Changing Times
By Neurotica
Chapter Seven: Meet the Parents
Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way through the crowd of students towards the secret quarters of the Marauders and Lily after classes had ended. Earlier that day, Professor Lupin had pulled Harry aside and told him that they had all been informed of everything two nights ago. When Harry inquired as what "everything" meant, the professor only emphasized the word and raised his eyebrows pointedly.
Harry wasn't sure how he felt about Lupin telling his future parents about his past, but supposed it was easier that way; there were many things that Harry preferred not discussing with people.
Ron and Hermione expressed their wishes of meeting the time travelers before they left – which could be anytime within the next week, according to Dumbledore. It still wasn't clear as to how they would be getting back to their own time, but the headmaster had arranged more complicated things in the past.
The trio climbed through the portrait hole of the quarters and immediately sensed the highly tense atmosphere. They spotted the source of the friction as James held a struggling Sirius away from a trembling Peter.
"Er, hello," Harry said tentatively.
Peter was visibly relieved by the arrival of more witnesses in the room, and Sirius stopped his struggle to get past James.
"Did we come at a bad time?" Harry asked.
"Nah, Harry, Wormtail and I were just having a little conversation," Sirius said, forcing a grin. "So, you're my future godson, eh?"
"Er, yeah," Harry said, watching Remus try to calm Peter down. "Oh, these are my friends, Ron and Hermione."
"Hi, I'm Lily," the redheaded witch said, shaking Ron's and Hermione's hands.
"How were you classes today?" James asked, approaching the trio.
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you care about how classes were?" he muttered to his friend.
James shrugged. "Just trying to be a good dad," he muttered back.
"Right," Lily said, shaking her head, but smiling at James. "Professor Lupin tells us you three are quite the adventurous bunch."
Harry and Ron grinned at one another while Hermione tried to hide her smile. "Not our choice, really, it's all Harry's fault," Ron said.
"My fault?" Harry said incredulously. "You were the one who upset Hermione in first year, and made her go into that bathroom with the troll."
"I didn't make her go in there, and the troll wasn't in there when she went in," Ron reasoned.
"What difference does that make?"
"They're idiots," Hermione muttered to Lily and James. "But they're my idiots."
"They kind of remind me of James and Sirius," Lily said thoughtfully.
"James," Sirius said wide-eyed. "She called us James and Sirius, not Potter and Black."
"Momentary lapse of judgment. It won't happen again, Black," Lily said smoothly with a wink to Hermione.
"Oh, I brought some stuff with me. Thought you guys might like to see it," Harry said, taking the leather knapsack from his shoulder.
The Marauders gathered around him – Peter was careful to stand as far as possible from Sirius – and watched Harry pull out two things from his bag. Both of which were quite familiar to the pranksters.
"How did you get my cloak?" James said, feeling the fabric.
"Dumbledore gave it to me first year. Apparently you left it with him before… well, you left it with him," Harry said awkwardly. Lily patted him on the arm and gave him a smile.
"Is that the map?" Sirius asked in awe, pointing at the aged piece of parchment in Harry's hand.
"Yep," Harry said with a grin. "I got this is third year from Ron's brothers. I used it to get into Hogsmeade a few times. And Professor Lupin used it to find us in the Shrieking Shack."
"Hogsmeade, eh?" James grinned. "That's my boy," he added proudly.
Later in the evening, Harry got the chance he had been both looking forward to and dreading since he'd first met his parents. Hermione suggested she, Ron, Remus, Peter, and Sirius play a game of Exploding Snap in another room. She'd sensed Harry's need to spend some time alone with his parents – ready or not. As she kept reminding him, he wouldn't get another chance at this…
Lily and James sat together on the sofa while Harry sat across from them in an armchair. Harry and James looked anywhere but at each other, preferably out the window in the direction of the Quidditch Pitch.
"So, I hear you play Quidditch," James said, searching for anything to say.
"You amaze me," Lily said, shaking her head.
"I know, that's why you marry me," James said. "What kind of broom do you have?" he added to Harry.
Harry laughed at the slight glare Lily sent James, but could feel she was interested in anything Harry had to say. "I've got a Firebolt. I got it from Sirius for Christmas in third year," he smiled a little sadly.
"Were you and Sirius close?" James asked, noticing the look on his future son's face.
"Not as close as I wish we were, but he was always there when I needed him," Harry said. "I only knew him for two years."
"I'm sorry," Lily said quietly and sincerely.
Harry nodded stiffly, trying not to cry in front of his (future) parents.
"What's Petunia like these days?" Lily asked.
"Normal," Harry said honestly. "Do you know Vernon?"
"That fat guy with no neck?"
"Yeah, that's him. Well, they got married and have a son," Harry said.
"Petunia reproduced?" Lily asked in a tone of obvious disgust.
"Oh yeah… And if you think Vernon's an idiot, wait until I tell you about Dudley…"
Lily and James told Harry about their time so far in Hogwarts, including a story about Hagrid busting Snape for going into the Forbidden Forest. The at-the-time student had been given detention for two nights. Even Lily had to laugh at that.
Somehow, the conversation drifted to the subject of Peter and the Fidelius Charm. James was adamant in his belief that Peter wouldn't do such a thing, and Harry could sort of see his point; he could never imagine Ron or Hermione betraying him.
"Everything happens for a reason, Harry," Lily said. "Whatever happens has to happen – no matter how much we wish it was different."
"We could change it…" James said quietly, looking at the closed door where Peter was with the others.
"Do you really think Dumbledore will allow that?" Lily asked.
"He won't," Harry agreed with Lily reluctantly.
James bit his lip and looked away.
"So, um, I hear you play Quidditch, too," Harry said, needing to change the subject.
Lily smiled. Like father, like son, she thought.
Harry left that night with Ron and Hermione under the Invisibility Cloak with a wide smile on his face. He'd spent hours with his parents. He wished it was longer, but he'd have these memories forever, and he'd always remember it.
