Disclaimer: As you know already…I mean you got this far into the story…most of the characters belong to the Great J.K. Rowlings.
Summary: James Ronald Potter, Harry and Hermione's son, has come back 25 years and is in the same year as his parents. He did some supply shopping with Dumbledore and was just asked by his mother to go to a dance.
A/N: This is a longer chapter than what I have done before. So if you get bored with it I'm sorry.
Chapter 4 The Dance
When James reached Harry, Ron and Hermione she noticed him first and thought to herself, Well if Harry won't go with me to the dance maybe I can make him a little jealous. She quickly stood up and asked James, "James, would you take me to the Welcome Back dance next weekend?"
James didn't know what to say. He was about to reply when a voice behind them sneered, "Let's see who we have here. The-boy-who-lived-but-not-for-much-longer, the sixth poor child of Muggle lovers, and the know-it-all mudblood. We also have the guy with the worst memory who is barely between a squib and a wizard, though I am betting the former in that case, (indicating Neville Longbottom). And what's this a guy who is dressed up as Potter. Isn't it a little early for Halloween."
The five of them turned and faced Draco Malfoy. As usual he was being followed by Crabbe and Goyle, his loyal followers. Behind them was Pansy Parkinson, who had been following Draco and his friends around since Draco took her to the Yule Ball two years ago. James couldn't believe that this is the same guy he knew. The Draco, known to James as "Uncle Drake", was a very kind person, however his "Uncle Drake" very rarely talked about how he was in school.
Ron started to get up, when Harry grabbed his robe so Ron couldn't do anything. Harry looked at Draco and smiled and said, "You know even though Crouch was evil he did something that I liked in our fourth year. How about we see Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret again? Anyone have any objections?" Draco and his entourage quickly retreated back to the Slytherin table.
Hermione then looked around and wasn't able to find James around anywhere. James had taken the opportunity to leave when his father was threatening Draco. James was hurrying back to Dumbledore's office. What am I gonna do? I can't run to Dumbledore for every problem like this comes up. Maybe I can convince Dumbledore to allow me to talk to someone my own age here so that I don't have to go to him each time. James reached the stone gargoyle and said "Canary Creams." The gargoyle moved allowing James to climb the stairs to Dumbledore's office.
James reached the door to the office and timidly knocked. "Come in Mr. Potter." James entered, but was shocked at the fact that Dumbledore seemed to know it was him. "Uhh…Professor…how did you know it was me?"
Dumbledore produced a parchment that had a map on it. "Has your father told you about this?" James shook his head no. "Well from my understanding this is the infamous Marauder's Map. I found this in the Professor Umbridge's office after your father went to the Ministry of Magic last year. No one wiped it clean so I have had it in my possession since and this dot showed "James Potter" at my door and since I know that the first James Potter is not among the living, it had to be you. But that isn't why you came to see me. So what is it you wanted young Mr. Potter?"
James took a deep breath. He hesitantly told Dumbledore about his mother asking him out. "Sir, I was wondering if it was ok to tell someone else. Someone around my age. So that I don't have to come to you with all of the advice I need."
Dumbledore thought about this for a moment. "If you believe you can tell this person and not disrupt the timeline then I see no reason not to. However I must caution you that you cannot reveal anything to this person about their personal future. Now Mr. Potter if there are no other interruptions I would really like to get you back home."
James left Dumbledore's office and walked to his common room. When he reached the stairs his stomach growled reminding him that he had not had anything for dinner. James raced back to the Great Hall hoping dinner was not over. When he reached there he saw people still eating, however Harry, Ron, and Hermione were nowhere to be found. However James did notice his "Aunt" Ginny eating. He walked over to her and said, "Hello, I am James Harrison."
Ginny Weasley, the youngest child and only daughter of the Weasley family, looked up at the boy in front of her. At first she thought that it was Harry Potter, but she looked closer and noticed that he had no scar and that his eyes were brown. "Hello, I am Ginny Weasley."
James looked at her and decided that yes she was the one to help. "Ginny, I am about to tell you something. You may not believe me at first, but you can ask Professor Dumbledore and he will verify everything that I tell you. My name is not James Harrison. My real name is James Ronald Potter. I am the son of Harry and Hermione Potter. I am the godson of Ronald Weasley. I was magically transported 25 years into the past. I need your help. I have been here one day and my parents are mad at each other and to top it off my mother asked me to the Welcome Back Dance."
Ginny looked at James with bewilderment on her face. Then she started to laugh. "Boy who put you up to this? Was it George or Fred? No, this isn't their style. I know it was Ron right?"
James looked crushed. He thought if anyone believed him it would be Ginny. James left the Great Hall and headed to the common room again. When he walked in he noticed Harry and Hermione standing there in a full blown argument.
"Hermione, I can't believe you asked him to the dance. I mean you just meet him and you already want to date him? What is wrong with you?"
"If you don't like it you should have asked me. But then again the Famous Harry Potter can't be caught with a common Muggle born witch. So go with that girl, for all I care."
James left through the portal before he was noticed. On his way down stairs he ran into Ginny. Ginny pulled him into a hug and started crying on his shoulder. James was taken back by this considering her reaction to what he said.
Ginny said through tears, "I am sorry I didn't believe you James. I just talked to Dumbledore and he did verify everything you told me. And to think I was mean to you."
James looked down at Ginny, "It's ok. As long as you believe me now. Now can you please help me?"
Ginny nodded. "I will go and talk to Hermione first. What she did isn't in her nature and I want to find out why she did it. Then we can figure out a way to get Harry and Hermione together. But can I ask you a question? Why did you decide to tell me?"
James looked as his feet as he answered. "I told you because I know that you liked my dad, but I also know that you got over your crush during your third year. You told me that in the future, when I asked why did you marry…never mind I am not allowed to tell you."
Ginny seemed to accept this answer. She and James hurried into the common room to find it empty. Ginny looked at James and commanded, "Stay here while I go talk to Hermione. You better do as I say or I will make sure that your parents punish you for not listening to me sometime in the future." She had a smile on her face as she said this.
Ginny rushed into Hermione's room and saw her crying on her bed. Ginny walked over to her and said almost timidly, "Hermione, can we talk?"
Hermione looked up and saw Ginny and nodded her head.
"Hermione I know you asked James Harrison to the Welcome Back dance. I was wondering why you did this. This isn't like you. Normally you are very shy around boys."
Hermione looked at Ginny and said rather quietly, "Please don't be mad at me. I know you like Harry, however I think I am in love with him. As for James I asked him because I was trying to make Harry jealous. I was upset with him when he told me about the other girl."
Ginny then did something Hermione didn't expect, she smiled. "Of course I am not mad at you. My feelings for Harry were just a crush. When I look at you two I see the love you each have for the other, but are too stubborn to admit. I think we will be able to convince James to help you make Harry jealous. Come with me." Ginny then lead Hermione to the common room where they found James sitting in front of the fire.
Hermione spoke up first. "James, I want you to know I only asked you to the dance to make Harry jealous. I understand if you don't want to go with me."
James looked at his mother and replied, "I will go with you, but only as friends. I think that you and Harry belong together. So I don't see anything wrong with trying to make him jealous."
Meanwhile, Harry and Ron were in the boys dormitory discussing the argument. Harry turned to Ron and said, "I don't understand Hermione. If she had given me the chance I would have told her that I didn't agree to go with that girl. In fact the only girl I want to go with is Hermione, but it looks like James is already taking her."
Ron then said, "Well go alone. Maybe James said no, I mean he didn't answer her at dinner. And if you're alone and she's alone then maybe you'll be alone together."
"Ron you are a genius sometimes. By the way who are you taking?"
"Oh I decided to take Luna. She agreed rather quickly."
The rest of the week past rather uneventfully. The only difference was that whenever a teacher asked a question, not only did Hermione know the answer, but so did James. Some people thought that James was well on his way to becoming top student instead of Hermione.
Soon it was time for the dance. Harry, dressed in his green robes that Mrs. Weasley bought for him the previous year, went down alone since he didn't have a date. He waited in the Great Hall for Hermione. When she entered with James, Harry almost left the dance, but decided to stay for a little bit. Harry could not take his eyes off of Hermione. She was dressed in a forget-me-not blue robe and her hair was tied up in a bun. She had on very little make-up but just enough to accent her natural features. James was wearing a navy blue robe that Dumbledore purchased for him earlier in the week.
When James noticed that Harry was all alone he excused himself from Hermione and went over and talked to Harry. "Harry, where is your date?"
Harry replied almost icily, "I don't have a date. I decided to come alone, Harrison."
James was a little shocked. Harry had called him by his surname. Harry usually only reserved that for people he hated. James looked at Harry and understood. Hermione's plan to make Harry jealous worked. "Harry go outside for a little bit. I need to talk to you…alone." James tried to sound threatening, but he felt it didn't work.
Harry left and James immediately went over to Hermione. "Hermione, go outside for a little bit. I need to talk to you alone."
Hermione went without question. For some reason she trusted James. When she got outside she saw Harry. "Harry? What are you doing out here?"
"I am waiting for Harrison, he said he needed to talk to me alone."
Hermione was shocked that Harry used James's surname. A few seconds later James walked out. "Good now that I have both of you here, I have something to say. I may have only been here for a week, but I know you both care for each other. Now you two will stay out here until you have decided to make up."
Harry was shocked at this. If anything it seemed as though James wanted Hermione to be here with him. "What is his game? I thought he like you, but seems to be trying to get us together."
At this Hermione spoke up, "Harry who is your date tonight?"
"No one." Hermione was shocked at this. "I tried to tell you that when that girl asked me I said no because I was planning on asking you. But then you went and asked James and I thought you wouldn't want to go with me."
"Harry, I only asked James to come in hopes of making you jealous. He agreed to come only as friends, because he felt we belonged together."
Harry turned to her with a surprised look on his face. He was standing barely centimeters from her and then with all the courage he had he leaned down and kissed her. They stood kissing for what seemed like an eternity. Though they didn't notice, inside they had an audience. Ginny, Ron, Luna Lovegood, Neville, Lavender Brown, who was Neville's date, and of course James. James thought to himself, That went better than I thought. Maybe now that they are together I can finally concentrate on getting home. One thing he didn't notice was a figure in the dark also watching Harry and Hermione.
A/N Dun Dun Dun…So who's the mysterious stranger. Should I tell you now? No I don't think so. You'll find out eventually.
Thanks to my beta readers. I owe you all. So here are some roses. ----------------------------
