Looking into the Past
Chapter 1
July 31, 1996
Golden light from the sun was slowly creeping into Harry's half opened window. Around 9 o'clock the sunlight had reached his bed and was in his eyes. His tried for a few minutes to not let it bother him and to go back to sleep but to no avail. Muttering about how someone should create a remote to control how much light the sun emitted, he sat up in bed and began groping for his glasses on his nightstand. Once the glasses were found and he put them on, he ran a hand through his messy black hair, hand resting on a strange lightening bolt scar for a moment.
Harry threw back the one sheet that he had taken to using for the summer months and stumbled out of bed. He was only dressed in a pair dark blue boxers and began looking for a pair of pants. He saw some jeans on the floor and reached out to pick them up, the sunlight illuminating a jumble of scars on the inside of his arm. With the jeans now firmly resting on his hips, he walked out of the room and downstairs to the kitchen. Inside the small room he found his godfather and "uncle" joking back and forth about Harry's last birthday. Once Sirius, his godfather, saw Harry standing in the doorway, he jumped up from his seat and the table and leaped onto Harry.
"Harry, how good to see you! You're getting so old! I can't believe my baby boy is growing up so fast!" Sirius exclaimed, fake tears in his eyes.
"Sirius," Remus said from his seat at the table, "I think you're scaring the poor boy. And it doesn't look like he can hold you for very much longer before he falls."
Sirius glared at Remus and then looked down at Harry, who was indeed staggering slightly from the weight of his godfather. Sirius gave a disgruntled sigh and then leaped out of the young boy's arms. He walked back to the table and sagged into his chair. Crossing his arms across his chest, Sirius continued to glare at Remus. Harry walked to his seat at the table and looked back and forth between his godfather and uncle.
"Sirius," Harry asked timidly, "why are you trying to glare Remus to death?"
"I'm not trying to kill him, just burn him slightly."
"And you're doing this because?"
"I don't appreciate being called fat because I am not fat. And I really don't appreciate my boyfriend insinuating that I am overweight."
"I didn't call you fat!" Remus exclaimed exasperatedly. "Just look at Harry. He's stick thin and you expect him to be able to hold a grown adult for more than a minute?"
"You so called me fat, Remus Lupin!"
"Did not!
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Sirius, Remus did not call you fat. He is merely calling attention to the fact that I would have difficulty holding up any one person. So would you two please stop fighting? It's my birthday and I would like to enjoy it."
"Oh, alright kiddo. But only because it's your birthday."
"Thanks, Sirius. So what's for breakfast?"
AbAbAbAbAbAb
The rest of the day passed peacefully. The three men spent the day together in the family room, going through old photo albums. Most of the pictures were from when Harry's parents and friends were in school, so Sirius would tell what had been happening when the picture was taken. After a rather entertaining story about a pillow fight Lily had instigated, Harry's stomach gave a loud grumble.
"Sounds like birthday boy's hungry," Remus chuckled out. He rose from his position next to Sirius on the sofa. "Sirius, you go and put the albums away while I start making dinner."
"Remus, what's for dinner?" asked Harry curiously.
"Ah, Harry, that's a surprise. Go up in your room and write a letter to some of your friends, why don't you? They'll want to know that you've had a good birthday."
"Fine, be that way. I'll see you guys in a bit."
Harry walked out of the room and back upstairs. He came to the door of his bedroom and opened it slightly, sneaking in before it closed behind him. He crossed to the desk and picked up a sheaf of parchment and a quill and ink then went to his bed. Stretching across the blanket, Harry laid the parchment by his pillow and placed the inkbottle on his nightstand. Inking the quill he began his letter.
Draco,
Remus doesn't want me to know what my special birthday dinner is, so he told me to write to one of my friends. I'm sure he was expecting a letter to Ron or Hermione, but whatever. I know I promised to tell him and Sirius about us becoming friends, but I like having secrets, though you already knew that. I'm sorry I haven't told them yet, I promise to do so before summer break is over. Maybe I'll tell them at the station, right before I run onto the train. Their faces would be priceless. I know, you won't be happy if I wait that long. I'll try and tell them tonight at dinner. I may have to wait because it's them two and they probably have a thousand surprises ready for me.
Draco, I'm glad we're friends. I know it's a secretive friendship and all, but you make me feel better. I know, try and tone down my homosexuality. We have to be better friends before we can start dating. See, you've drilled that into my head. I don't really understand why we aren't already better friends; it has been a few months since we started talking. And before you start wasting a reply on about how we're not better friends because I won't tell anyone that we are friends, don't, because you've drilled that one into my head too.
And since you'd come over here as fast as humanly possible if I didn't include this, no I have not cut since school let out. You were there the last time it happened, you saved me the last time it happened. And yes, I just lied. You see right through me, did you know that? I swear it wasn't a big cut and you really shouldn't worry so much, but you're going to worry because that's what you do. I swear, your energy would be much better spent on other things. But you never listen to me. You should listen to me. I know what I'm talking about. I really do. Why won't you listen to me?
I know why you won't. But it doesn't make sense to me, Draco. You really don't need to worry over me. The time you found me was the only time I went that far and it had been an accident. I meant to bandage it up, but I just felt so sleepy and I was really comfortable on the floor. I do thank you from the bottom of my heart for not telling anyone. I've heard Remus and Sirius talking in their room sometimes about my parents and how they worry that I may end up depressed like my mother. From what I can gather she may have been a cutter, I don't really know. But Sirius said that if I were the same way I'd have to go to a mediwizard and get medication. I don't want medication. Remus is calling me for dinner now and I'm sure they have something spectacular waiting for me so I'm going to send this off with Hedwig now and wait for your reply.
Love you,
Harry.
Harry got off the bed and tightly rolled up the parchment. He walked across his room to where Hedwig was resting in her cage and gently called to her. She blinked up at Harry who held the scroll up.
"I need you to bring this to Draco, alright? He's usually pretty good at writing back fast so you can wait there for a response, alright?"
Hedwig hooted once then held out her leg for Harry to tie the scroll to. After securing the letter, Harry petted Hedwig lightly on the head before opening the window and letting her out.
AbAbAbAbAb
Dinner was finished and Sirius was drying the last few dishes while Harry and Remus were waiting for him in the family room. On the table in front of the sofa was a small pile of presents and Harry was looking at them, trying to figure out what was in each. A few moments later, Sirius joined them on the sofa, his arm going around Remus' shoulders, pulling the man closer.
"Go on kiddo. Open them!"
"Am I the only one who gets the feeling that he's more excited than me about opening my birthday presents?" Harry asked, turning towards Remus.
"It's just the childish side in him. And if I were you, I'd open them before he tries stealing them again last year."
"Why do you guys talk like I can't hear you?"
"Because we love you so much."
"What? Remus that made no sense at all and you know it."
"Know what? Start opening your presents, Harry."
Harry gave a short nod and then reached out for one of the presents. The silver wrapped square was large and heavy and Harry knew before he opened it that it would be a book from Hermione. He was right, when the last of the paper came off it reveled a copy of The top 100 Quidditch Players of all Time. Hermione had written a note on the inside of the cover explaining how she hoped that he would actually read one of the books she got him for once. The next present was from Ron and he had gotten Harry a small chain necklace with a Firebolt charm on it. The rest of the presents were from adults he knew, most of them being clothes. Right when he thought he was done, Sirius pulled out a small square shaped bundle and handed it to Harry.
"What's this? Why wasn't it with the others?"
"This is a special gift. And you won't know what it is until you unwrap it."
Harry took the small package from Sirius and carefully pulled the paper off it. Inside was a leather bound journal. The cover had golden writing on it saying "Property of Lily Evans. Steal me and die." Harry's eyes widened as he realized this was once his mother's and he could know learn more about her life.
"Where did you guys find this?"
"Your parents did know that Voldermort was coming after them. They did trust Pettigrew to keep their location safe, but they were still scared, so they placed preservation charms on their possessions so that in case of their death, you would have things to learn about them from. That's why we have so many pictures of them."
"Why are you giving this to me now?"
"We were told to wait until we thought you were ready to learn everything. And you're growing up into a fine young man, Harry, and we just thought your sixteenth birthday would be the perfect time to give it to you," Remus said softly.
"Guys, thanks. Before I go up to start reading this, I have to tell you something. Promise not to get mad."
"We promise, Harry. We'd never get mad at you."
"Alright. Well, you know Draco Malfoy? Me and him are friends now."
"You're friends with Malfoy? I thought you two hated each other?" Remus asked.
"We did. But we accidentally found out some stuff about each other and it was kind of a bonding experience. Me and Ron and Hermione are still best friends and stuff. Me and Draco are just becoming close friends. I know you hate his parents, Sirius, but Draco really isn't that bad."
"Harry, why would we get mad to you for that? Yes, we hate his parents, but over the years, I have matured enough to realize that each person is their own individual person and just because they have horrid, rat bastard parents, doesn't mean that they'll be rat bastards too."
"As Sirius so eloquently put it, we can understand that Draco is not like his parents. It's just slightly shocking since you guys met when you were 7 and decided you hated each other guts right then and there. And now about 10 years later, you're friends. But, there have been rumors about how he's turned out to be a nice boy. And you like him so have fun with him. Just, Harry, don't be ashamed of your friends."
"Thanks, Remus, Sirius. I'm gonna go up to my room now and read a bit. You two have fun. But nothing too disgusting. I don't want to hear you guys from my room."
The two adults chuckled and said their goodnights to Harry. Harry gathered his presents and then ran up to his room. He placed the lot of them on his desk and grabbed the journal, placing it by his pillow. He stripped himself of his clothes and pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms. Then he launched himself on the bed, got comfortable and opened the journal to the first page.