THANK YOU TO MOONY: THE MISTAKE YOU POINTED OUT HAS BEEN DULLY NOTED AND CORRECTED.
"James Potter is sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room at this moment?" said Dumbledore calmly, trying to understand the frantic trio. "And please," he added hurriedly, holding up one of his hands. "One at a time."
Ron spoke. "Well, you see… we were sitting by the fire and Hermione was helping us with our homework… and when I say helping, I actually mean helping, as in like, telling you which bloody page the bloody answer's on—"
Harry cut him off. "He fell from the roof right after we came in after dinner. He has no idea where he is, when he is or how he got here."
"Curious…" said Dumbledore, putting the tips of his fingers together and looking distant as only he could. He smiled happily, a gleam in his eyes beneath his half moon spectacles.
"What?" said Harry.
"I don't know how he got here."
"How does that make you smile!" screamed Harry. Ron and Hermione both looked taken aback, but Dumbledore just kept smiling.
"I've always wanted to find something explainable that I couldn't explain." He looked over his glasses at Harry. "It may sound conceited, but it's a heavy weight to know everything." His smile grew. "Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, Ms Granger, I assure you I will do all in my power to find out what brought Mr Potter Senior upon us. But there are still more pressing matters and they will continue to be my main source of focus. However, until we can find a reason and solution for these recently occurring events, I suggest you make him feel as welcome as possible." Dumbledore nodded a dismissal at the three, and Ron and Harry turned to go, but Hermione stayed put.
"Professor," she said, catching the boys' attention.
"Yes?"
"Will he attend classes?"
"I indeed believe he will not find the need."
"But, Professor?"
"Yes, Ms Granger."
"What can we tell him?"
Dumbledore frowned slightly. "The truth, I think, ought to do the trick." He winked.
"I'm… you're father, but you haven't been… made yet in… my time, right?"
Harry nodded.
James looked a little pale. "But… if you're still here, then that means that I have to get sent back, right? 'Cause or else, you wouldn't exist."
Harry thought for a second.
"Yeah, that sounds right."
James paused, then smiled widely. "This is awesome!" he shouted.
"What?"
"Come on! I get to meet myself when I'm older! I mean, how many people get to meet themselves when they're older?" he said, with a smile Harry knew oh-so well.
"Actually," said Harry, "you're not really allowed to meet yourself in the future."
"But if this was my current self's past, I already know both ways that there's two of me at this time, right?"
After deciphering James' logic, Harry found this hard to argue against. "Wizards who mess with time can… get messed up," he said simply. "Just ask Hermione."
"Why? What happened to her?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing, it's just she knows everything. She had a time turner third year."
"Why?"
"It's… Hermione," said Harry, unable to explain. "Long story. Don't ask."
James nodded.
Harry smiled sadly. "I imagine you don't want me to call you 'Dad'?"
James smiled back sheepishly. "Well, it would be a bit awkward, I gotta admit. But… you have another me to call 'Dad'."
Harry nodded. He laughed as if only doing so to hold back tears. "Right. Always my actual dad."
James slapped him on his back.
"I'm gonna go for a walk outside. Too bad the rest of the gang isn't here, we could give Filch some trouble." He laughed and walked out of the common room and out of Harry's sight.
He didn't know why, but tears just wouldn't hold back. They came pouring out of his face, burning his throat.
No, he thought to himself. It's still Dad, and I'm going to make this the… best time of my life. Dad is here. He's my dad.