Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, not me.
A/N: Here it is… the last chapter!
Chapter 13
3 months later
Harry was thoroughly enjoying himself. It was Christmas Eve and he was spending the holidays with the Weasleys. He filled up his plate with Mrs. Weasley's delicious cooking and started digging in. Beside him, Ron was already stuffing his face with food. Hermione wasn't with them as she had gone home to spend Christmas with her family.
Harry glanced up from his plate while he was chewing and looked around the table. Aside from the entire Weasley family and Harry, Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody were also present in the festivities. Harry eyed Lupin, who was chatting happily with Fred and George. Lupin hadn't mentioned anything about meeting Harry in his seventh year when he had arrived earlier. Perhaps he had forgotten? Harry resolved to ask him some questions after dinner.
Soon, the last of the pudding and Christmas cookies had been eaten. Ron challenged Bill to a game of chess and the two of them retreated into the living room. Moody, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were still talking avidly at the table. Fred and George were showing Ginny, Charlie and Percy the latest products they were going to sell in their joke shop. Harry took a step toward Lupin but Lupin had gotten to Harry first.
"Harry! I want to show you something." Lupin said, holding a book he had extracted from his coat.
Harry moved closer and realized that Lupin was holding a photo album.
"I found this yesterday while I was searching my closet for clean socks." Lupin told Harry with a smile. He opened the book and Harry looked at the pictures inside. Like all wizard photos, they were moving.
The pictures were mostly of the Marauders. The first photo was of them by the lake, waving at the camera. The Marauders in the picture were very young; they looked as though they were still in their first year. Harry turned the pages as he looked at each photo in turn. The Marauders in the pictures grew older as Harry flipped the pages. He stopped at one of the pictures. It was of his mother Lily. The Lily in the picture was reading a book in the library, looking completely absorbed at what she was doing.
"Your dad took that one." Lupin told Harry and pointed at the picture. He smiled. "You know, James was pretty much smitten with her the moment they met." He said.
"How exactly did they get together?" Harry asked offhandedly.
"Well, your mum didn't like your dad that much at first. The two of them were always at each other's throats. She thought he was an arrogant jerk, and he was, as you saw in the Pensieve years ago. By the time we were in seventh year, James still hadn't managed to ask Lily out." Lupin said, reminiscing.
"But you told me mum started going out with dad in their seventh year." Harry said, looking intently at Lupin.
"She did, after James got less… bigheaded. In fact, he wouldn't have changed at all if it hadn't been for a new student that year." Lupin answered.
Harry's eyes widened but Lupin didn't seem to notice. He just kept on talking.
"In our seventh year, there was a new student that looked a bit like your dad. Your mum got a crush on him and James, obviously, got jealous. He didn't use to have competition. It turns out that the new kid didn't fancy Lily at all, and your dad swallowed his pride and asked the bloke how he had gotten Lily to like him." Lupin said.
"What did the new student say?" Harry asked, anxious for Lupin's reply.
"Oh, he told James to deflate his head and I believe even gave him some pointers in dating, imagine that!" Lupin said smiling. "Well, anyway, James finally succeeded in asking Lily out, and the end they say, is history."
"So dad wouldn't have been able to get mum to go out with him without the new kid's help?" Harry prodded.
"Well, maybe." Lupin said thoughtfully. Then he smiled at Harry. "Didn't you ever wonder why you were named Harry?" he asked.
Harry shook his head.
"The new kid was named Harry… something. I forgot what his last name was… something with a 'G' I think. I only met him for two days before he disappeared. I was a werewolf most of the time he was at school so I don't really remember much about him." Lupin said, scratching his chin thoughtfully.
"He disappeared?" Harry asked, trying to look clueless.
"Yes, after a week. Odd, right? Dumbledore said he went back to his old school, but he didn't really mention what the school's name was." Lupin said. "James tried owling him but the owl always came back with the letter unopened. Harry was a bit mysterious really. He just vanished… never heard of him since." he ended.
Harry tried to look like he knew nothing of this, though inside he was debating whether to tell Lupin the whole story about the 'mysterious Harry' or not.
"Your father felt he owed Harry some sort of thanks for helping him get his date with Lily, and ultimately getting them together, so he convinced Lily to name you after him." Lupin continued.
Harry couldn't speak. It was because of him his parents got together in the first place? How bizarre was that? He looked at Lupin, who was smiling as he mused over the past. Maybe it would be better not to tell him that he was actually the 'mysterious Harry'.
"What did my mum want to name me if my dad hadn't convinced her?" Harry asked curious.
"Alfred, after her grandfather." Lupin said with a grin.
"Alfred?!" Harry said incredulously. "Well, I'm glad I'm named Harry then. I like it better." Harry commented wryly.
The two of them continued looking at the pictures, even as Ron gave a shout of glee from the living room when his queen smashed Bill's castle.
THE END
A/N: My story is finally finished! I'm thinking of writing another one if I have the time, so stay tuned! Meanwhile, I hope you enjoyed reading my story. Ciao!