Chapter 5
Harry had been shocked, completely shocked. None of them had expected this. His eyes focused on the two people in front of him when the door opened. He felt numb inside, not daring to believe they were actually there. It wasn't possible, was it? Was he dreaming?
Then James said: "My son."
Harry grinned and stepped inside.
All activity seemed to halt as Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped inside.
"Um, hi," Harry said timidly.
"You're not scared of us, are you?" James asked, smiling, his hazel eyes flashing.
Harry shook his head, pulling his hand through his hair. His eyes roamed over James. He looked exactly like him save for the eyes and the absence of the scar. Lily was pictured the way Harry had seen her in photos, just a shade younger. Sirius, Remus and Peter were also staring at Harry.
Harry felt immense hatred suddenly well up inside him as he saw Peter but he didn't react. He couldn't risk harming the past.
Sirius was the first one to speak. "Hey, Prongs, he looks exactly like you."
James grinned. "I know, but there is one difference. He has Lily's eyes."
Harry was silent. Numb. He didn't know what to say. He scratched the back of his neck. "So, um, how are you?"
He knew it was a dumb thing to ask but it had just toppled from his mouth.
However, James decided to take no notice of Harry's dumb question and walked towards him. James was slightly taller then Harry, but not by much. He smiled at his son. "So, play Quidditch at all?"
"James!" Lily reacted, "You can't ask him that?"
"Why not?" James retorted.
Harry waved his hands to catch their attention. "It's alright. I don't mind. Ask me anything."
James grinned at Lily, but her face was still red.
"So, do you play Quidditch then?"
Harry nodded. "I'm seeker on the Gryffindor team. I have been since first year. We won in my third year and fifth year, even though I got kicked off the team because of 'aggressive fighting and behaviour'."
"You got kicked off! Was it McGonagall?" James said, furiously.
"No," Hermione spoke for the first time, "He was provoked by Malfoy. We had a horrible woman from the Ministry last year...." Hermione explained about Umbridge and how she had met her comeuppance against the Centaurs. The Marauders laughed at the tale. Only Lily held a bit of sympathy for her. At the end of the explanation Hermione introduced herself and Ron as Harry had forgotten to do so.
"So," Sirius began, "who frames me?"
Harry shuffled his feet. It felt odd to be talking to Sirius again, as he had seen him die no more then a few months ago. His eyes shifted to Wormtail before he spoke: "I can't tell you."
"Are they in this room?" Sirius pressed.
Harry shook his head. "No!" he knew he had replied too quickly but it was too late.
"Leave him alone, Padfoot." Remus Lupin said.
Sirius shrugged. "Just wanted to know. I'm making a point of killing them when we get back to 1977."
"And risk changing everything?" Incredulously, Hermione asked.
James stepped between them. "Look, we will forget what we've heard when we go back."
"If we can, Potter." Lily said.
"Yes, whatever." James waved a hand, not really caring.
"Do you have the Marauders Map?" Peter asked, piping up from where he was sitting.
Harry nodded and pulled the battered piece of parchment from his robes. He had brought it with him just in case. "Here." He passed it to James who studied it.
"It's so battered. And old. Whatever happened to it?"
"Fred and George Weasley got hold of it. They are the Pranksters in this time. You four are their heroes if you put it in a sense. Filch, the caretaker, had it in his cabinet when Fred and George snatched it from it in their first year. They gave it to me in my third year so I could go to Hogsmeade, as the Dursley's didn't sign my permission form." Harry explained.
James clenched his fist. "Right, Lils, we're going to have to do something about that wretched sister of yours. They can't make our son miss Hogsmeade."
"I did go, by the way." Harry countered.
"That's not the point. You shouldn't be deprived of school treats!"
"Prongs, you're making yourself look like an idiot." Remus said.
In truth, and in Harry's eyes, James was acting strangely, but Harry put it down to as surprise and excitement. As long as his father settled down...then he would be alright.
They spent most of the night speaking and talking and gradually getting to know one another. James soon calmed down and was his usual charming self. At last, around half-three in the morning Harry reluctantly, and stealthily made his way back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
For the first time in his life he had parents.
TBCI know at the end of the last chapter I said Snape would be in this one...well he just didn't fit in, but he will be in the NEXT Chapter. A little Pranking goes on and a few arguments as well.
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