DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN HARRY POTTER.
THANK YOU FOR ALL REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dimensions - chapter 9
**Remus POV**
Remus marched along the corridors of the school for his last hour of patrol. It was now 8am.
Last night had been one of the worst Remus had ever been through. Watching his best friend and his wife literally reliving the kidnap of their son.
The panic on their on their faces, the same shadows of self-blame lurking in their eyes. At that moment he hated Harry more than ever. The pain he was putting those people through, no matter what 'world' he was from was incredible.
It was the most emotionally - conflicting moment in Remus's life when he saw the boy curled up in that hut. Sirius's work obviously. He was always able to tell if it was Sirius who had hurt someone. Part of Remus pitied the boy, realised that he had been truthful all along. The other part of him , the part he hated was a little bit pleased that HE had suffered.
"Moony!" Remus was snapped out of his reverie at James's call. The black haired man fell in to step beside him. He looked exhausted but that hopeful spark had returned to his eyes.
"you off to sleep?" Remus asked
"Yeah"
"Me too, it was a long night."
The two walked silently towards the teachers tower
"you ok Prongs?" Remus asked.
"Yeah." James sighed "Life's too complicated isn't it?"
"oh yeah." Remus nodded
"This past week or so must have been hard for you."
Remus grunted non-committedly. James looked at Remus intently for a few minutes before marching into his room for a few hours rest, slapping Remus on the back on the way past.
**Harry's POV**
As Harry awoke, he was a little confused about where exactly he was. Since he had arrived in this world he had awoken to find himself in so many different places he was almost afraid to open his eyes.
The good sign was that he was in a bed and did not appear to be tied to anything.
He risked opening his eyes slowly. Blinded for a moment by the light he reached for his glasses slipped them on.
He was laying in the hospital wing again. he ached all over. Groaning he set to remembering how exactly he had got there - Sirius - 0Harry0 - the rusty spring.
Harry closed his eyes again, wishing to push those memories away again. Instead his mind drifted to the previous year, when he had stayed at Grimmauld Place with his Sirius - got to know him.
Harry started as a cool hand took his. He snapped his eyes open again. James Potter was sitting next to the bed looking apologetic.
"Sorry, I thought you were asleep."
Harry stayed silent as he waited for his heart rate to return to normal.
"How are you feeling?" James asked in concern.
"Ok I guess."
"Hurt anywhere?"
"It aches where he..um" Harry broke off unable to finish his sentence.
"Lily says you're to drink this." James said handing Harry a goblet of pain numbing potion.
Harry slowly sat up and took the goblet in shaking hands. He swallowed the potion in two gulps then laid back down. Unable to stop himself, Harry shouted suddenly at nobody in particular
"Why does this keep happening to me?!"
James brushed the hair from Harry's face and muttered quietly "I don't know. the world sucks."
They regarded each other for a moment when James seemed suddenly struck by an idea.
"What?" Harry asked
"Lily's in bed, it's stopped raining - finally, Dumbledore's given me the day off and everyone is in class. Let's have lunch by the lake!"
"What time is it?"
"Dunno. You're hungry right?"
"A bit." Harry replied
"Great. I'll contact the house elves. Hang on a minute."
James disappeared for a moment and returned carrying a jumper and trousers for Harry. After helping Harry pull them on he said "ready to go?"
Harry nodded, smiling. Madame Pomfrey would never allow this.
"Good"
James wrapped a hospital blanked around Harry's shoulders and carried him outside to the lake where a few elves had prepared a small picnic for the two of them.
"Are you cold?" James queried
"No. I'm fine" Harry replied. He was laying back against a tree, allowing the sun to warm him.
Harry reached out and took a slice of cake that James offered him. He munched on it slowly, wishing he felt a bit stronger. At least the pain of the not-completely-healed injuries was gone.
"I used to sit here and do my homework a lot when I was a student here." James commented, looking nostalgic.
"I like this spot too." Harry replied. He wondered for a moment whether he should spoil the moment by asking about what he had seen that time in Snape's pensieve. Fully aware that he would regret it forever if he didn't Harry plunged ahead.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything." James replied, face alight with curiosity.
"Last year at - my school" Harry looked warily around "Dumbledore wanted me to study occlumency, so Voldemort couldn't possess me or whatever. He convinced Snape to teach it to me." James nodded slowly
"Before each class he'd use a pensieve to store some memories. See he hates me - a lot - and I don't think he'd trust me to accidentally see his memories and then keep quiet about it."
"But one day he had to leave during a lesson and I - well I couldn't resist- "
"Having a look?" James asked, a slight smile quirking his lips
"Exactly"
"What did you see?"
"I saw you and the others after your DADA owl."
"you saw me hurt Snape because Sirius said he was bored?"
"Yeah, so it happened here too?"
"Yes. I suppose that set you to wondering that kind of man would do that to someone for 'fun'?" James said slowly
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." Harry said quickly at, mistaking the look of self directed anger on James face as anger against him.
"No. you have every right to ask. I was a git back then. Had a bit of an ego to be honest. Sirius liked to egg me on and I liked pleasing the crowd."
Harry tried not to glare.
"Snape was always a target of mine. my grandfather was killed before I was born, by a dark wizard called Grindlewald in the 30's. My grandmother never really got over it. Snape and that little group of wannabe deatheaters used to strut around - picking on the weaker ones."
"They always wriggled out of trouble - Slytherins.. It pushed all of my buttons so I well - retaliated. Lucius was the leader - but he was a lot older than me. Severus was in my year. He followed Lucius around a lot - even though he was often the butt of Lucius's own cruelty. Well, I was so disgusted he became my target. Not long after that I became his as well."
"God! When I think of some of the stupid humiliating things we did to each other.." James shuddered.
"But he's on our side now?" Harry asked
"Yep. Dunno what made him change sides though. Albus won't tell me. Since he joined us, he's saved my life a number of times, and I his. I trust him now - don't like him that much, but that doesn't matter because he doesn't like me either."
Harry relaxed back, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shouders. So. This was what it was like to have parents.
"Chess?" James asked
"ok" Harry replied smiling- taking a sip of lemonade.
The father and son spent a few hours lazing in the sun, talking and playing chess in the sunny autumn afternoon.
A loud shout broke the calm of the outdoors
"James Potter!!!! What on earth do you think you're doing!"
Lily ran up to them and shot a poisonous look at her husband. She placed her hand on Harry's forehead, and then checked his pulse.
"He's in no fit state to be messing around outside!" Lily shouted. Harry found himself forcibly reminded of Molly Weasley in a temper.
"Lily, I wasn't doing him any harm. The poor kid's been through hell, I just wanted him to relax for a few hours!"
As Harry anxiously looked between his two parents, Lily's glare softened into a long-suffering smile.
"Well, he needs to come in now anyway. I need to check his wounds and make sure he gets some sleep" At Harry's 'I am actually here you know' look, she continued "Sorry Dudley."
James lifted Harry gently and the three traipsed back up to the castle.
THANK YOU FOR ALL REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dimensions - chapter 9
**Remus POV**
Remus marched along the corridors of the school for his last hour of patrol. It was now 8am.
Last night had been one of the worst Remus had ever been through. Watching his best friend and his wife literally reliving the kidnap of their son.
The panic on their on their faces, the same shadows of self-blame lurking in their eyes. At that moment he hated Harry more than ever. The pain he was putting those people through, no matter what 'world' he was from was incredible.
It was the most emotionally - conflicting moment in Remus's life when he saw the boy curled up in that hut. Sirius's work obviously. He was always able to tell if it was Sirius who had hurt someone. Part of Remus pitied the boy, realised that he had been truthful all along. The other part of him , the part he hated was a little bit pleased that HE had suffered.
"Moony!" Remus was snapped out of his reverie at James's call. The black haired man fell in to step beside him. He looked exhausted but that hopeful spark had returned to his eyes.
"you off to sleep?" Remus asked
"Yeah"
"Me too, it was a long night."
The two walked silently towards the teachers tower
"you ok Prongs?" Remus asked.
"Yeah." James sighed "Life's too complicated isn't it?"
"oh yeah." Remus nodded
"This past week or so must have been hard for you."
Remus grunted non-committedly. James looked at Remus intently for a few minutes before marching into his room for a few hours rest, slapping Remus on the back on the way past.
**Harry's POV**
As Harry awoke, he was a little confused about where exactly he was. Since he had arrived in this world he had awoken to find himself in so many different places he was almost afraid to open his eyes.
The good sign was that he was in a bed and did not appear to be tied to anything.
He risked opening his eyes slowly. Blinded for a moment by the light he reached for his glasses slipped them on.
He was laying in the hospital wing again. he ached all over. Groaning he set to remembering how exactly he had got there - Sirius - 0Harry0 - the rusty spring.
Harry closed his eyes again, wishing to push those memories away again. Instead his mind drifted to the previous year, when he had stayed at Grimmauld Place with his Sirius - got to know him.
Harry started as a cool hand took his. He snapped his eyes open again. James Potter was sitting next to the bed looking apologetic.
"Sorry, I thought you were asleep."
Harry stayed silent as he waited for his heart rate to return to normal.
"How are you feeling?" James asked in concern.
"Ok I guess."
"Hurt anywhere?"
"It aches where he..um" Harry broke off unable to finish his sentence.
"Lily says you're to drink this." James said handing Harry a goblet of pain numbing potion.
Harry slowly sat up and took the goblet in shaking hands. He swallowed the potion in two gulps then laid back down. Unable to stop himself, Harry shouted suddenly at nobody in particular
"Why does this keep happening to me?!"
James brushed the hair from Harry's face and muttered quietly "I don't know. the world sucks."
They regarded each other for a moment when James seemed suddenly struck by an idea.
"What?" Harry asked
"Lily's in bed, it's stopped raining - finally, Dumbledore's given me the day off and everyone is in class. Let's have lunch by the lake!"
"What time is it?"
"Dunno. You're hungry right?"
"A bit." Harry replied
"Great. I'll contact the house elves. Hang on a minute."
James disappeared for a moment and returned carrying a jumper and trousers for Harry. After helping Harry pull them on he said "ready to go?"
Harry nodded, smiling. Madame Pomfrey would never allow this.
"Good"
James wrapped a hospital blanked around Harry's shoulders and carried him outside to the lake where a few elves had prepared a small picnic for the two of them.
"Are you cold?" James queried
"No. I'm fine" Harry replied. He was laying back against a tree, allowing the sun to warm him.
Harry reached out and took a slice of cake that James offered him. He munched on it slowly, wishing he felt a bit stronger. At least the pain of the not-completely-healed injuries was gone.
"I used to sit here and do my homework a lot when I was a student here." James commented, looking nostalgic.
"I like this spot too." Harry replied. He wondered for a moment whether he should spoil the moment by asking about what he had seen that time in Snape's pensieve. Fully aware that he would regret it forever if he didn't Harry plunged ahead.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything." James replied, face alight with curiosity.
"Last year at - my school" Harry looked warily around "Dumbledore wanted me to study occlumency, so Voldemort couldn't possess me or whatever. He convinced Snape to teach it to me." James nodded slowly
"Before each class he'd use a pensieve to store some memories. See he hates me - a lot - and I don't think he'd trust me to accidentally see his memories and then keep quiet about it."
"But one day he had to leave during a lesson and I - well I couldn't resist- "
"Having a look?" James asked, a slight smile quirking his lips
"Exactly"
"What did you see?"
"I saw you and the others after your DADA owl."
"you saw me hurt Snape because Sirius said he was bored?"
"Yeah, so it happened here too?"
"Yes. I suppose that set you to wondering that kind of man would do that to someone for 'fun'?" James said slowly
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." Harry said quickly at, mistaking the look of self directed anger on James face as anger against him.
"No. you have every right to ask. I was a git back then. Had a bit of an ego to be honest. Sirius liked to egg me on and I liked pleasing the crowd."
Harry tried not to glare.
"Snape was always a target of mine. my grandfather was killed before I was born, by a dark wizard called Grindlewald in the 30's. My grandmother never really got over it. Snape and that little group of wannabe deatheaters used to strut around - picking on the weaker ones."
"They always wriggled out of trouble - Slytherins.. It pushed all of my buttons so I well - retaliated. Lucius was the leader - but he was a lot older than me. Severus was in my year. He followed Lucius around a lot - even though he was often the butt of Lucius's own cruelty. Well, I was so disgusted he became my target. Not long after that I became his as well."
"God! When I think of some of the stupid humiliating things we did to each other.." James shuddered.
"But he's on our side now?" Harry asked
"Yep. Dunno what made him change sides though. Albus won't tell me. Since he joined us, he's saved my life a number of times, and I his. I trust him now - don't like him that much, but that doesn't matter because he doesn't like me either."
Harry relaxed back, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shouders. So. This was what it was like to have parents.
"Chess?" James asked
"ok" Harry replied smiling- taking a sip of lemonade.
The father and son spent a few hours lazing in the sun, talking and playing chess in the sunny autumn afternoon.
A loud shout broke the calm of the outdoors
"James Potter!!!! What on earth do you think you're doing!"
Lily ran up to them and shot a poisonous look at her husband. She placed her hand on Harry's forehead, and then checked his pulse.
"He's in no fit state to be messing around outside!" Lily shouted. Harry found himself forcibly reminded of Molly Weasley in a temper.
"Lily, I wasn't doing him any harm. The poor kid's been through hell, I just wanted him to relax for a few hours!"
As Harry anxiously looked between his two parents, Lily's glare softened into a long-suffering smile.
"Well, he needs to come in now anyway. I need to check his wounds and make sure he gets some sleep" At Harry's 'I am actually here you know' look, she continued "Sorry Dudley."
James lifted Harry gently and the three traipsed back up to the castle.