Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, not me.
Chapter 8
Harry felt as though his insides were shriveling up. He was all too aware of what it must seem like they were doing.
"It's not what it looks like." Harry exclaimed hurriedly, bracing himself for whatever jinx his dad might throw at him. But to his complete surprise, James did nothing. He simply turned on his heel and headed straight for the boys' dormitories. He was breathing heavily, as though what he was doing took every amount of will power he had. Sirius and Peter, still staring, followed suit.
Lily looked ashamed of herself.
"I'm so sorry Harry. I didn't mean to…" she said, her face completely red. "I'd better get to bed." She whispered hurriedly then ran off to her dormitory.
Harry was again alone in the common room, but now his face was burning and he was still recovering from the shock of what had just happened. His mother had tried to kiss him. His own mother! Feeling faint again, Harry staggered to his feet and headed for the dormitory, hoping that James would still listen to what he had to say.
Harry reached the door to the seventh year dorm and turned the knob. It wouldn't open. Harry pulled out his wand and muttered Alohomora! Still nothing. His father had locked him out of the dormitory. Feeling annoyed, Harry aimed his wand at the stone wall beside the door and yelled two spells simultaneously: Reducto! then Silencio! A great big hole was blasted in the wall but no sound came from it. Harry stepped through into the room. James, Sirius, and Peter were staring in surprise at what he just did, all three of them getting ready for bed. Harry pointed his wand at the wall again, then muttered Reparo. The wall repaired itself.
"Look, what you saw down there. It's not what you think." He said to James.
James continued buttoning his pajama top and acted as though Harry weren't there. Harry continued.
"She just came down to get some homework she forgot." Harry said.
James snorted in disbelief. "Do you expect me to believe that she went down to the common room to pick up some homework, sat down on the chair beside you and somehow, ended up in your arms?" he said sarcastically.
"Actually, yes, that's how it happened." Harry answered, somewhat sheepishly.
"And here I was, thinking that you were trying to help me make good with Lily when you actually fancied her yourself!" James said, a little more loudly.
"I don't fancy her!" Harry said exasperatedly. "How many times do I have to say that?!" Harry's own voice started rising as well.
"Tonight proved otherwise." James retorted, getting into bed.
"She just came at me! I'm sure she'll start liking you instead once she gets to know you better." Harry said, walking over to James's four-poster and grabbing the hangings James was about to close.
"Right. She hates me, Granger. Now why don't you leave me alone. You already got the girl." James said bitterly, yanking the hangings from Harry's grip and pulling it closed.
"She doesn't hate you." Harry said, opening the hangings again. James glared at him.
"Oh yeah? What makes you say that?" James said angrily.
"She noticed how you changed your attitude. And she's still willing to go out with you on that date in Hogsmeade." Harry said.
"I'm breaking that date, Granger. I can't go out with a girl who's drooling over you." James said, reaching for his hangings again.
"I think she likes you more than she lets on, James." Harry said, holding the hangings out of James's reach. "We look so much like each other. The only thing different about us was the way we acted. She probably just thought of me as a substitute to you."
James didn't say anything but he gave Harry a look that the latter couldn't read. He then reached for the hangings in Harry's hand and tugged them closed. Obviously, the conversation was over.
Harry walked over to his own four-poster and started getting ready for bed, smiling slightly. Hermione would have been proud at the revelation he'd made. Not that it had made much sense to him when he said it, but he was desperate to get back on good terms with his dad again. Harry gave himself a mental pat on the back for thinking up an explanation to why Lily liked him. Who knows, maybe he guessed her emotions right.
Harry put on his pajamas and got into bed, pulling the covers up to his chin. He had been so preoccupied with the prospect of never returning to his own time that he completely forgot that tonight was a full moon. Harry felt a pang of disappointment. He would have loved seeing the Marauders in action. Their dormitory had a view of the Whomping Willow; perhaps tomorrow night, if he was lucky, he might be able to get a glimpse of his dad transforming into a stag. Harry turned on his side. He wondered what Remus was doing at the moment. Probably wrecking more furniture in the Shrieking Shack, Harry thought. He suddenly felt a wave of pity for Remus and what he must be going through. Back in his time, he had never really given any thought to what it must feel like to be a werewolf. How painful it must be, not only physically, but emotionally. Harry now understood what loyal friends his father and Sirius must be. Remus was very lucky to have friends like them; just as Harry was very lucky to have friends like Ron and Hermione. Suddenly feeling very tired, Harry closed his eyes and in moments, was fast asleep.
A/N: Hope you all like this chapter! To Itty bitty evil kitty of doom, thanks for the translation. To Coolio Snick, you're too kind!