A/N) This is the LAST UPDATE FOR 10 DAYS! I'm really sorry for the delay but I'm on holiday tomorrow and won't have any access to the Internet or a computer. I'll try and update the first chance I get which will probably be Sunday 31st October.

There isn't much of a cliffy, I'm not sure if it counts as one.

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 8

"You fly excellently!" James said, clapping his son on the back. They were back in the Room of Requirement, and Harry had just dropped by to ask if they had attended the match.

Harry blushed at his father's praise. "Thanks. I'm sure you could do better."

James shook his head, pushing his fringe from his eyes and ruffling the back of his head. "Nah. I don't think so. You're much better then me. Besides I play as a Chaser. I'm not that good as a Seeker. You have the talent for it."

"Is there another match anytime soon?" Peter asked.

Harry frowned. He was still not used to Wormtail's presence but he couldn't fault the seventeen year old for his actions in the future? Besides the Peter he had met was different from this one. This one was far more happier and fun, and Harry could see why his father had chosen Peter for a friend.

"No. The next match is between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff anyway," Harry said, "You probably won't be here when the next match is."

"It's been nearly three weeks," Lily said, "I don't think we're leaving anytime soon."

"There's been no sign of the Gem since then." Sirius said.

"What kind of Gem is it?" Harry asked.

"White," James said simply, "like a diamond but very shiny. Small."

"Haven't seen it." Harry muttered.

Remus frowned. "Prongs did you drop it when we moved forward in time?"

"I think so. I'm not sure." James replied.

"It's probably lost in 1985 or somewhere along the time-stream," Lily mused, her green eyes sparkling.

"So we can't get back?" Peter asked, already knowing the answer.

The others nodded.

"We're stuck here?"

"Yes, Wormtail. Unless we find the Gem." James said.

Sirius clenched his fist. "I bet Professor Greenhelm has it."

"And I bet he was working for Voldemort." Harry added.

"Most definitely," James agreed.

"Did your parents come?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded. "My dad reckons I'm better then him, though I doubt it. I wish I could see him fly though."

Hermione looked thoughtful for a minute. "Maybe you can."

Ron and Harry's eyes widened in disbelief. Was Hermione Granger, the perfect, non-rule breaking student, telling them there was a way to bend the rules?

She saw their stunned faces and smiled charmingly. "You deserve to know your parents Harry. This is your only chance to see what they are like as people."

"What are you proposing?" Harry asked, interested by the fire that had alighted in Hermione's eyes.

"On the night of the full moon." She said simply.

Seeing their confused faces Hermione told them her plan. One that Harry and Ron agreed with.

"I don't think this is a good idea James," Lily said.

"Why not?" James replied, grinning. Hermione had come to the Room of Requirement and had set down a plan so that the Marauders could go out that night. The Marauders were meant to be going to the Whomping Willow with Remus, but Dumbledore had given the seventeen-year old a potion which made him safe. Right now, the werewolf of Remus was huddled comfortably in the corner with a protective spell round him to stop him from attacking the others, and though it was disconcerting to have a werewolf in the same room as them, Dumbledore had calmly explained they wouldn't be hurt.

He had also wished them good luck for the evening and somehow James could guess the headmaster knew what they were going to do. Hermione had given them Harry's invisibility cloak to them, and she, Ron and Harry were to meet them at the Quidditch Pitch at midnight.

Lily huffed at James. "You could be caught."

James stifled a laugh. "I think Dumbledore already knows. Why do you think he said 'good luck' to us? He must know something what we are doing."

Lily sighed and shook her head. "I'm coming with you, only so that I don't have to remain with a werewolf."

"It's Remus not a werewolf." Sirius pointed out. "Besides he's safe."

"How do we know that?" Lily asked. "He could attack us!"

"He hasn't so far, why should he now?" Peter squeaked. "Besides he's behind a shield. He can't come towards us even if he wanted to. He obviously doesn't want anything to do with us or he'd be snapping at us and trying to break through the shield."

"Wormtail has a point." James agreed.

"I give up." She flung her hands in the air.

It was nearly midnight by the time James, Sirius, Peter and Lily arrived at the Quidditch Pitch undetected by the use of the Invisibility Cloak. The Cloak was too big for them but they hadn't run into any teachers. James had a sneaking suspicion that Dumbledore had ordered the patrollers to take no notice of students that night. In some respects the headmaster understood James' need to have adventure and he was glad that Dumbledore was understanding in that respect. It made Dumbledore grow as a man in front of him.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were waiting for them, broomsticks laying on the Quidditch Pitch.

James' hazel eyes brightened in anticipation. "Whoa, how did you achieve this?"

Hermione shrugged. "Dumbledore is very understanding."

"He allowed you to do this?" Peter asked.

Harry narrowed his eyes but Hermione spoke: "Yes. I asked him and he said he would allow us to do this, but only to the benefit that Harry got to know his parent's better. The other teachers just have to turn a blind eye. Filch was hard to convince though, but we won't be disturbed."

The moon was bright that night, giving them light, so they had no need for use of their wands. There was not a cloud in sight. Harry picked up a broomstick, but then as he handed it to James, he dropped it and retrieved his Firebolt and handed it to his father.

"Here. Try my broom. It's the fastest broom."

"Are you sure?" James asked, holding the Firebolt in his hands and examining it, his eyes showing his excitement.

Harry nodded and stepped back.

James swung his leg over the broom gripping it hard, and then he pushed off from the ground. The feeling he got was happiness. The Firebolt was everything he had ever dreamed of having.

Once he was high in the air, he began to show off, revealing his skills to Harry. He did all sorts of tricks with the Firebolt, never losing confidence but gaining it as he went. The slight breeze rustled through his hair, and James Potter smiled.

"WHOA!" he shouted, screaming himself hoarse with excitement.

Once everyone had had a go on the Firebolt, (apart from Peter who had declined) Harry set up a game of Quidditch, with slight differences. There was no Snitch, meaning that there was no Seeker. James, on the Firebolt, Harry on a school broom (which was a Nimbus Two Thousand) and Sirius were the chasers, with Hermione and Lily as Beaters, and Ron as the Keeper. Hermione and Lily were using sticks as clubs and a football which Harry had acquired from Dean as the Bludger.

Peter kept swapping with Sirius as Chaser so that he had a chance to play.

James and Harry seemed to anticipate their every move. They passed the 'Quaffle' which was another Football to each other, weaving in and out of Hermione and Lily. Neither of them were good on their brooms but the two girls made a formidable team when they finally got the hang of the movements of the brooms. Peter was not a good chaser but he did manage to get a goal through the hoops in which Ron was guarding. James and Harry shared victory.

By the time an hour was up James was refreshed and happy that Hermione had arranged this for him. Quidditch was his favourite thing in the world, next to Lily and his future son of course.

As two-o-clock AM came on, Harry regretfully informed them he'd have to go to bed. He had lessons the next day and he didn't want to be sleeping all day.

They parted company at the seventh floor. The Marauders and Lily heading down the off-limits corridor towards the Room of Requirement, while Harry, Ron and Hermione turned left towards the Fat Lady's Portrait.

Harry collapsed into bed that evening, feeling happy. What a night! It had been one of the best he'd ever had.

As he lay there gradually falling asleep, he had no idea that someone was reaching into his mind and taking control of his thoughts.

TBC

He.he. I'm not that evil, just leaving a small cliffy. Any guesses what might be happening? See you next time when I update on (hopefully) Sunday 31st October!

Until then!

Leela