Later that night: Hogwarts
Kingsley, Tonks and James slowly made there way up to Hogwarts. It seemed to all of them that it was taking for ever to reach their destination. The night seemed even colder than before. They walked in a line. Kingsley in the front, James in the middle, and Tonks in the back. Kingsley and Tonks did this, so James could not escape. They passed the gates, and looked up at the castle. Light from the castle was glowing softly onto its' grounds. There was a wreath on the door, in celebration of the holiday. The view was magnificent.
Tonks and Kingsley kept on walking while they gazed at the castle. They had seen it many times like this at night, because working as aurors required them to protect Hogwarts against Voldemort and his death eaters.
Just when Tonks was about to take another step forward on the path up to the castle, she collided into James. She looked at him, and saw that disbelief was written all over his face. He just stared at the castle, as if it would vanish before him, if he did not.
"Oh, my...what, wait?" James could not put two coherent sentences together. He started to shake, and tried to calm himself by running a hand through his hair, but he kept on shaking.
Kingsley and Tonks eyes locked with each other at that moment. They realized that this man was not a man who believed himself to be James Potter and truly was not, but James Potter himself. At the beginning they thought that this man was either a death eater, or a man that was mentally ill believing he was the late James Potter. This reaction could not be from any other man but James Potter himself.
Tonks blinked, and came out of the daze she was in. She looked over at James, and he looked even worse. He was shaking very badly, and was having difficulty standing up correctly. It only took a second for Tonks to step into action.
She quickly walked over to James, and put her arms around him. "Shh. It's going to be okay. We will talk to Dumbledore, and he will know what to do," she said soothingly.
James just stared at her. "How can it be okay? I have just lost 14 years of my life. I suddenly appear on some street in Hogsmeade, after being gone that long? When I appeared, I looked down at my feet and saw the Daily Prophet in the street and picked it up. The date read December 21, 1995!!! It was October 31, 1981 last time I checked and in my mind that was only a day ago, at best! It will never be okay. How can all of this be possibly okay?
Kingsley looked at James sadly. "In time, it will be okay. We don't know how you came back, but the fact of the matter is that you are here. We have to work from there. We just have to talk to Dumbledore. He always seems to know what to do in very difficult situations. There are many people in this world who have wished since you died that they could have you back. People will support you. We just have to make it up to the castle."
James slowly took control of himself. He looked like he was going to start walking again, but then turned around at Kingsley and spoke.
"You said that there were people who wished I was here. Who are they?!" James demanded.
Kingsley was about to answer when Tonks cut him off.
"Sirius, Remus and Harry of course!" Tonks said grinning.
James looked like he was going to faint. "Sirius, Remus and Harry?" he asked softly.
Kingsley looked at James and answered him. "Yes, Sirius, Remus and Harry. They all wished you were alive."
James looked stunned, as if afraid to believe it. "Oh my god. Sirius and Remus-it's been soo...Harry! The last time I saw him, he was a baby. He was just beginning to talk, but now...Wait! How old is my son now?
Tonks and Kingsley looked at each other as if afraid of telling him the truth.
"Well?" James demanded.
Tonks looked at him and answered slowly. "He is fifteen. He's in his fifth year."
James just stared at them. He looked as if he was having difficulty comprehending the information. Moments passed, and when he finally looked like he was going to respond, the three men saw a figure approaching them. Tonks and Kingsley took out their wands in case of attack. It wasn't until the figure came closer, that they all realized who this person was. It was the headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore.
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I'm sorry for not updating in a while. I'm just busy with end of the semester exams. I haven't forgotten about the fic!
Woodsmaster2: Thanks for the review. I hope you keep reading!
Tigerlilies: Thanks so much. I hope you like the rest of it.
Insanity-of-the-owl: Thanks. I hope you keep reading.
Preetoaka Raven Potter Weasley: Thanks! That was very nice of you. I hope you keep reading!
Eric2: I hope you find the rest interesting too.
Redcandle17: It's not a slash fic. They are just friends. Hope you keep reading, anyway. Thanks!
