Oh my gosh…thank you for all the wonderful reviews I've received so far. I can't thank you all enough….I never even thought that I'd get that many for a first chapter! (Author squeals in delight)
Just a few little IMPORTANT notes that readers should be aware of:
This story is set during OOTP. At the moment Harry is still in Privet Drive, but that will change. In every chapter, I will recap in a few paragraphs exactly what Harry is doing so that people know exactly whereabouts in OOTP the story is. In this chapter, in the first scene, I hope I have made it clear we are in between Chapters 2 and 3.
The OOTP plot line will change once James enters the story properly and becomes involved with the general plot. At the moment, bear with me. I'm setting things up, but it is essential character development for James for me to explain certain developments to James and his personality.
Two more things: Someone noticed that I used the words father-figure in the first chapter several times. I had to use those words because Harry was not wishing for his father - he was wishing for someone who could be like a father. Those two words were important, so I had to use them. They won't be used often though. Sorry.
Updates for this story will be every Wednesday and either Saturday or Sunday.
Okay…enough of my general rambling….onto the story!
-Prongs Rides Again-
Chapter Two: Awakening
He didn't know how long he slept, but Harry felt a little better once he had rested. It was the early hours of the following morning. Following the Dementor attack, Harry had received a letter from the Improper Use of Magic Office informing him of their decision to expel him from Hogwarts because of using underage magic. Only to have a few minutes later informed of their decision to suspend him until his court trail, of which when his fate would be decided. Frustrated by all this happenings, Harry vaguely remembered wishing for someone to come to help him, anyone.
A father.
"But it's no use…." Harry moaned softly, looking out of his window, "No one has come. And no one ever will. Mum and Dad are gone….forever. It's just me….Harry James Potter….all alone, waiting for some mad man to come and kill me."
He knew he was speaking like a deluded and drunken teenager but Harry hardly cared. Too much had happened. He needed someone.
"Anyone…" he whispered again, letting tears fall down his cheeks.
His body felt cold, as if it hadn't been anywhere warm for years. Light filled his vision; it hurt his eyes. Why? He tried to open them but it hurt too much.
Move your fingers.
An unbidden voice filled his mind but he obeyed not daring to disagree. He crunched his fingers in response. They felt unused and they hurt when he released them.
Open your eyes.
The voice commanded again.
Gradually James Potter opened his eyes, not understanding why he could barely see.
The cool voice spoke again. Was it his mind? No, it couldn't be. Then what was it?
You have been given a special gift, James Christopher Potter. A chance of life.
Life? James struggled to remember. He thought desperately: Why can't I remember? Try as he might James could not recall what had happened to him. Two faces swam into view. Lily, Harry.
The voice continued in his head. You cannot remember. Memories will be released by your own mind. You are needed in the world, once more, James.
"Needed?" James croaked, his voice incredibly hoarse. Why? And then a thought struck him as memories began to entwine themselves. "I died."
James swallowed. He could recall everything as it flickered through his mind's eye. Harry had been sleeping when he'd started crying. Darkness had enveloped them in its cold, menacing grip. I told Lily to run. Voldemort killed me…
"Where's Lily? And Harry?" he asked aloud. He didn't even know where he was, let alone the fate of his loved ones. His heart started to beat faster then normal. He had to know. Lily had to have got away. Had to.
But no one answered.
"Where are they?" James shouted, desperate.
Shakily he got to his feet, and looked around. A house that had once stood magnificently lay shattered and in ruins. "This was my home." James felt tears brim in his eyes. Godric's Hollow was gone. If Lily and Harry had still been in the house then they would've been killed. "Oh god…they're gone."
He looked up at the heavens. "WHY?" he screamed, "WHY DID YOU BRING ME HERE?"
Almost instantly a voice answered, but it was not the same cool voice he had heard earlier, instead it was an old voice, but of someone James recognised.
"For your son."
James turned round slowly, wobbling on his unsteady feet. Standing no more then a few metres away was Albus Dumbledore.
"What about my son?" James asked, weary, upset and unable to believe that the two people he truly loved was gone…forever.
"Harry is alive and so are you," Albus Dumbledore explained, "a simple wish can make even the dead come back to life. The fate of death has been lifted from you, James, for a purpose. And that purpose is to help your son. Harry needs you, now more then ever. He asked the heavens for you."
James was stunned. His son was alive….
"I am afraid that Lily is dead. She cannot ever come back into the threshold of this world, James. She made a great sacrifice for Harry, but if she was restored this protection that she laid upon him would be lifted. A protection that has kept him alive these past fourteen years."
"Fourteen?" James croaked. Lily….
"Yes," Dumbledore nodded sadly, "Fourteen long years have passed since you died." He held out his hand to James. "Come, it is time for me to explain it all to you."
Brain buzzing with all sorts of questions, James took Dumbledore's hand. "Where are you taking me?" he questioned.
"Number Twelve Grimmauld Place," Dumbledore smiled, "You will find a few old accomplices there waiting for you. However, James, you are not truly healed. The shock of it all is only just begun. The day's will only get worse before they get better."
James nearly fell, but the headmaster caught him. His feet was still unsteady from years of not using them.
"Since you cannot Apparate on your own, I will help you. Just hold onto me, and I'll get us both to Grimmauld Place."
James closed his eyes. The next thing he knew he was standing outside a battered worn house, that had appeared out of nowhere. Dumbledore still stood beside him, supporting him. "Did we just Apparate?" James was confused.
"Yes," Dumbledore replied, "Welcome, James Potter, to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix."
TBC
I'm not sure about this chapter. I think James should be a little more confused and dis-orientated. I have read a fic where he's gone completely insane but that is when he's travelled fourteen years into the future...so do you think he was portayed well in this chapter, especially for someone who's just come back from the dead?
I know James hasn't really taken Lily's death to the core yet…but he will. He's still shocked. He's reeling from the fact that his son is still alive and that Lily is dead.
Chapter 3 is titled: Understanding
Let me know what you think of this chapter!
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Thank you to the following people for their review: belle granger; kokomocalifornia; IamSiriusgrl; RoschLupin-Black; sirius-black-sfan; lostinyourarms; shazia)Riavera; Patronus99; unicorn666; Annasun; old-crow; SilverHawk 27; Katie; RebelHanyouofDarkness; zippyfox; Miss Parselmouth; HarrysGrrl; Siriusly Sirius Lily Black; HandsOff; SeaMar; Loonie Potter, HermioneWeasley, PadFootCc, ravenfarie and ambereyes2873!
There is just a few people who'd I like to thank with added comments:
Jessica: I wanted to try a different approach to how James Potter comes back to life. I have planned out most aspects of the story beforehand, so things will be different whereas others will remain. I will continue with this story. I am already writing Chapter 4. Thank you for your wonderful review.
Werewolves are People Too: I decided to try a (hopefully) an unused concept about how James comes back to life. I decided upon a wish because I haven't seen a fic with that plot before.
littlewolf-moony: Thank you for the detailed review. I didn't think it was important to go into the Dementor scene as it is described wonderfully in the book. I was uncomfortable with the beginning as I didn't know how to start it. I thought it would be best to write a short scene on what lead's up to Harry's grief. I figured that the people who read this story would be familiar with Harry's grief and would not really need a recap. Thank you for your comments.
Sexy Black: You added me to your Author Alert list? I squealed in delight! Thank you!
snufflesroxursox: The chapters will be getting longer as the story progresses. The first few are set up chapters to get the story going, but I aim to write more for the coming chapters.
Bev Baudelaire: Sorry about the words 'father-figure' but he wasn't wishing for a father, just someone who could be. However the words 'father-figure' will appear several times throughout the story but not often. Please bear with it. It is, in a way, essential to my plot, for Harry to say those words. More will be explained as the chapter's progress. Thank you for your review.
sportsnightnut: I will be following the basic OOTP plot (Harry's dreams extra, and a few other major happenings) but most of the plot and the interaction of characters will differ. I don't want to stray too far away from canon by adding James to the story, though I realise it will. Thank you for your review.
Lady Taliesin: I didn't want to start a story where James comes back to life on the night he died or that he never died anyway. The words 'father-figure' will not appear in the story often. Harry was really distressed when he said it, so I believe that he would say something like that, especially after the state-of-mind he was in. This chapter was a little longer then the previous, and the third chapter is longer (which I will post at the weekened). Thank you for reading!
empaticallychosen: Once you get your story up I will check it out for you. Just let me know when it is up and what the title is. Thank you for your review.
HarryPotterknoitall: You like my style of writing? Thank you! I didn't think I was that good!
RougePriest: I think there are a few James comes back to life stories, which is where I got the idea from, but I'm trying to make it my own story. Your comments were appreciated.
Delta74: At the moment, as the story is set at the beginning of OOTP, Sirius is still alive. I'm still deciding whether he will die or not. If he does...I might have to work out where the story goes from there. Sirius is my fave character (next to James Potter) but you'll have to wait and see what happens...
Jeran: I wanted to try a different approach as to how James came back to life. Thank you for your review!
angelicmayuka: I hope you liked how I portrayed James in this chapter. He will go through different stages at first but hopefully his character and personality will flesh out when he gets over the fact that he's alive again. Sorry...no Lily, but James will remember moments of her, and we'll see some of them in later chapters. Thank you for your review.
Phew End of the Reponses at last. If I forget to mention your name let me know. If you think I shouldn't do Review Responses let me know in a review because I don't know if I should. If there is a question or something that I'd like to comment on then I will reply, but is it worth it? I'm new to so any guidance would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Next Update: Saturday.
MissBlackPotter