A/N sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. I keep getting
interrupted, than my internet stops working for a little while. The part
with James Hermione and Ron is a little short. But I'm kind of in a hurry
to put this up... Plus I don't want this to be too long of a chapter.
Chapter 5: A Mirror into the Future and into the Past
Harry had arisen, that night feeling a bit disoriented. He had slept in his clothes and still had his glasses on. He could see the Remus was asleep, but Sirius was missing from his bed. Harry wondered where Sirius was so late at night. Harry strode down to the common room to see if he could find Sirius, he looked around in the darkness and spotted a figure sitting in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. He walked over to that figure that was sitting there to find not Sirius, but Lily.
Lily was sitting there staring blankly at the dying flames with tears rolling down her cheeks. She was clutching something in her hand. Harry thought about walking over to her but decided not to, thinking it would be better to give her privacy. He started to quietly walk away, when she turned around and spotted him. "James?" She said while hurriedly drying her eyes. She didn't want him to know she had been crying. "What are you doing here at this hour?" She asked angrily. "Did you come down here to spy on me?" Lily glared at Harry, with a look of loathing.
Harry slowly tried to back out of the room. "No, I was looking for Sirius, have you seen him." Lily's glare deepened. "Potter, what are you and Black up to?" Lily looked suspicious. "If you two are planning to 'visit' the Slytherin common room again, I swear I'll." What Lily would have done Harry, couldn't hear, Lily's lecture was drowned out by a loud sudden crash. Lily gasped. "James! What are the two of you up to? I demand to know at once!" Harry stared in the direction of the noise, than looked back at Lily. "I. I don't know."
Lily wasn't going to give up that easily. "James, I don't believe you. I know you're up to something, but what, I have no idea, and I'm going to find out." Lily strode towards the portrait hole. Harry followed in pursuit. "Lily. I mean Evans, wait up!" Lily didn't stop she continued walking hurriedly towards the portrait hole.
Once they stumbled through the portrait hole they heard another crash and 3 loud bangs. Harry and Lily started running through the corridors as fast as they could. Forgetting about Filch and what he could do to them if they got caught. They ran down three or four flights of stairs and found themselves heading towards the dungeons. Than they heard a loud meow coming from somewhere behind them, they turned around and saw Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, sitting there staring at them through her Lamp like eyes. Before they could stop her she slunk off in the darkness. Harry quickly looked around for a hiding place when he saw that the door to the potions classroom was a jar he grabbed Lily's arm, and they quietly snuck behind the door. And closed it behind them. They quickly looked around for a closet or a crawl space they could hide in. Harry wished he had brought his invisibility cloak.
While they were busy looking around for a hiding place they didn't notice the two other people standing in the seemingly empty classroom. "Who's there?" Came a silky voice belonging to, Harry recognized as, Severus Snape. "James?" Came another voice he recognized that belonged to Sirius. "I knew you two were up to something." Sharply whispered Lily. "James!" said Lily angrily. "Why did you bring me here? To pull one of your many childish pranks on me to get me into trouble?" Lily sounded very anguished.
Harry felt a hot prickling sensation on his face. "I did not!" said Harry angrily. "I had no idea Sirius would be down here. You came down here on your own! I was following you!" Lily's eyes narrowed she was about to say something else when they heard the door creak open, and saw the glow of a lantern.
Sirius quickly took out the invisibility cloak and threw it over himself and Harry, while Lily and Snape were looking away from them. They crouch beneath a desk and watched as Filtch stepped into the room. Harry could see the angry look on Lily's face fade to a look of shock and Panic. Filch crept into the classroom an ugly grin spread across his face. "Miss. Evans, Mr. Snape the two of you are out of bounds at night in an empty classroom, alone, together." Lily and Snape quickly looked around the room for a sign of Sirius and Harry. "I don't know how I put up with you kids and your disgusting hormonal habits." Spat Filch. Lily blushed profusely. "Mr. Filch you can't think we were." But Filch cut her off. "You two were caught in the act. An empty class room alone at night. Seems a bit suspicious to me. You two will both be receiving a detention, I sure." Snape looked outraged and embarrassed so did Lily. Harry could tell the Sirius was holding back silent laughter as Filch grabbed them both by the necks of their robes, and started directing them towards his office.
After Filch left with Lily and Snape, Sirius grabbed the back of Harry's cloak and started pulling him out of the classroom. They quickly and silently hurried along the corridors towards Griffindor tower. Once they got to the common room Sirius pulled the cloak off and dashed up the stairs toward the boys' dorms, Harry followed. Once they were up in their dorm Harry sat down on his bed. "Shouldn't we go back and try to help Lily?" Sirius snorted. "I always knew you liked her, but I'd never thought you'd stand up for her like that when she got what she deserved. She shouldn't have been sneaking around like that, prying into other people's business." Harry gaped at Sirius. "But we heard a loud noise coming from that direction. Who wouldn't be curious, what were you up to in the dungeons with Sna.. Snivellus anyway?"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Prongs, I never thought I'd be the one to say this but you and Lily Evans really would make a cute couple nosing into other people's business like that." Harry ignored Sirius's comment. "If you two were up to something that could get you expelled.. I wouldn't like to see you get kicked out of school." Sirius laughed. "Relax James it's not like I got caught." Harry glared at Sirius. "Well you could have been." Sirius grinned. "What do you know anyway? How do you know if I was doing something against school rules? I could have been down there tutoring Snivellus for all you know." Sirius and Harry burst out laughing at the thought of him tutoring Snape.
Harry decided to get some sleep if he was to attend a few of his father's classes the next day he wanted to be ready.
The next morning Harry arose to Sirius and Peter arguing about something. "Sirius you could let me use it, just this one time." whined Peter. "NO! The last time I let you borrow something you either broke it or wrecked it. This is too valuable and important to become pieces of rubbish. Like that sneakoscope I let you borrow when you wanted to see if you were being lied to. The thing went so completely haywire that it blew up the moment you set foot in the common room!" Peter sobbed. "Please Sirius! I want to be able to be the one to keep in contact with James for once, while he's in Muggle studies, and we're in Divination."
Harry sat up feeling a bit groggy. "What are the two of you arguing about?" Peter blushed and squeaked. "n..n..nothing Prongs.. nothing at all." Sirius rolled his eye's "He's just being bashful, he wanted to be the one to carry around the mirror today." Sirius grinned. "Don't worry James." Said Sirius catching the annoyed look on Harry's face. "I won't let him have it! It will shatter the moment he looks into it." Harry smiled with relief.
Harry Sirius and Peter strode towards the Great Hall for breakfast. Remus was already at the Griffindor table waiting for them. Sirius and Harry took a seat on either side of Remus while Peter sat across the table from them. The four of them talked in low whispers about what happened that night. Sirius still refused to tell them what he was up to. As the table began to clear, Sirius stood up and said. "I think we better get to class you know how McGonagal gets when we're late." Harry gave Remus a worried look. He didn't know which classes he took separate from them. "Err.. Sirius, James and I need to have a word, you go on with out us and we'll catch up with you. You too Peter." Peter frowned, than stomped off muttering something under his breath. Sirius took one last look at Harry and Remus than shrugged his shoulders and left.
Remus gave Harry a weak smile. "The only class you have separate from us is Muggle studies. You err took that class to try and get to know Evans a bit better by learning about the Muggle side of her. Sirius and Peter have Divination, while I have Ancient Runes. Other than that all our classes are the same." Harry felt relieved.
Remus and Harry rushed over to the transfiguration class; they made it two seconds before class started. Harry quickly took a seat next to Sirius while Remus took a seat next to Peter. Sirius nudged Harry and pointed over towards Lily who was glaring at them. Sirius grinned at Harry. "She went from despising you Prongs, to purely loathing you. Good job." Harry frowned he didn't want the future relationship of his parents ruined. He had to figure out a way for him to make up for what he and Sirius did, if he wanted to continue existing.
After Transfiguration they had charms, on their way to charms Lily finally walked up to them to speak her mind about the incident that happened that night. "Potter, you had no right to do that to me last night!" Her ears were starting to turn bright red, which reminded Harry of Ron whenever he was upset about something. Remus looked away than grabbed Peters arm and towed him off, not wanting to get involved, and not wanting Peter to get himself involved. Sirius grinned at Harry and placed his arm around Harry's shoulders. "Sorry Evans but we have no idea what you're talking about." Lily looked furious. "YES YOU DO! DON'T LIE TO ME BLACK! YOU AND POTTER PULLED A NASTY PRANK ON ME LAST NIGHT AND I AM GOING TO GET YOU AND POTTER BACK FOR THAT IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!" Everyone in the corridor stopped talking to stare at them, after Lily's sudden out burst. Lily looked around and her cheeks turned a color to match her ears. And she stomped off towards Charms.
Sirius smiled at the shocked look on Harry's face. "Don't worry Prongs, I'll be sure to mail what's left of you to your parents so they'll have something to remember you by." Harry looked appalled. Sirius laughed and shook his head. "I was only joking Prongs, you have to remember not to take me so seriously sometimes." A curly haired girl passed by, just as he said that. And was about to make a joke about what he just said. But she stopped herself before she said anything after seeing a threatening look on his face. He sighed and turned back to Harry. "I get really tired of those Sirius is serious jokes, sometimes."
Harry and Sirius walked into charms a few minutes late. Professor flitwick took no notice of their late arrival because he was busy discussing hex blockers with Lily. Lily looked over professor Flitwick's (who was standing on a stack of books so that he could talk easier with Lily.) shoulder and glared at Sirius and Harry. Harry felt a surge of apprehension spread through him. Sirius noticing the look of dismay upon Harry's face said in a soothing voice. "Look mate, Lily will forgive you. eventually. I know she really likes you. deep down that is." Harry gave Sirius a weak smile, than slumped into an empty seat next to Remus.
After charms Harry, Remus, Peter and Sirius headed off towards the Great Hall for lunch. They took their seats at the Griffindor table and each took a cucumber sandwich from the platter in front of them. They discussed their plans for the next full moon, when Remus would become a werewolf. "I think we should see if we can find any more hidden passages into Hogsmeade. Harry noticed that Remus did not look too thrilled about wondering the castle while he was in werewolf form, but didn't say anything.
Once their lunch break ended, Harry got up and stretched his arms, while Sirius pulled a piece of parchment from his bag. "Here Prongs, this will come in handy." He handed the parchment to Harry. Harry Stared at the piece of parchment bewildered he knew that this piece of Parchment wasn't the map because it was a bit smaller than the map and it was a thinner piece of parchment. Sirius smiled at the look on Harry's face. "It's a little something I invented last night." Sirius handed another piece of parchment to Remus. "I'm not sure what to call it. Maybe the note o matic. or something less stupid." Harry looked up at Sirius. "So this is what you were up to last night?" Sirius grinned. "Of course Prongsy, what else would I be up to? A friendly chat with Snape?" Remus frowned. "Maybe... but not so friendly." Sirius laughed.
Harry's eyes returned to the blank piece of parchment. "What does it do?" Sirius's face lit up. "Well Prongs, I'm glad you asked." Sirius paused for a moment, as if he were savoring the moment. "You write a message on it. and the message you write should turn up on the other two pieces of Parchment. That way, if you get caught talking in the mirror. Again. We still have a way to communicate." Sirius smiled at the look of amazement on Harry's face. Remus, on the other hand, looked at the piece of parchment with mild interest. Sirius frowned at Remus's lack of interest, in his brilliant idea. "And why aren't you interested in this new invention of mine Remus, you don't think it's not brilliant, do you?" Sirius gave Remus a suspicious look. Remus sighed. "It's very clever, Sirius, but I have more important things to do during class than spend my time writing notes to the three of you." Sirius looked hurt. "And what's so important?" Remus grinned. "I don't know. class work maybe?" Sirius tutted. "Remus. Remus..." Sirius placed his hand on Remus's shoulder. "You don't get ahead in life by doing class work all the time." Remus shook his head. " Than how do you get ahead in life, Sirius?" Sirius removed his hand from Remus's shoulder and thought about his answer for a few seconds. "By writing notes to your friends, about which Quidditch team is the best. And why you hate Snivellus so much. That sort of stuff." Remus rolled his eyes and threw his bag over his shoulder. "I don't even care to dignify that with a reply, Sirius." Remus picked up the piece of parchment and handed it to Peter. "I'm going to class, Cheers." As Remus walked away, Sirius called after him. "Don't you want your note o matic?"
Sirius turned to Harry. "See you soon Prongs I have to get to Divination, I'm predicting I'll be ten minutes late. No wait twenty if I want to make a stop on the way to drop a few snails down the back of Snivelly's cloak." Harry pretended to laugh than headed off towards Muggle studies. "Don't forget to try the mirror be before using the parchment, I like to see you when I talk to you." Sirius called after Harry. Just when Harry reached the classroom door it occurred to him that he didn't have the mirror. Harry entered the classroom and made a quick lie to the professor saying he forgot something. He ran all the way towards Griffindor tower up to the boy's dorms and rifled through his father's trunk, only to find that the mirror was not there.
Harry quickly ran back down to Muggle studies and swooped back into his seat and hesitantly pulled out the piece of Parchment, he didn't want to even think about what would happen if his father had the mirror. He slowly unfolded the piece of parchment and saw that there was some writing on it in what he recognized as Sirius's hand writing.
James, did you loan your mirror to some one with red hair, with out telling me? Or did you forget you loaned it out? Padfoot
Harry could not think of anyone with red hair in his father's time, besides his mother. But why would his mother have the mirror. Harry couldn't think of why his mother would have the mirror, than he thought of another person with red hair, but that person wasn't from his father's time at all, Ron; Ron must have the mirror. Harry figured that his dad must have had the mirror with him when they switched places. Maybe the Mirror works even when it's pulled out of its time. But what was Ron doing with the mirror?
*
James woke the next morning with a terrible headache, he felt as if someone had hit him on the head with a hammer. His vision was blurrier than usual, he couldn't think right. The last thing he could remember was that he needed to find Ron and Hermione, urgently, he couldn't remember what for though. He found his glasses laying on the bed stand next to his bed, and slowly placed them on his nose. When everything came into focus he could see Ron and Hermione leaning over him, looking anxious.
"He's awake." Whispered Ron. "I'll get the headmaster." Said Hermione and with a wave of her bushy hair she was gone. "What happened?" asked Ron looking pale. "We found you, unconscious on the floor of the corridor leading off into the dungeons." James tried to remember what happened but it only made his head hurt worse. "I don't remember." He mumbled as he tried to bury his face in his pillow.
In a few moments Dumbldore walked in and sat down in a vacant chair next to James's bed. James stared up into Dumbledore's eyes. Dumbldore looked as if he were trying to concentrate on something, and studied James's face, than he finally spoke. "Do you know who the assailant was that attacked you?" James tried to shake his head, but he found the pounding in his brain to be unbearable. Dumbldore sighed. Ron looked up at Dumbldore. "I bet it was Malfoy, he's been looking for a chance to harm Harry, ever since his father was sent to Azkaban. Dumbldore sighed. "Alas if only we had a few witnesses to prove you right Mr. Weasly as we don't. We don't have a very good case against Mr. Malfoy." Dumbldore continued to stare down at James. "Are you sure you don't remember what happened?" James painfully shook his head. "Very well then. I must return to other matters for now, if you remember anything, you know where my office is." Dumbldore got up and left the room.
Ron and Hermione turned back to James after watching the Headmaster leave the room. "James. I thought you were dead. That would have been awful!" Said Hermione, almost as pale as Ron. "Yeah," said Ron helping him self to a chocolate frog he brought for James. "If you had died, what would happen to Harry? And. you know who. would never had lost his power. for a few years, that is." Hermione had given up on trying to get Ron to say Voldemort. James finally remembered one of the pressing issues he wanted to discuss with Ron and Hermione. "Where's Sirius? I don't mind seeing him. old. just as long as I get to see him I'll be fine." Ron and Hermione exchanged mournful looks. "Well, you see. he." Hermione tried to tell James what had happened but could not bring herself to tell James that news. Ron finished of the sentence for her. "He fell through, the veil, in the mystery department. He's." James felt startled. "He's not." Ron and Hermione nodded. "He's gone James." Said Ron.
James felt his eyes stinging. "Could you two give me a moment please." "Of course." Said Hermione; she and Ron left the room, leaving James alone with his thoughts. James just laid there in the Hospital wing thinking about Sirius. Wondering what his last thoughts might have been. Wondering what he was like or how much he had changed in the future. James sighed and rolled over so that he was facing down into his pillow, he didn't know what to think about Sirius's death.
The next day James was allowed to leave the hospital wing and return to Griffindor. Once he stepped into the common room Ron and Hermione greeted him. Hermione ran up to him and hugged him, he felt a bit awkward, so he patted Hermione on the back until she let go. "It's nice to see you again, Hermione." He said smiling. Ron walked up to James. "You've already missed your first two classes, the next one is Potions, you shouldn't be in that class in my opinion, but Harry was determined to be an Auror, so he finally got in, much to the annoyance of Professor Snape." James tilted his head. "Ah yes, Professor Snape, how did an idiot like that become a professor any way?" Ron snorted. "I have no idea mate, but you better not pick a fight with him. Harry has been on his bad side ever since he set foot in this school." James grinned. "He's still due for another prank." Hermione gasped. "No! James, Harry worked very hard to get in that class! Don't ruin it for him?" James ignored Hermione. "What do you say?" Ron shrugged. "I say, sorry mate, I'm not in that class you have to get an O to be in that class and I wasn't good enough." James frowned, than looked at Hermione who shook her head. "I am in that class, but I'm not going to help you pull a prank on a teacher! You have to remember James, that he's a teacher! You could get into more trouble picking on him now, than you did back in your time when he was a fellow student to you."
Hermione asked James to stay behind and skip class, but James decided that he wanted to see how Snape was treating Harry in his classes. James and Hermione headed of towards the potions room while Ron headed off towards a different class. Once they reached the classroom they found themselves to be a few minutes late. "Mr. Potter, Miss. Granger how nice of you to decide to finally join us. Class started 5 minutes ago, I expect you to be in your seats right now!" James started to head towards a table in the back of the room but Snape grabbed him by the back of his robes. "I thought I made it clear, Mr. Potter, that I want you to in the front of the classroom, where I can keep better track of how you make your potions. And I believe that will be 20 points from Griffindore for your tartyness.
Snape dragged James towards an empty desk in front of the classroom. Snape made it clear to him that he didn't like Harry being in that class at all. James felt a fit of rage stream through him. "I expect you to get this potion done properly, Potter." Mumbled Snape. "Or I shall have to give you extra homework and I'll have to make you stay after, is that clear?" James glared at Snape. "Yes, Snivellus." He said loud enough for the entire class to hear. Hermione dropped her Couldron on the floor, making a loud CLUNK as the class fell silent. No one had ever insulted Snape like that in front of his face.
Snape's eyes filled with out rage, he roughly grabbed James by the neck of his robes and dragged him out of the classroom.
Once they were out of ear shot Snape rounded on him. "WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT MENTIONING THAT! AND INFRONT OF THE ENTIRE CLASS ROOM TOO!" Snape's nostrils began to flare. The anger James felt towards Snape matched the anger Snape felt towards him. James stood his ground. "YOU ARE A SLIMY GREASY HAIRED GIT WHO LIKES TO PICK ON THOSE SMALLER AND WEAKER THAN YOU ARE! WHY THEY MADE YOU A PROFESSOR IS BEYOND ME! BUT IF I WERE YOU I'D KNOCK IT OFF OR ELSE!" Snape was taken aback, he wasn't used to being yelled at like that, he knew that Harry usually knew where to draw the line. "OR ELSE WHAT? MAY I ASK MR. POTTER?" Barked Snape. "YOU ARE EXACTLY LIKE YOUR FATHER, I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED YOU TO KNOW WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE, BUT I GUESS LIKE YOUR FATHER YOU ARE TOO AROGANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR!" James pulled his wand from his pocket and pointed it at Snape. Snape stepped backed into the wall away from James and pulled out his own wand. James disarmed him. And pinned him to the wall with a spell he usually used on Snape in his own time.
James had an evil look in his eyes, and grinned. "This is what I wanted to do, ever since I found out you were a Professor, Snivellus." Snape gapped at James as it dawned on him, that it wasn't Harry that he was dealing with, it was James. James grinned at Snape. "Remember this? Do you remember what I used to do? And how every one would laugh? You weren't so threatening then were you? Snivellus?" Snape glared at James with hatred. As James was about to place a hex on Snape he heard a loud gasp coming from behind him. "MR. POTTER! WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" It was Professor McGonagal. James quickly dropped his wand and turned to look at her.
Professor McGonagal confiscated James's wand and returned Snapes wand. "Come with me Potter." She led Harry to Dumbldore's office, Snape followed, leaving his class on their own, he wanted to make sure 'Harry' got what he believed to be a proper punishment.
Once they reached Dumbldore's office they found him sitting at his desk looking over a few books. Professor McGonagal left to let Dumbldore handle the situation she had other things to do that day. Dumbldore looked up from his desk. "Harry, Severus, what brings the two of you to my office at this time of the day?" Dumbldore didn't look too surprised to see them. "Headmaster, you don't need to pretend that this is Harry." Said Snape pointing at James disgustedly. James glared at Snape. Dumbldore leaned back in his chair. "If it's not Harry, Severus, than who is it?" Snape frowned at Dumbldore. "I do believe this student to be James Potter." Dumbldore had a look of mild interest on his face. "How might that be possible, Severus?" Snape did not reply, he couldn't think of an explanation as to how a 16-year-old James Potter would appear years into the future. "That's beside the point." Said Snape. "Mr. Potter, whichever one it may be, threatened me!" Snape said furiously. Dumbldore didn't look too surprised to hear this either; he was expecting this to happen some time.
Dumbldore knew he would need some time to straighten this all out with Snape. He thought it would be best if James were to leave the room, he turned to James. "Mr. Potter you may leave, I need a word in private with Professor Snape." Snape opened his mouth to object. But after seeing the serious look on Dumbledore's face, he closed it immediately. "I'll have someone notify you, when I need to speak with you."
James left Dumbldore's office with a strange feeling of regret. He wasn't sure if he managed to ruin the rest of Harry's life, that was the last thing he wanted to do. He wasn't sure if he could face Hermione after what happened with Snape, he didn't want to be lectured on how he might have not only messed up Harry's chances of staying in school for the rest of the term, but Harry's future career was at stake as well. He needed potions to be an Auror, and from the look of it, it seemed that Harry would soon be kicked out of that class.
James returned to the common room and passed Hermione with out even looking at her than plopped himself down on Harry's bed. A few minutes later Ron entered the boy's Dormitory. He had managed to get out of class early after hearing the news about what happened between James and Snape. Ron sat down on the corner Harry's bed and tried to cheer James up, but found that nothing he could say or do would cheer him up. Ron found something lying on the floor, he picked it up and saw that is was a mirror, he was about to ask James if it belonged to him. But before he could say anything, a young almost familiar looking face that did not belong to him appeared in the mirror. Ron nearly dropped the mirror with shock as he realized that it was the face of a very young Sirius Black.
Chapter 5: A Mirror into the Future and into the Past
Harry had arisen, that night feeling a bit disoriented. He had slept in his clothes and still had his glasses on. He could see the Remus was asleep, but Sirius was missing from his bed. Harry wondered where Sirius was so late at night. Harry strode down to the common room to see if he could find Sirius, he looked around in the darkness and spotted a figure sitting in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. He walked over to that figure that was sitting there to find not Sirius, but Lily.
Lily was sitting there staring blankly at the dying flames with tears rolling down her cheeks. She was clutching something in her hand. Harry thought about walking over to her but decided not to, thinking it would be better to give her privacy. He started to quietly walk away, when she turned around and spotted him. "James?" She said while hurriedly drying her eyes. She didn't want him to know she had been crying. "What are you doing here at this hour?" She asked angrily. "Did you come down here to spy on me?" Lily glared at Harry, with a look of loathing.
Harry slowly tried to back out of the room. "No, I was looking for Sirius, have you seen him." Lily's glare deepened. "Potter, what are you and Black up to?" Lily looked suspicious. "If you two are planning to 'visit' the Slytherin common room again, I swear I'll." What Lily would have done Harry, couldn't hear, Lily's lecture was drowned out by a loud sudden crash. Lily gasped. "James! What are the two of you up to? I demand to know at once!" Harry stared in the direction of the noise, than looked back at Lily. "I. I don't know."
Lily wasn't going to give up that easily. "James, I don't believe you. I know you're up to something, but what, I have no idea, and I'm going to find out." Lily strode towards the portrait hole. Harry followed in pursuit. "Lily. I mean Evans, wait up!" Lily didn't stop she continued walking hurriedly towards the portrait hole.
Once they stumbled through the portrait hole they heard another crash and 3 loud bangs. Harry and Lily started running through the corridors as fast as they could. Forgetting about Filch and what he could do to them if they got caught. They ran down three or four flights of stairs and found themselves heading towards the dungeons. Than they heard a loud meow coming from somewhere behind them, they turned around and saw Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, sitting there staring at them through her Lamp like eyes. Before they could stop her she slunk off in the darkness. Harry quickly looked around for a hiding place when he saw that the door to the potions classroom was a jar he grabbed Lily's arm, and they quietly snuck behind the door. And closed it behind them. They quickly looked around for a closet or a crawl space they could hide in. Harry wished he had brought his invisibility cloak.
While they were busy looking around for a hiding place they didn't notice the two other people standing in the seemingly empty classroom. "Who's there?" Came a silky voice belonging to, Harry recognized as, Severus Snape. "James?" Came another voice he recognized that belonged to Sirius. "I knew you two were up to something." Sharply whispered Lily. "James!" said Lily angrily. "Why did you bring me here? To pull one of your many childish pranks on me to get me into trouble?" Lily sounded very anguished.
Harry felt a hot prickling sensation on his face. "I did not!" said Harry angrily. "I had no idea Sirius would be down here. You came down here on your own! I was following you!" Lily's eyes narrowed she was about to say something else when they heard the door creak open, and saw the glow of a lantern.
Sirius quickly took out the invisibility cloak and threw it over himself and Harry, while Lily and Snape were looking away from them. They crouch beneath a desk and watched as Filtch stepped into the room. Harry could see the angry look on Lily's face fade to a look of shock and Panic. Filch crept into the classroom an ugly grin spread across his face. "Miss. Evans, Mr. Snape the two of you are out of bounds at night in an empty classroom, alone, together." Lily and Snape quickly looked around the room for a sign of Sirius and Harry. "I don't know how I put up with you kids and your disgusting hormonal habits." Spat Filch. Lily blushed profusely. "Mr. Filch you can't think we were." But Filch cut her off. "You two were caught in the act. An empty class room alone at night. Seems a bit suspicious to me. You two will both be receiving a detention, I sure." Snape looked outraged and embarrassed so did Lily. Harry could tell the Sirius was holding back silent laughter as Filch grabbed them both by the necks of their robes, and started directing them towards his office.
After Filch left with Lily and Snape, Sirius grabbed the back of Harry's cloak and started pulling him out of the classroom. They quickly and silently hurried along the corridors towards Griffindor tower. Once they got to the common room Sirius pulled the cloak off and dashed up the stairs toward the boys' dorms, Harry followed. Once they were up in their dorm Harry sat down on his bed. "Shouldn't we go back and try to help Lily?" Sirius snorted. "I always knew you liked her, but I'd never thought you'd stand up for her like that when she got what she deserved. She shouldn't have been sneaking around like that, prying into other people's business." Harry gaped at Sirius. "But we heard a loud noise coming from that direction. Who wouldn't be curious, what were you up to in the dungeons with Sna.. Snivellus anyway?"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Prongs, I never thought I'd be the one to say this but you and Lily Evans really would make a cute couple nosing into other people's business like that." Harry ignored Sirius's comment. "If you two were up to something that could get you expelled.. I wouldn't like to see you get kicked out of school." Sirius laughed. "Relax James it's not like I got caught." Harry glared at Sirius. "Well you could have been." Sirius grinned. "What do you know anyway? How do you know if I was doing something against school rules? I could have been down there tutoring Snivellus for all you know." Sirius and Harry burst out laughing at the thought of him tutoring Snape.
Harry decided to get some sleep if he was to attend a few of his father's classes the next day he wanted to be ready.
The next morning Harry arose to Sirius and Peter arguing about something. "Sirius you could let me use it, just this one time." whined Peter. "NO! The last time I let you borrow something you either broke it or wrecked it. This is too valuable and important to become pieces of rubbish. Like that sneakoscope I let you borrow when you wanted to see if you were being lied to. The thing went so completely haywire that it blew up the moment you set foot in the common room!" Peter sobbed. "Please Sirius! I want to be able to be the one to keep in contact with James for once, while he's in Muggle studies, and we're in Divination."
Harry sat up feeling a bit groggy. "What are the two of you arguing about?" Peter blushed and squeaked. "n..n..nothing Prongs.. nothing at all." Sirius rolled his eye's "He's just being bashful, he wanted to be the one to carry around the mirror today." Sirius grinned. "Don't worry James." Said Sirius catching the annoyed look on Harry's face. "I won't let him have it! It will shatter the moment he looks into it." Harry smiled with relief.
Harry Sirius and Peter strode towards the Great Hall for breakfast. Remus was already at the Griffindor table waiting for them. Sirius and Harry took a seat on either side of Remus while Peter sat across the table from them. The four of them talked in low whispers about what happened that night. Sirius still refused to tell them what he was up to. As the table began to clear, Sirius stood up and said. "I think we better get to class you know how McGonagal gets when we're late." Harry gave Remus a worried look. He didn't know which classes he took separate from them. "Err.. Sirius, James and I need to have a word, you go on with out us and we'll catch up with you. You too Peter." Peter frowned, than stomped off muttering something under his breath. Sirius took one last look at Harry and Remus than shrugged his shoulders and left.
Remus gave Harry a weak smile. "The only class you have separate from us is Muggle studies. You err took that class to try and get to know Evans a bit better by learning about the Muggle side of her. Sirius and Peter have Divination, while I have Ancient Runes. Other than that all our classes are the same." Harry felt relieved.
Remus and Harry rushed over to the transfiguration class; they made it two seconds before class started. Harry quickly took a seat next to Sirius while Remus took a seat next to Peter. Sirius nudged Harry and pointed over towards Lily who was glaring at them. Sirius grinned at Harry. "She went from despising you Prongs, to purely loathing you. Good job." Harry frowned he didn't want the future relationship of his parents ruined. He had to figure out a way for him to make up for what he and Sirius did, if he wanted to continue existing.
After Transfiguration they had charms, on their way to charms Lily finally walked up to them to speak her mind about the incident that happened that night. "Potter, you had no right to do that to me last night!" Her ears were starting to turn bright red, which reminded Harry of Ron whenever he was upset about something. Remus looked away than grabbed Peters arm and towed him off, not wanting to get involved, and not wanting Peter to get himself involved. Sirius grinned at Harry and placed his arm around Harry's shoulders. "Sorry Evans but we have no idea what you're talking about." Lily looked furious. "YES YOU DO! DON'T LIE TO ME BLACK! YOU AND POTTER PULLED A NASTY PRANK ON ME LAST NIGHT AND I AM GOING TO GET YOU AND POTTER BACK FOR THAT IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!" Everyone in the corridor stopped talking to stare at them, after Lily's sudden out burst. Lily looked around and her cheeks turned a color to match her ears. And she stomped off towards Charms.
Sirius smiled at the shocked look on Harry's face. "Don't worry Prongs, I'll be sure to mail what's left of you to your parents so they'll have something to remember you by." Harry looked appalled. Sirius laughed and shook his head. "I was only joking Prongs, you have to remember not to take me so seriously sometimes." A curly haired girl passed by, just as he said that. And was about to make a joke about what he just said. But she stopped herself before she said anything after seeing a threatening look on his face. He sighed and turned back to Harry. "I get really tired of those Sirius is serious jokes, sometimes."
Harry and Sirius walked into charms a few minutes late. Professor flitwick took no notice of their late arrival because he was busy discussing hex blockers with Lily. Lily looked over professor Flitwick's (who was standing on a stack of books so that he could talk easier with Lily.) shoulder and glared at Sirius and Harry. Harry felt a surge of apprehension spread through him. Sirius noticing the look of dismay upon Harry's face said in a soothing voice. "Look mate, Lily will forgive you. eventually. I know she really likes you. deep down that is." Harry gave Sirius a weak smile, than slumped into an empty seat next to Remus.
After charms Harry, Remus, Peter and Sirius headed off towards the Great Hall for lunch. They took their seats at the Griffindor table and each took a cucumber sandwich from the platter in front of them. They discussed their plans for the next full moon, when Remus would become a werewolf. "I think we should see if we can find any more hidden passages into Hogsmeade. Harry noticed that Remus did not look too thrilled about wondering the castle while he was in werewolf form, but didn't say anything.
Once their lunch break ended, Harry got up and stretched his arms, while Sirius pulled a piece of parchment from his bag. "Here Prongs, this will come in handy." He handed the parchment to Harry. Harry Stared at the piece of parchment bewildered he knew that this piece of Parchment wasn't the map because it was a bit smaller than the map and it was a thinner piece of parchment. Sirius smiled at the look on Harry's face. "It's a little something I invented last night." Sirius handed another piece of parchment to Remus. "I'm not sure what to call it. Maybe the note o matic. or something less stupid." Harry looked up at Sirius. "So this is what you were up to last night?" Sirius grinned. "Of course Prongsy, what else would I be up to? A friendly chat with Snape?" Remus frowned. "Maybe... but not so friendly." Sirius laughed.
Harry's eyes returned to the blank piece of parchment. "What does it do?" Sirius's face lit up. "Well Prongs, I'm glad you asked." Sirius paused for a moment, as if he were savoring the moment. "You write a message on it. and the message you write should turn up on the other two pieces of Parchment. That way, if you get caught talking in the mirror. Again. We still have a way to communicate." Sirius smiled at the look of amazement on Harry's face. Remus, on the other hand, looked at the piece of parchment with mild interest. Sirius frowned at Remus's lack of interest, in his brilliant idea. "And why aren't you interested in this new invention of mine Remus, you don't think it's not brilliant, do you?" Sirius gave Remus a suspicious look. Remus sighed. "It's very clever, Sirius, but I have more important things to do during class than spend my time writing notes to the three of you." Sirius looked hurt. "And what's so important?" Remus grinned. "I don't know. class work maybe?" Sirius tutted. "Remus. Remus..." Sirius placed his hand on Remus's shoulder. "You don't get ahead in life by doing class work all the time." Remus shook his head. " Than how do you get ahead in life, Sirius?" Sirius removed his hand from Remus's shoulder and thought about his answer for a few seconds. "By writing notes to your friends, about which Quidditch team is the best. And why you hate Snivellus so much. That sort of stuff." Remus rolled his eyes and threw his bag over his shoulder. "I don't even care to dignify that with a reply, Sirius." Remus picked up the piece of parchment and handed it to Peter. "I'm going to class, Cheers." As Remus walked away, Sirius called after him. "Don't you want your note o matic?"
Sirius turned to Harry. "See you soon Prongs I have to get to Divination, I'm predicting I'll be ten minutes late. No wait twenty if I want to make a stop on the way to drop a few snails down the back of Snivelly's cloak." Harry pretended to laugh than headed off towards Muggle studies. "Don't forget to try the mirror be before using the parchment, I like to see you when I talk to you." Sirius called after Harry. Just when Harry reached the classroom door it occurred to him that he didn't have the mirror. Harry entered the classroom and made a quick lie to the professor saying he forgot something. He ran all the way towards Griffindor tower up to the boy's dorms and rifled through his father's trunk, only to find that the mirror was not there.
Harry quickly ran back down to Muggle studies and swooped back into his seat and hesitantly pulled out the piece of Parchment, he didn't want to even think about what would happen if his father had the mirror. He slowly unfolded the piece of parchment and saw that there was some writing on it in what he recognized as Sirius's hand writing.
James, did you loan your mirror to some one with red hair, with out telling me? Or did you forget you loaned it out? Padfoot
Harry could not think of anyone with red hair in his father's time, besides his mother. But why would his mother have the mirror. Harry couldn't think of why his mother would have the mirror, than he thought of another person with red hair, but that person wasn't from his father's time at all, Ron; Ron must have the mirror. Harry figured that his dad must have had the mirror with him when they switched places. Maybe the Mirror works even when it's pulled out of its time. But what was Ron doing with the mirror?
*
James woke the next morning with a terrible headache, he felt as if someone had hit him on the head with a hammer. His vision was blurrier than usual, he couldn't think right. The last thing he could remember was that he needed to find Ron and Hermione, urgently, he couldn't remember what for though. He found his glasses laying on the bed stand next to his bed, and slowly placed them on his nose. When everything came into focus he could see Ron and Hermione leaning over him, looking anxious.
"He's awake." Whispered Ron. "I'll get the headmaster." Said Hermione and with a wave of her bushy hair she was gone. "What happened?" asked Ron looking pale. "We found you, unconscious on the floor of the corridor leading off into the dungeons." James tried to remember what happened but it only made his head hurt worse. "I don't remember." He mumbled as he tried to bury his face in his pillow.
In a few moments Dumbldore walked in and sat down in a vacant chair next to James's bed. James stared up into Dumbledore's eyes. Dumbldore looked as if he were trying to concentrate on something, and studied James's face, than he finally spoke. "Do you know who the assailant was that attacked you?" James tried to shake his head, but he found the pounding in his brain to be unbearable. Dumbldore sighed. Ron looked up at Dumbldore. "I bet it was Malfoy, he's been looking for a chance to harm Harry, ever since his father was sent to Azkaban. Dumbldore sighed. "Alas if only we had a few witnesses to prove you right Mr. Weasly as we don't. We don't have a very good case against Mr. Malfoy." Dumbldore continued to stare down at James. "Are you sure you don't remember what happened?" James painfully shook his head. "Very well then. I must return to other matters for now, if you remember anything, you know where my office is." Dumbldore got up and left the room.
Ron and Hermione turned back to James after watching the Headmaster leave the room. "James. I thought you were dead. That would have been awful!" Said Hermione, almost as pale as Ron. "Yeah," said Ron helping him self to a chocolate frog he brought for James. "If you had died, what would happen to Harry? And. you know who. would never had lost his power. for a few years, that is." Hermione had given up on trying to get Ron to say Voldemort. James finally remembered one of the pressing issues he wanted to discuss with Ron and Hermione. "Where's Sirius? I don't mind seeing him. old. just as long as I get to see him I'll be fine." Ron and Hermione exchanged mournful looks. "Well, you see. he." Hermione tried to tell James what had happened but could not bring herself to tell James that news. Ron finished of the sentence for her. "He fell through, the veil, in the mystery department. He's." James felt startled. "He's not." Ron and Hermione nodded. "He's gone James." Said Ron.
James felt his eyes stinging. "Could you two give me a moment please." "Of course." Said Hermione; she and Ron left the room, leaving James alone with his thoughts. James just laid there in the Hospital wing thinking about Sirius. Wondering what his last thoughts might have been. Wondering what he was like or how much he had changed in the future. James sighed and rolled over so that he was facing down into his pillow, he didn't know what to think about Sirius's death.
The next day James was allowed to leave the hospital wing and return to Griffindor. Once he stepped into the common room Ron and Hermione greeted him. Hermione ran up to him and hugged him, he felt a bit awkward, so he patted Hermione on the back until she let go. "It's nice to see you again, Hermione." He said smiling. Ron walked up to James. "You've already missed your first two classes, the next one is Potions, you shouldn't be in that class in my opinion, but Harry was determined to be an Auror, so he finally got in, much to the annoyance of Professor Snape." James tilted his head. "Ah yes, Professor Snape, how did an idiot like that become a professor any way?" Ron snorted. "I have no idea mate, but you better not pick a fight with him. Harry has been on his bad side ever since he set foot in this school." James grinned. "He's still due for another prank." Hermione gasped. "No! James, Harry worked very hard to get in that class! Don't ruin it for him?" James ignored Hermione. "What do you say?" Ron shrugged. "I say, sorry mate, I'm not in that class you have to get an O to be in that class and I wasn't good enough." James frowned, than looked at Hermione who shook her head. "I am in that class, but I'm not going to help you pull a prank on a teacher! You have to remember James, that he's a teacher! You could get into more trouble picking on him now, than you did back in your time when he was a fellow student to you."
Hermione asked James to stay behind and skip class, but James decided that he wanted to see how Snape was treating Harry in his classes. James and Hermione headed of towards the potions room while Ron headed off towards a different class. Once they reached the classroom they found themselves to be a few minutes late. "Mr. Potter, Miss. Granger how nice of you to decide to finally join us. Class started 5 minutes ago, I expect you to be in your seats right now!" James started to head towards a table in the back of the room but Snape grabbed him by the back of his robes. "I thought I made it clear, Mr. Potter, that I want you to in the front of the classroom, where I can keep better track of how you make your potions. And I believe that will be 20 points from Griffindore for your tartyness.
Snape dragged James towards an empty desk in front of the classroom. Snape made it clear to him that he didn't like Harry being in that class at all. James felt a fit of rage stream through him. "I expect you to get this potion done properly, Potter." Mumbled Snape. "Or I shall have to give you extra homework and I'll have to make you stay after, is that clear?" James glared at Snape. "Yes, Snivellus." He said loud enough for the entire class to hear. Hermione dropped her Couldron on the floor, making a loud CLUNK as the class fell silent. No one had ever insulted Snape like that in front of his face.
Snape's eyes filled with out rage, he roughly grabbed James by the neck of his robes and dragged him out of the classroom.
Once they were out of ear shot Snape rounded on him. "WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT MENTIONING THAT! AND INFRONT OF THE ENTIRE CLASS ROOM TOO!" Snape's nostrils began to flare. The anger James felt towards Snape matched the anger Snape felt towards him. James stood his ground. "YOU ARE A SLIMY GREASY HAIRED GIT WHO LIKES TO PICK ON THOSE SMALLER AND WEAKER THAN YOU ARE! WHY THEY MADE YOU A PROFESSOR IS BEYOND ME! BUT IF I WERE YOU I'D KNOCK IT OFF OR ELSE!" Snape was taken aback, he wasn't used to being yelled at like that, he knew that Harry usually knew where to draw the line. "OR ELSE WHAT? MAY I ASK MR. POTTER?" Barked Snape. "YOU ARE EXACTLY LIKE YOUR FATHER, I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED YOU TO KNOW WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE, BUT I GUESS LIKE YOUR FATHER YOU ARE TOO AROGANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR!" James pulled his wand from his pocket and pointed it at Snape. Snape stepped backed into the wall away from James and pulled out his own wand. James disarmed him. And pinned him to the wall with a spell he usually used on Snape in his own time.
James had an evil look in his eyes, and grinned. "This is what I wanted to do, ever since I found out you were a Professor, Snivellus." Snape gapped at James as it dawned on him, that it wasn't Harry that he was dealing with, it was James. James grinned at Snape. "Remember this? Do you remember what I used to do? And how every one would laugh? You weren't so threatening then were you? Snivellus?" Snape glared at James with hatred. As James was about to place a hex on Snape he heard a loud gasp coming from behind him. "MR. POTTER! WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" It was Professor McGonagal. James quickly dropped his wand and turned to look at her.
Professor McGonagal confiscated James's wand and returned Snapes wand. "Come with me Potter." She led Harry to Dumbldore's office, Snape followed, leaving his class on their own, he wanted to make sure 'Harry' got what he believed to be a proper punishment.
Once they reached Dumbldore's office they found him sitting at his desk looking over a few books. Professor McGonagal left to let Dumbldore handle the situation she had other things to do that day. Dumbldore looked up from his desk. "Harry, Severus, what brings the two of you to my office at this time of the day?" Dumbldore didn't look too surprised to see them. "Headmaster, you don't need to pretend that this is Harry." Said Snape pointing at James disgustedly. James glared at Snape. Dumbldore leaned back in his chair. "If it's not Harry, Severus, than who is it?" Snape frowned at Dumbldore. "I do believe this student to be James Potter." Dumbldore had a look of mild interest on his face. "How might that be possible, Severus?" Snape did not reply, he couldn't think of an explanation as to how a 16-year-old James Potter would appear years into the future. "That's beside the point." Said Snape. "Mr. Potter, whichever one it may be, threatened me!" Snape said furiously. Dumbldore didn't look too surprised to hear this either; he was expecting this to happen some time.
Dumbldore knew he would need some time to straighten this all out with Snape. He thought it would be best if James were to leave the room, he turned to James. "Mr. Potter you may leave, I need a word in private with Professor Snape." Snape opened his mouth to object. But after seeing the serious look on Dumbledore's face, he closed it immediately. "I'll have someone notify you, when I need to speak with you."
James left Dumbldore's office with a strange feeling of regret. He wasn't sure if he managed to ruin the rest of Harry's life, that was the last thing he wanted to do. He wasn't sure if he could face Hermione after what happened with Snape, he didn't want to be lectured on how he might have not only messed up Harry's chances of staying in school for the rest of the term, but Harry's future career was at stake as well. He needed potions to be an Auror, and from the look of it, it seemed that Harry would soon be kicked out of that class.
James returned to the common room and passed Hermione with out even looking at her than plopped himself down on Harry's bed. A few minutes later Ron entered the boy's Dormitory. He had managed to get out of class early after hearing the news about what happened between James and Snape. Ron sat down on the corner Harry's bed and tried to cheer James up, but found that nothing he could say or do would cheer him up. Ron found something lying on the floor, he picked it up and saw that is was a mirror, he was about to ask James if it belonged to him. But before he could say anything, a young almost familiar looking face that did not belong to him appeared in the mirror. Ron nearly dropped the mirror with shock as he realized that it was the face of a very young Sirius Black.