Title: Time And Time Again
Author name: Moonstarlet
Author email: sailorcomet18@yahoo.com
Category: Humor, Romance, History
Keywords: Harry, Lily, James
Spoilers: PS/SS, COS, POA, GOF
Rating: 5 stars... I mean... PG
Summary: Voldemort plans to go back in time to kill James and Lily before Harry is ever born. Can Harry save his mom and dad? What happens when the mom *likes* the son? Plus, the Marauders at 15...oh lordy!
Disclaimer: I'll say it again... I own nothing and it sucks. Warner Bros. and JK. Rowling own Harry Potter, all characters, settings and spells used in this story unless otherwise noted.
A/N: I would like to take some time to thank JKR for enriching the lives of many around the world and to say, "all hail the Queen, all hail JKR!!"
**************************************************************************** *
1975, Fall
Lily looked right, left, then right again, before she crossed the busy street. It was the first Hogsmeade visit of the school year and Lily was Christmas shopping already. She was just looking for James' gift, although. In recent years, Lily had found that finding a present for him had become steadily harder. In 1st and 2nd Years, she'd simply gotten him something about Quidditch. But in both 3rd and 4th Years, Lily had spent so much time searching for a gift for James that she ended up buying him something at the last minute.
*Funny, though,* Lily thought, *I wonder why I don't have this problem with any of my other friends?*
She stopped at the usual places you'd look for a gift for a 15-year- old boy: Honeydukes and Zonko's. But nothing seemed to fit. James had so many admirable qualities that she wanted to get something that would match his personality perfectly.
Pausing halfway down the *Quidditch and Related Subjects* aisle in a bookstore, Lily picked up "Marauding with the Magpies" about James' favorite team, the Montrose Magpies.
She thumbed through the pages, skimming the lines and trying to remember if James had ever mentioned the book when something attracted her attention. She turned her head, looking up from the book, and there was James.
*But, no, he can't be James.* Lily thought. *He looks so... vulnerable.*
The boy could have been James' double, except for that haunting look in his green eyes. And he was staring at her, but when he realized that Lily was staring back, he blushed, turned away and walked outside, quickly blending into the throng.
"James?" Lily asked a few moments after the boy left. "Was that you?"
"Who're you talking to, pretty lady?" A familiar voice came from behind her.
"Sirius! Hello!" Before Lily stood Sirius, but, strangely enough, he was alone.
"Why are you all alone? Where's Peter, Remus and James?"
"Detention, hospital wing and none of your business." He glibly answered.
Lily was immediately suspicious. "What are you boys planning?"
Sirius grinned evilly and twirled an imaginary mustache around his finger.
"Really, " she sighed, "James is a prefect now and if he gets caught breaking any rules, it could ruin his chances to be Head Boy."
"Relax, Lily, He's just Christmas shopping for you..., but I'm not supposed to tell you that." Sirius grinned again.
Lily and Sirius spent the rest of the day wandering in and out ofstores, perusing the shelves and buying things. At least, Lily bought things, Sirius just made dirty comments about everything. (She hadn't known you could do *that* with a Sugar Quill.)
Lily had forgotten all about the strange boy in the bookstore, until later that night in the girls' dormitory.
*He wasn't James* she thought *but he sure looked like him.*
Lily turned over in her bed, then fluffed her pillows a bit.
*It was probably just a coincidence.... Just some guy with a passing resemblance to James.... the light was dim in that store.... (she yawned)... couldn't hardly see his face.... just... (she yawned again).... coincidence...*
Lily closed her eyes and fell asleep.
**************************************************************************** *
1995, Fall
Sometimes, Harry was amazed at how easily he felt at home at Hogwarts. At Privet Drive, during the summers since his 1st Year, for weeks he'd often wake up in the mornings, wondering if he'd finished charting the Southern sky for Astronomy, before he remembered that he didn't have Astronomy classes during the summer. But at Hogwarts, he never remembered that he'd forgotten to take out the trash, only to then remember that he *didn't* have to take out the trash.
The weeks since the Welcoming Feast blurred together, until finally October arrived. The first Quidditch match of the season (Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff) had come and gone (Ravenclaw won). With Oliver Wood gone, the keeper position was open and Ron won it with almost no competition. Harry had to admit that he was surprised at how good Ron was-they'd played together at the Burrow plenty of times, but Ron usually spent most of those games cracking jokes about everybody being *up* and having something long and hard between their legs.
Angelina Johnson had been made captain and, personally, Harry thought that there was no one better for the job. While she wasn't as.... energetic.... about practice as Oliver had been, she did work the team hard. Even Fred and George were afraid to joke off during practices- although, that may have been because Fred and Angelina were dating and she had him on a *very* short leash.
Quidditch practice had ended a little while ago. While Harry had been anxious to get to the kitchens for something to eat, Ron wanted to spend some time working on the Starfish and Stick ploy.
As Harry walked through the courtyard, thinking about how many times Ron would fall off his broom before deciding to come in, he noticed a movement in the corner of his eye. Just a brief flash of..... something. He checked to see if anyone was watching, then quietly moved into the shadows, squinting his eyes in the direction that he'd notice the.... something... in.
Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the dim light, and Harry realized that he was watching someone trying to sneak into Hogwarts. The person was wearing a long black cloak and was moving very slowly, as if to make any noise coming from them seem to be part of the normal night sounds.
Was it Voldemort? Harry immediately thought. But, no, it couldn't be, because Professor Dumbledore had said that the wards around the school kept him out.
Maybe it's Sirius! was Harry's next conclusion. But, no, Sirius had promised Harry that he'd stay away from Hogwarts until he was acquitted and freed.
Then, Harry noticed a second figure. This person was dressed head to toe in black as well. *They must be meeting.*
*Oh no!* He thought, *that means there's a spy in Hogwarts!*
He was tempted to run into the castle and find a teacher, to tell them what was going on. But what if they didn't believe him? What if he couldn't find anyone? The spy would get away.
So Harry stealthily moved closer to the two people, keeping them in his sights.
The clouds overhead cleared and the second man's face appeared. It was Dumbledore!
But that doesn't make any sense, Harry said to himself. Dumbledore can't be the spy.
Harry was now close enough that he could hear what they were saying.
"Do you think that he suspects you?" Dumbledore was asking.
"No. The story I gave him was believable enough. But that is not why I asked to speak with you." The first man's voice was silky smooth but cold as ice. Harry recognized it immediately: Snape!
So that's what Professor Dumbledore meant at the end of the last term. "Severus, you know what you must do.....If you are prepared..."
Snape had been spying on Voldemort for Dumbledore.
"The Dark Lord has plans," Snape said. "He wants to... he intends to..." Snape hesitated, as if he knew what he would say next wouldn't go over well with the headmaster. "He plans to kill James and Lily Potter."
*What?* Harry thought. *My parents are already dead.*
Apparently, Professor Dumbledore had the same thoughts because he asked Snape to clarify what he meant.
"The... Dark Lord... plans to kill James and Lily before they would have attended Hogwarts. He's researched numerous methods of time-travel, and...."
*"And" what?* Harry thought to himself.
"'And' what?" Albus Dumbledore asked Severus.
Professor Snape grimaced, as if the words he was going to say tasted bitter. "And... I believe he may succeed."
Harry jumped a few feet in the air at this. *What?*
When Harry's feet hit the ground, they barely made any noise, but Professor Dumbledore's head whipped around almost instantly.
"Did you hear that?"
"What, sir?"
Dumbledore stared intently at a spot only a few feet from where Harry was standing. Finally, he gave up and said "Must be my imagination. Nonetheless, perhaps it would be wise if we moved to a more secure location."
He then turned and walked out of the courtyard, toward the greenhouses, with Severus Snape quietly following.
Harry waited a few minutes to be sure that they were gone, then he headed into the castle. *I hope Ron finished practicing, I need to talk to him and Hermione.*
****************
Unfortunately, Ron hadn't finished his practice by the time Harry got to the Common Room. Harry didn't want to explain what he had overheard twice, so he waited for Ron with Hermione.
"Will you kindly, please stop fidgeting, Harry? It's driving me insane." Hermione asked for the 3rd time.
Before Harry could mumble an apology, the back of the Fat Lady's portrait swung open and Ron walked into the Common Room. He had dirt on his face and hands, but was smiling broadly.
"I did it!" he said, making his way over to Harry and Hermione, then sitting on a sofa across from Hermione. "Finally got it right!"
His eyes landed on Harry and suddenly the grin fell and was replaced by a look of concern. "Harry, what happened?"
Quickly, Harry told Ron and Hermione what he had heard Professor Dumbledore and Snape discussing. Hermione gasped quietly, then began chewing her lip, concentrating.
"So, what are we going to do?" Ron asked no one in particular. "I mean, we can't just let him off your parents." Ron's eyebrows furrowed momentarily, then he said, "Again."
Harry nodded. He should have known Ron and Hermione would want to help.
"Maybe we can use a Time Turner.... but, no, we'd have to find one because 'Mione doesn't have one anymore."
Hermione shook her head as he spoke. "We'd never be able to get one. Professor McGonagall told me it takes months to fill out all the application forms. She'd been working the whole summer before 3rd year for me."
"Well, we can't wait months." Harry said, "maybe there's a potion or a charm or something..."
"Well, " Ron replied, "I guess it's back to the Library, then. I'd been hoping I could stay away from that place this year, but, oh, well."
**************************************************************************** *
A/N Part 2: I keep forgetting about Cho. I've never really liked her much anyway, though. Everybody just pretend that somewhere in this chapter, Harry had a talk with Cho and she absolved him of all guilt. Okay? Thanx. Don't forget to review, sincerely...me...
Author name: Moonstarlet
Author email: sailorcomet18@yahoo.com
Category: Humor, Romance, History
Keywords: Harry, Lily, James
Spoilers: PS/SS, COS, POA, GOF
Rating: 5 stars... I mean... PG
Summary: Voldemort plans to go back in time to kill James and Lily before Harry is ever born. Can Harry save his mom and dad? What happens when the mom *likes* the son? Plus, the Marauders at 15...oh lordy!
Disclaimer: I'll say it again... I own nothing and it sucks. Warner Bros. and JK. Rowling own Harry Potter, all characters, settings and spells used in this story unless otherwise noted.
A/N: I would like to take some time to thank JKR for enriching the lives of many around the world and to say, "all hail the Queen, all hail JKR!!"
**************************************************************************** *
1975, Fall
Lily looked right, left, then right again, before she crossed the busy street. It was the first Hogsmeade visit of the school year and Lily was Christmas shopping already. She was just looking for James' gift, although. In recent years, Lily had found that finding a present for him had become steadily harder. In 1st and 2nd Years, she'd simply gotten him something about Quidditch. But in both 3rd and 4th Years, Lily had spent so much time searching for a gift for James that she ended up buying him something at the last minute.
*Funny, though,* Lily thought, *I wonder why I don't have this problem with any of my other friends?*
She stopped at the usual places you'd look for a gift for a 15-year- old boy: Honeydukes and Zonko's. But nothing seemed to fit. James had so many admirable qualities that she wanted to get something that would match his personality perfectly.
Pausing halfway down the *Quidditch and Related Subjects* aisle in a bookstore, Lily picked up "Marauding with the Magpies" about James' favorite team, the Montrose Magpies.
She thumbed through the pages, skimming the lines and trying to remember if James had ever mentioned the book when something attracted her attention. She turned her head, looking up from the book, and there was James.
*But, no, he can't be James.* Lily thought. *He looks so... vulnerable.*
The boy could have been James' double, except for that haunting look in his green eyes. And he was staring at her, but when he realized that Lily was staring back, he blushed, turned away and walked outside, quickly blending into the throng.
"James?" Lily asked a few moments after the boy left. "Was that you?"
"Who're you talking to, pretty lady?" A familiar voice came from behind her.
"Sirius! Hello!" Before Lily stood Sirius, but, strangely enough, he was alone.
"Why are you all alone? Where's Peter, Remus and James?"
"Detention, hospital wing and none of your business." He glibly answered.
Lily was immediately suspicious. "What are you boys planning?"
Sirius grinned evilly and twirled an imaginary mustache around his finger.
"Really, " she sighed, "James is a prefect now and if he gets caught breaking any rules, it could ruin his chances to be Head Boy."
"Relax, Lily, He's just Christmas shopping for you..., but I'm not supposed to tell you that." Sirius grinned again.
Lily and Sirius spent the rest of the day wandering in and out ofstores, perusing the shelves and buying things. At least, Lily bought things, Sirius just made dirty comments about everything. (She hadn't known you could do *that* with a Sugar Quill.)
Lily had forgotten all about the strange boy in the bookstore, until later that night in the girls' dormitory.
*He wasn't James* she thought *but he sure looked like him.*
Lily turned over in her bed, then fluffed her pillows a bit.
*It was probably just a coincidence.... Just some guy with a passing resemblance to James.... the light was dim in that store.... (she yawned)... couldn't hardly see his face.... just... (she yawned again).... coincidence...*
Lily closed her eyes and fell asleep.
**************************************************************************** *
1995, Fall
Sometimes, Harry was amazed at how easily he felt at home at Hogwarts. At Privet Drive, during the summers since his 1st Year, for weeks he'd often wake up in the mornings, wondering if he'd finished charting the Southern sky for Astronomy, before he remembered that he didn't have Astronomy classes during the summer. But at Hogwarts, he never remembered that he'd forgotten to take out the trash, only to then remember that he *didn't* have to take out the trash.
The weeks since the Welcoming Feast blurred together, until finally October arrived. The first Quidditch match of the season (Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff) had come and gone (Ravenclaw won). With Oliver Wood gone, the keeper position was open and Ron won it with almost no competition. Harry had to admit that he was surprised at how good Ron was-they'd played together at the Burrow plenty of times, but Ron usually spent most of those games cracking jokes about everybody being *up* and having something long and hard between their legs.
Angelina Johnson had been made captain and, personally, Harry thought that there was no one better for the job. While she wasn't as.... energetic.... about practice as Oliver had been, she did work the team hard. Even Fred and George were afraid to joke off during practices- although, that may have been because Fred and Angelina were dating and she had him on a *very* short leash.
Quidditch practice had ended a little while ago. While Harry had been anxious to get to the kitchens for something to eat, Ron wanted to spend some time working on the Starfish and Stick ploy.
As Harry walked through the courtyard, thinking about how many times Ron would fall off his broom before deciding to come in, he noticed a movement in the corner of his eye. Just a brief flash of..... something. He checked to see if anyone was watching, then quietly moved into the shadows, squinting his eyes in the direction that he'd notice the.... something... in.
Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the dim light, and Harry realized that he was watching someone trying to sneak into Hogwarts. The person was wearing a long black cloak and was moving very slowly, as if to make any noise coming from them seem to be part of the normal night sounds.
Was it Voldemort? Harry immediately thought. But, no, it couldn't be, because Professor Dumbledore had said that the wards around the school kept him out.
Maybe it's Sirius! was Harry's next conclusion. But, no, Sirius had promised Harry that he'd stay away from Hogwarts until he was acquitted and freed.
Then, Harry noticed a second figure. This person was dressed head to toe in black as well. *They must be meeting.*
*Oh no!* He thought, *that means there's a spy in Hogwarts!*
He was tempted to run into the castle and find a teacher, to tell them what was going on. But what if they didn't believe him? What if he couldn't find anyone? The spy would get away.
So Harry stealthily moved closer to the two people, keeping them in his sights.
The clouds overhead cleared and the second man's face appeared. It was Dumbledore!
But that doesn't make any sense, Harry said to himself. Dumbledore can't be the spy.
Harry was now close enough that he could hear what they were saying.
"Do you think that he suspects you?" Dumbledore was asking.
"No. The story I gave him was believable enough. But that is not why I asked to speak with you." The first man's voice was silky smooth but cold as ice. Harry recognized it immediately: Snape!
So that's what Professor Dumbledore meant at the end of the last term. "Severus, you know what you must do.....If you are prepared..."
Snape had been spying on Voldemort for Dumbledore.
"The Dark Lord has plans," Snape said. "He wants to... he intends to..." Snape hesitated, as if he knew what he would say next wouldn't go over well with the headmaster. "He plans to kill James and Lily Potter."
*What?* Harry thought. *My parents are already dead.*
Apparently, Professor Dumbledore had the same thoughts because he asked Snape to clarify what he meant.
"The... Dark Lord... plans to kill James and Lily before they would have attended Hogwarts. He's researched numerous methods of time-travel, and...."
*"And" what?* Harry thought to himself.
"'And' what?" Albus Dumbledore asked Severus.
Professor Snape grimaced, as if the words he was going to say tasted bitter. "And... I believe he may succeed."
Harry jumped a few feet in the air at this. *What?*
When Harry's feet hit the ground, they barely made any noise, but Professor Dumbledore's head whipped around almost instantly.
"Did you hear that?"
"What, sir?"
Dumbledore stared intently at a spot only a few feet from where Harry was standing. Finally, he gave up and said "Must be my imagination. Nonetheless, perhaps it would be wise if we moved to a more secure location."
He then turned and walked out of the courtyard, toward the greenhouses, with Severus Snape quietly following.
Harry waited a few minutes to be sure that they were gone, then he headed into the castle. *I hope Ron finished practicing, I need to talk to him and Hermione.*
****************
Unfortunately, Ron hadn't finished his practice by the time Harry got to the Common Room. Harry didn't want to explain what he had overheard twice, so he waited for Ron with Hermione.
"Will you kindly, please stop fidgeting, Harry? It's driving me insane." Hermione asked for the 3rd time.
Before Harry could mumble an apology, the back of the Fat Lady's portrait swung open and Ron walked into the Common Room. He had dirt on his face and hands, but was smiling broadly.
"I did it!" he said, making his way over to Harry and Hermione, then sitting on a sofa across from Hermione. "Finally got it right!"
His eyes landed on Harry and suddenly the grin fell and was replaced by a look of concern. "Harry, what happened?"
Quickly, Harry told Ron and Hermione what he had heard Professor Dumbledore and Snape discussing. Hermione gasped quietly, then began chewing her lip, concentrating.
"So, what are we going to do?" Ron asked no one in particular. "I mean, we can't just let him off your parents." Ron's eyebrows furrowed momentarily, then he said, "Again."
Harry nodded. He should have known Ron and Hermione would want to help.
"Maybe we can use a Time Turner.... but, no, we'd have to find one because 'Mione doesn't have one anymore."
Hermione shook her head as he spoke. "We'd never be able to get one. Professor McGonagall told me it takes months to fill out all the application forms. She'd been working the whole summer before 3rd year for me."
"Well, we can't wait months." Harry said, "maybe there's a potion or a charm or something..."
"Well, " Ron replied, "I guess it's back to the Library, then. I'd been hoping I could stay away from that place this year, but, oh, well."
**************************************************************************** *
A/N Part 2: I keep forgetting about Cho. I've never really liked her much anyway, though. Everybody just pretend that somewhere in this chapter, Harry had a talk with Cho and she absolved him of all guilt. Okay? Thanx. Don't forget to review, sincerely...me...
