Title: Time And Time Again
Author name: Moonstarlet
Author email: sailorcomet18yahoo.com
Category: Humor, History, Romance
Keywords: Harry, Lily, James
Spoilers: PS/SS, COS, POA, GOF
Rating: Is So Good That The WB Canceled It

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:
Harry Potter, Hogwarts and all related characters, settings, spells, etc. are the property of JKR, WB, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, etc. I am making no money from this and intend no copyright infringement.

A/N: It's 2 in the morning and I'm kind of sleepy, so I can't really think of anything to say. Sorry, no witty comment this week. :yawn:

................................................................................................................................................

The First Day of Spring Semester, 1976

Dumbledore had just decided to make a pot of tea when what seemed like a tornado swept through his room, sending papers flying and scaring Fawkes so much that the poor bird flew up to the rafters and refused to come down for three days. The portraits were making cries of distress and fleeing their pictures. Dumbledore, however, paid no attention to any of this because in the center of the whirlwind he could see two people.

"Ah, there you are. We've been looking for you." Dumbledore said, once the wind had died down. Standing on the opposite side of his desk was James Potter, who had been missing for the last half hour. "I'm delighted that I can now tell Minerva that you weren't kidnapped by Death Eaters. She was beside herself with worry. Why, I think a strand of hair may have fallen out of her bun, she was so upset."

Beside James was a boy who could have been James's twin, except for his bright green eyes and a jagged scar on the center of his forehead.

"And who, young man, might you be?"

The boy looked at James, who shrugged, then answered. "My name's Harry Potter, sir."

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose and inch. "You'll have to explain this to me, James. I'm afraid my old mind is not what it used to be, but I understood that you have no living relatives."

James nodded, not the least bit chagrined. "Technically, I don't, sir. Harry, here, he's my son."

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose another half inch. "I see."

Harry poked James's side. "Give him the letter, you prat," he whispered.

"Oh, right." James pulled the letter out of his sleeve with a flourish, handed it over to Dumbledore then sat down in one of the chairs opposite Dumbledore's desk and began to tie his shoes.

As Dumbledore read the letter, his eyebrows continued to rise, until they completely disappeared into his hairline. Finally, he laid the letter on his desk and looked up. He motioned to Harry. "Please, Harry. Have a seat."

Harry, who had continued to stand and looked uncomfortable, promptly sat down.

"From what I tell myself, you seem to be an interesting young man, Harry."

Harry didn't know what to say to this.

"Well, Harry. You'll be staying with us for a while. So we must develop a--what do the call it? oh, yes—a cover story."

"And find somewhere for me to live."

Dumbledore smiled. "Oh, that's the easy part. You'll be staying in Gryffindor Tower. You were, are and will be a Gryffindor, so while you are with us, you will be living and studying with your fellow Gryffindors."

James sat up. "You mean he has to go to classes?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"Oh, Harry, bad luck for you. I thought you'd at least be able to get out of going to class."

Harry shrugged. He hadn't really thought about whether or not he'd be attending classes while in the past. To be honest, he was a little excited about going to school with Sirius and Remus and his father.

Dumbledore had his chin in his palm and was staring off into space. "I suppose we'll have to inform everyone that you have a long-lost cousin, James. It's not the best story in the world, but it will have to do."

Clapping his hands, James stood up. "I agree, sir. Well, if that's all there is, I think Harry and I should be going. Good day, Headmaster." James had his hand on the doorknob when Dumbledore spoke.

"James, your ability at sleight of hand is remarkable."

James paused. Harry' eyes passed back and forth between Dumbledore and James, not knowing what Dumbledore was talking about.

"James," Dumbledore continued, once he realized that James wasn't going to answer. "You will have to give me the badge."

James's eyes looked everywhere but at Dumbledore. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean, sir."

"James." Dumbledore held out a hand towards James. "I know that you've been through a lot recently, but, nonetheless, I cannot allow you to retain you prefect-ship after your actions this morning. Please give me the badge."

James's face fell, and his shoulders slumped. He dug into his pocket and pulled out his hand. Crumpled in his fist was the prefect badge, James dropped it on Professor Dumbledore's desk. "Now can we go, sir?" he asked desolately.

Dumbledore nodded, his eyes solemn.

Walking down the hall, Harry practically had to run to keep up with his father's longer, rapid strides.

"What was all that about?"

James ran a hand through his hair. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Maybe I can help?"

James snorted. "Yeah, right. Not unless you can travel back through... nevermind. You can't help. It's my fault and I'm an idiot and I deserve this and Dumbledore's right. This is right." James looked like he wanted to cry.

Harry jogged a few steps until he was even with James, then clapped a hand on James's back. "So you're not a prefect anymore. Big deal. Who wants all that extra work, anyway?"

James looked at Harry like he was an idiot. "That's exactly what Sirius would say."

"So, what's the problem?"

Sighing loudly, James shrugged his shoulders. "I like... liked... being a prefect. I like... liked... showing the first years the common room and the fat lady for the first time. I like that the professors told me... us... stuff they wouldn't tell the other students. I liked knowing that people admired me and the teachers trusted me and that I deserved to be admired and trusted. I liked feeling important. I know it was stupid and I know it was dorky, but I liked it."

James looked at Harry, silently daring Harry to mock him, hoping for a reason to hit something. Harry took a step back.

"I.. I.. It's not... stupid. I guess." Harry looked at the ground. "I mean, I don't... I... Yeah... Sometimes..."

"Sometimes what?" James demanded.

Harry's shoulders slumped. "I don't really want to get into the "let's discuss our feelings" thing. Sometimes I feel important--'cause of the Voldemort thing--and I don't like it at all. But, well, I guess we're just different that way. So, if you want, maybe we can figure out how to get you in Dumbledore's good graces again."

James looked at Harry, the hint of a smile on his lips. "You have something in mind?"

Harry shook his head, "Not a clue."

James shrugged, throwing his arm around Harry, "Doesn't matter. That's what I keep Sirius around for. He'll think of something."

Together they walked down the corridor, towards Gryffindor Tower.

................................................................................................................................................

A/N2: I honestly don't know what's wrong with me. I sit down, planning to write a Constitution-sized chapter and out pops the Declaration of Independence. :sigh: The trials of writing without an outline, I suppose. To everybody who waited patiently for a long chapter and got this instead, feel free to flame, throw rotten tomatoes, whatever makes you comfortable. I totally and completely deserve it. :sigh: