't dare," Harry muttered. "You're too much like Hermione."
"Hermione?"
"One of my friends. Let's just say she'd never let me hear the end of it if I skipped two classes in a row."
"I see." Lily looked like she'd like to say more, but Alice McKinnon and Frank Longbottom were standing with them. "Come on, then."
They went on with Self-Transfiguration that day. Defence had always been Harry's best subject; he had no success turning his eyes brown, as Professor McGonagall demanded. But then, he wasn't really trying – he did not need to look even more like James Potter than he did already.
*~
"Now?" Sirius asked as Professor McGonagall dismissed them.
"Yeah," James murmured. "Be careful, though... don't want to do him any permanent damage..."
"Wait for it... let McGonagall leave..."
"You use Furnunculus, I'll use the Body Bind. One of us is bound to get him."
"And once we've given him a preview of what will happen if he remains intractable..."
"He'll answer anything."
Sirius and James grinned in anticipation as Professor McGonagall walked out.
"She's gone..."
"Wait a sec," James whispered. "Evans is in the way... let Harry... there – NOW!"
He and Sirius whipped out their wands.
*~
Harry had been watching James and Sirius surreptitiously all through the lesson. He could tell they were planning something – anybody even remotely associated with Fred and George Weasley could spot plots a mile off. He was ready for them.
Professor McGonagall left. Harry gathered up his quill and parchment and turned to go.
He sensed movement behind him, and whirled about in time to see James and Sirius raising their wands. He snatched his own.
*~
"Furnunculus!" Sirius shouted. At almost the same instant, James yelled "Petrificus Totalus!"
Almost before they'd got the words out, they heard Thomson's voice.
"Protego!"
Neither Sirius nor James could duck in time to avoid the spells as they rebounded.
*~
Harry lowered his wand and surveyed his future father and godfather, who were looking at him murderously. Lily, on the other hand, was smiling in approbation.
"They've had it coming," she said cheerfully. "But you had better lift the curses, Harry; we have a class to get to. We don't have time to waste hauling them to the hospital wing."
Harry nodded.
"Finite Incantatem." He watched James and Sirius get to their feet. "I did warn you."
*~
"You deserve it," Remus said.
"Oh, thanks, Moony," Sirius snarled. "Take his side. I knew you would."
"I'm not taking anybody's side. You were the ones who used the curses to begin with."
"Yes, but..."
"But what? You wouldn't have let anybody off as lightly, you know."
Sirius and James exchanged a look. Remus pressed his advantage.
"Think for a minute instead of grabbing your wand. If it had been Snape trying to hex either of you, you wouldn't have let him off without three or four jinxes apiece."
"Maybe Moony's right," Sirius said finally. "We did go a bit too far, Prongs."
*~
Their next class was Charms. Professor Flitwick had them practicing Shield Charms, which meant there was a lot more activity in the class than usual. Lily was very good, but not good enough to prevent a well-placed Disarmer from relieving her of her wand.
Alice had to look at something in the greenhouses, so when Professor Flitwick let them off ten minutes early she hurried outside. Harry and Lily were stopped, as they were leaving the classroom, by Sirius and James.
"I... er... I want to talk to you," James said.
"Here?" Harry asked, looking pointedly at the students streaming out on either side of them.
"Outside... we have the rest of the day free. Don't worry," he added hastily, as Harry glanced around. "Peter has Double Muggle Studies next, he won't be coming."
Lily and Harry exchanged glances, but there seemed to be no getting out of it short of hexing James right there under Professor Flitwick's nose. Neither of them dared.
"Well?" Harry demanded, as soon as they were away from all potential eavesdroppers. "What is it?"
"We... er... we..."
"That is," Sirius said, "we... the thing is..."
"We wanted... we..."
"Potter," Lily said, "if that's all you can say, we have work to be getting on with."
"No," Sirius said hastily. "We just wanted to say... Harry... we're..."
He and James looked at each other.
"We're sorry," James said finally, colour rising in his face. "In Transfiguration, and last night – and for some time before that – we did a lot we shouldn't have done."
"We said a lot we shouldn't have said."
"I hope you can forgive us, Harry," James finished.
Lily stared at him.
"Do my ears deceive me? Did the omnipotent and omniscient James Potter, hero of Gryffindor House, just apologise?"
James flushed an even deeper shade of red.
"I... I guess I owe you an apology too, Evans."
"You do," Lily agreed, "but I don't imagine that anything short of Voldemort walking in here will make you apologise twice in one day."
"Well, you're wrong," James said. "I – I'm – sorry."
He drew a deep breath, as if it was the hardest thing he'd ever done.
"You do a lot you shouldn't do – and not just to me," Harry said finally.
"I know," Sirius said. "I... we won't ask you things now Harry. We understand you may not want to tell us. But we're sorry."
"That's okay," Harry said.
Lily nodded.
"This had better last, Potter – if your penitence wears off tomorrow morning..."
"One thing, Harry," James said suddenly. "Do you know Snivelly? Snape, I mean," he amended quickly as Lily looked at him.
"Yeah, I do."
"Know him well?"
"Well enough," Harry said, amused.
"How?"
"What he means," Sirius clarified, "is that since we would never commit the terrible crime of subjecting our son and godson to that slimy git, how do you know him well enough for him to have told you we were... er... too arrogant for our own good?"
"Oh – he teaches Potions at Hogwarts in my time."
James gaped.
"Dumbledore appointed that... that... Snape –" as Lily caught his eye " – a Professor? He forces hundreds of innocent children to deal with him every day?"
"Er... yeah... and for some reason he hates me more than he hates most people."
"I wonder why," Lily said, looking at James.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I wasn't going to put that part about the attempted jinxes in, but since a lot of people (including Musicstarlover and Indiangurl – thanks a ton for being my four-hundredth and four-hundred-and-first reviewers!) wanted it... I just hope you liked it. R&R, people! Oh, and one thing... a lot of people have said they'd rather not have the replies to reviews. Tell me whether or not you want them.