((I'm so proud of myself! I finally came up with a pretty cool plot and title. Of course I need to get around to changing the title… Sooooo… how'd y'all like the 1st chapter? I will hopefully come up with chapter titles in the near future. Thanks to , and for the great reviews! In this one, I think I'll bring more characters in, plus a new character, though it may now presicely be in this one. And-
Sirius: HEY! (charges in)
Me: What?
Sirius: What about me?
Me: Umm… You're dead. I'm so sorry.
Sirius: Grr… (storms away)
Harry: You could've given it to him better… C'mon! Bring him back too…
Me: Oh shut up and get back in the story!
Harry: (glares and walks back)
Me: Our special guest today is: Ron!
Ron: BOO-YAA! Where's the nacos? I'm in the mood for some cheezy Mexican Bueno Nacho food!
Rufus: Ooooh… CHEESE!
Me: Umm… Wrong Ron.
Ron: Wha-?
Me: I was talking about Ron Weasley, not Ron Stoppable!
Ron: Oh… (walks away dejectedly)
Me: Well, Ron's not able to be here right now so, on with the fan-fic!
Okay, my sugar high has worn off a little, so I think I'll start writing now))
James found himself at the doors of Hogwarts. The familiarities of the campus made him feel a little more secure about his sanity. Tentatively, he knocked upon the huge double doors. A booming echo came in response from inside. James waited a few moments, but got no answer. He was tempted to unlock the door himself and go inside.
As an interruption, a silvery shape came through the door, causing James to feel an unpleasant coldness throughout his body. A ghost with a ruffled blouse barred the doorway, trying to see past the cloak James was wearing.
"Sir," he addressed to James, "If you seek entrance, we cannot grant you that, for it is summer."
"But I wish a counsel with Albus Dumbledore," said James.
"He is not present at the moment," responded the frilled ghost, arching a eyebrow, "And besides, if he was, you probably couldn't get an audience."
James sighed. This was not what he wanted to hear. There were so many things that needed to be answered, and he wanted to know them right away, not find out over a long period of time. Suddenly, an idea came to him. James turned away and slowly started to walk away from the school. Unknown to the ghost, a little smirk was upon his lips.
"One more thing," said the ghost, "Who are you?"
James slowly turned. "No one of consequence… Nicky…"
This was one measure of identity that he let slip. Only he and the three other "Marauders" knew this name of the Gryffindor Ghost, Nearly Headless Nick. They had been sneaking out on one of the full moon evenings with Lupin, when they had passed Nick in the corridor with a female ghost, flirtatiously calling him Nicky. From then on they had titled him Nicky.
James let the hood of his cloak fall. At first he was reluctant, since he had been nailed into a coffin. People (and ghosts) most likely thought of him as dead. But now, since Nick had obviously recognized him by now, he turned to face him.
Nearly Headless Nick stared, mouth slightly opened, yet his eyes showed concern.
"Why-how did you come by here Harry?" he asked, "Is something wrong? You don't sound like yourself."
It was not the effect James had desired. He stepped back, confusion deepening at how the Gryffindor Ghost had spoken to him. Did he just call him Harry, his dead son? James and Nick stared at each other for a few moments, not an action nor word exchanged. It was Nick who broke the silence.
"Wait…James!" he exclaimed, gliding over to him. James did not reply, but started to back away, breath once again becoming short from shock. The words Nick had spoken before realizing he was James had disturbed him. Why did he think he was Harry? But Harry was…dead.
Tears once again came to the corner of his eyes, confusion swirling within. His limbs started to shake. He Apparated, but to where he did not know. When a wizard apparated somewhere, they needed to have the picture of the destination clearly in his mind. Right now, James did not care where he ended up, just as long as he got away from Hogwarts for the moment. He needed to find someone to talk to.
James dropped to the pavement, skinning his knees and hands. He stood and glanced wildly about his unknown destination. His stomach dropped miserably. He wondered where he was- probably halfway around the world.
James walked down the street, not seeing anything familiar. From what he could tell, he was in some sort of Muggle neighborhood, for there were cars and streetlights alit with electricity. He glanced up at the lamp post nearest him. Muggles were strange, he thought. James found it unusual for those people to want blaring light over soft candlelight.
Suddenly, the light James had been looking at went out. James twisted round. True, it was getting lighter out, the sky gray around the edges, but it was still very dark so they shouldn't be extinguishing right now.
He squinted his eyes, noticing a cloaked figure coming towards him. James drew back from the ominous looking figure, stepping up on a porch labeled: 4 Privet Drive. The other person seemed to not like that. It came closer at a faster pace, withdrawing a wand.
James plunged a hand into his own pockets, grasping his wand. Whoever the other person coming towards him was, he or she was a magical being. James began to back up even more, almost bumping the door of number 4. But as the figure drew closer, he felt his mouth drop open in recognition. The man coming towards him was exactly the man who could help him.
As Albus Dumbledore walked briskly down the street, James got off the porch and went over to meet him. Still, Dumbledore gave no sign of recognition. He came threateningly towards James, wand outstretched, eyes having a livid, protective gleam in them. Obviously Dumbledore wanted him nowhere near the house he had stumbled upon. James backed away, putting his wand back in his pocket.
"Who are you?" demanded Dumbledore, "This is no place for you." His wand tip glowed.
"Wait!" called out James hurridly, "Professor Dumbledore!" He lowered the hood of his cloak.
Dumbledore halted, staring at James and squinting. He continued on towards James, now calm and the usual twinkle back in his eyes. Yet there was also concern there.
"Harry, what-" he walked on, now within a few yards of James.
"J-James Potter!" he exclaimed.
Once again, James was as equally surprised as the other who greeted him, Yet another time ther e was the reference to his dead son. Then there was the stuttering. Albus Dumbledore never stuttered or stumbled over his words. He was always calm and collected. But now he showed otherwise. He did not move his eyes off of James and continued on until he was a few feet away. James opened his mouth to question, but Dumbledore interrupted.
"What's your pen-name?" asked Dumbledore immediately.
James was stunned by this. He did not know what Dumbledore meant by 'pen-name'. All of a sudden, it came to him. For some reason, Dubledore was trying to ask him questions only James would know the answer to.
"Prongs," he responded.
"What is your Animagus form?" Dumbledore persisted.
"An albino Northern Scottish Red Stag." James had done his homework when it came to things that mattered to him.
"What was Sirius a Secret-Keeper for?"
By this time, James was tiring of the interigation. Didn't Dumbledore know who he was by now? Also, James wondered why Dumbledore asked him this question. He was the one who told him and Lily not to use Sirius for the Fidelius Charm.
Then, he grinned wryly. Of course, it was a trick question.
"Sirius was not our Secret Keeper. Peter Pettigrew was for the Fidelius Charm." James shook with fury. He remembered the betrayal of Pettigrew as if it were yesterday, though it was obviously not. He had seen the rat lurking outside the door when Voldemort…
Albus Dumbledore stared at him over his half-moon glasses. James jerked away as he waved his wand and muttered something. A silvery light descended around James, who stood perfectly still, hazel eyes darting around. Finally, the aura disappeared. James checked himself over; nothing changed or happened. Now Dumbledore was smiling.
"I-I can't believe it," the headmaster stuttered, walking over the brick wall of 4 Privet Drive and sitting down weakly. James walked over with him, sitting down beside Dumbledore.
"I am so glad to see you… alive, James Potter," he said, shaking his hand. James was confused, but pleased that Dumbledore believed him.
"Do you know where you are or what year it is?" asked Dumbledore.
"Er- no," replied James. He really did want to know when it was.
Dumbledore chuckled. "For where you are, you are in Little Whinging, Surrey, and it is July 29th, 1997."
For some reason, James did not find this too surprising.
Suddenly, a snow-white owl flew down from the sky from behind them, resting upon Albus Dumbledore's shoulder and hooting. It had a letter tied around its foot. Dumbledore reached around and took it, reading the note. His eyebrow creased in concern.
Meanwhile, the owl was looking at James, tilting its head as if to get a different view. It fluttered off the professor's shoulder and to James, still staring at him with an almost bemused expression. He reached out slowly and stroked the back of its neck. It hooted again and nibbled his finger in a friendly gesture, then proceded and hopped upon his arm.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore had been writing a reply to the letter. He finished and glanced at the owl, a bemused expression coming to his face.
"Come here, Hedwig," he said to the snowy owl. She got off of James' arm and stock out her foot. Dumbledore tied the noted around her leg.
Hedwig hooted, looking at James one last time as she flew off. James turned around and watched the owl fly behind him and to the window of Number 4. She hovered and tapped at the glass, which opened and let her inside. Albus Dumbledore noticed this as well. He got up and walked briskly towards the neighbor's yard, beckoning for James to follow.
James gave one last glance to the open window. He could make out the shape of a person coming over and trying to see out. He couldn't identify them though, because it was still a little while before sunrise. He got behind the tree and saw the person glance out the window, looking both ways then retreating. James felt Dumbledore tap him on the shoulder.
"We'd best get to my office," he said, "Some things need to be discussed. Can you Apparate there?"
James nodded. Dumbledore lifted what James recognized as a Put-Outer, and clicked it once. All the lights sped back on, dimmer than before since they sky was starting to become pink around the edges. With a loud crack, both of them Apparated to Dumbledore's office.
While they were busy talking, neither of them noticed a small figure in the trees, the bright green eyes of its shapeless form staring them down.
Harry laid on his side on the bed. Since the events of this morning, he no longer desired any sleep. Suddenly, a loud scratch at the window interrupted his thoughts.
Not daring to believe it, Harry raced towards his window. Hedwig was hovering outside, obviously desiring to be let inside. He opened the window and she flew in, fluttering around the room and hooting merrily. Something must have excited her, concluded Harry. Her uncharacteristic hyperness reminded him of Ron's owl, affectionately called "Pig".
Harry called her down by using some Owl Treats, worried that her noise would wake Uncle Vernon again. She landed on her cage, then went inside.
Harry moved over to the window, wondering if perhaps Dumbledore could have been close by. As he glanced outside, he saw the shape of a man gazing right back up at him, but it was still dark so he did not recognize him. The man glanced over towards the neighbors and jogged over to their yard. Most likely someone else had called him there. Harry wondered if they were wizards or not. His suspicions were confirmed when two loud cracks split the air- the sound of someone Apparating.
Harry turned and glanced at Hedwig, who by now had calmed and was napping, head tucked beneath her wing. Harry silently closed the cage. As he turned back around, a sudden movement by the window caught his eye.
A creature was sitting there on its haunches staring at Harry. For a moment Harry considered reaching for his wand, but thought better of it. The animal did not look aggressive. For a moment, Harry wondered if it was a magical being of some sorts. He did not recognize it right away.
The animal's features were almost cat-like in appearance. Its face was angular, snout small. The only thing different was its eyes- they were emerald green and familiar to Harry in an unnerving way. Its fur was auburn red; tail the same color with white stripes crossing it. Its hands and feet were simian; gripping the window sill.
As Harry got closer, he recognized what it was. The animal was one of those creatures from Madagascar; a lemur. He noticed that a kind of necklace was on its neck, wrapped around to keep it on. The charm looked unusual, one he had never seen.
Harry inched closer, holding out his hand to show he meant no harm. The little beast was obviously exhauseted. It was teetering, eyelids drooping. All of a sudden, it pitched forward, plummeting towards the floor. Harry leaped forward, reaching out to catch the lemur- except, it was no longer a lemur.
A teenage girl of about Harry's age hit the floor with a dull thud. Harry ran over and crouched beside her, worried and also slightly amazed. She was the same age as he was, but she was already an Animagus. He wondered who she might be, for Harry had not seen her around Hogwarts. As he knelt beside her, her eyelids fluttered and she opened her eyes.
Harry drew back, mouth open in amazement. The girl had shoulder length, wavy red hair the same tint of auburn as her lemur form. Sort of like… But it was the eyes that disturbed him. They were almond-shaped and bright green- just like Harry's eyes! This was obviously not Lily, but maybe…
Harry came forward again, mouth dry and the words unable to come out for a few moments. Finally, they came.
"Wh- who are you?" he asked, voice really low.
The girl did not reply for a few moments. She blinked, obviously trying to get her bearings. Finally, her lips parted.
"C-Chloe," she stuttered weakly, "Chloe Evans…"
((AN: Hey! This wasn't as long as I wanted it to be, but I really was tempted to leave a cliff-hanger, so I did! I apologize in advance for anyone who doesn't like that sort of thing… Oh yeah! Only one more Friday to go before summer! Beach, here I come! Well, not 'til late June. WAAAHHH!
Did I forget something? Oh yes…
PLEASE REVIEW!))