Chapter Two

Are You a Death Eater?

They flooed back to Godric's Hollow. Public places just couldn't be trusted anymore. To many spies now that no one could identify.

"What's going on…" Sirius demanded. He really wanted to know why James' son was crying over him…and knew some of their secrets. He didn't want to admit it, but Harry would care less if he died. So he couldn't understand why Harry was acting like this. Especially when nothing had happened…

It was in vain though because Harry was still crying. He had stopped rambling and was just huddled in a chair. Every one was too shocked to move.

Sirius spoke first. "Are you a Death Eater? Are they after me?" He forced through a tight throat. He was the Potter's Secret keeper. If Voldemort wanted the Potter's he would come after Sirius. That would also explain the torture and death…

Harry couldn't bring himself to speak, instead he just shook his head.

Sirius was getting impatient he leaned into Harry and had his arms on his shoulders. "Harry. Tell me why you said that!"

Harry looked up into Sirius' eyes. He was shocked at the amount of hatred and revulsion he saw in them. He looked away and mumbled, "No."

Sirius started to shake him. "HARRY!" he half screamed, "If something is going on I want to know!"

"Sirius." Lupin said, calmly, laying a restraining hand on Sirius' shoulder.

Sirius let go, and with a huff sat back down. He refused to look at Harry. He was upset. Harry knew something concerning him and he wasn't telling. He knew Harry didn't like him, but to keep information concerning Voldemort from him was just plain heartless!

James was staring blankly at a spot on the wall. He didn't want to think of his son being impersonated or joining Voldemort. But if this was Harry, and he knew of a plan that involved Sirius then he must be a Death Eater. So, instead of dealing with it, James decided to blank out his mind. And it was working very well too. Until Dumbledore entered the room.

Lily, always the calm one, saw how everyone was acting and had decided to floo Dumbledore. It was at that moment Dumbledore unfurled himself out of the fireplace.

"Harry, what's wrong?" He began, in a calm soft voice. When Harry met his eyes he stared deeply into them, trying to access his thoughts. "What's going on?" His attempt was in vain. Harry was, surprisingly, an adequate Occlumens. All Dumbledore could discern was that he was confused and upset. Not too surprising.

He raised an eyebrow, "Harry, are you aware that you are an adaquete Occlumens?" Dumbledore asked hastily.

There should be no reason why Harry should know Occlumency. It wasn't taught at school, and he was fairly certain his parents never taught him. That only left Harry being self-taught, or being taught by Death Eaters. Dumbledore knew which one he preferred.

Harry looked surprised. "Snape said I was terrible…" he mumbled.

Every ones eyes bulged out of their heads. It was a sign at how surprised everyone was that they didn't correct him.

"That bastard!" Sirius spat.

"What gives him the right to teach my son Occlumency!" James added.

"Oh my God!" Lily exclaimed, hurt and fear written on her face. "Are you a Death Eater!"

Harry was in shock. He suddenly realized how hard a spy's job was. "No! Wait I can explain!" he cried, waving his hands out to fend off Sirius who had just jumped at him.

Sirius was tired of everyone beating around the bush and decided to see for himself. When Lily has an idea, she's usually right. He grabbed Harry's left arm and pulled back the sleeve. There was no mark.

A sigh of relief was shared around the room. Harry was still in shock, but once he composed himself he pulled back his arm and snarled, "Thank you, but no. I don't think I am a Death Eater."

James was still seated and was trembling. "The how do you know Occlumency?" he said hesitant. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. He had a feeling the answer wasn't going to be good.

"Uhh…" Harry stammered, trying to play for time. He had to think up a plausible answer. "I taught myself…ya…That's it." Harry finished, proud of himself for making up such a fail proof lie. His hopes were quickly dashed,

"Your lying." Dumbledore said stoically. He had been looking into Harry's eyes trying to figure out the truth.

Harry blushed. How can he say Snape taught him to fend off Voldemort? It sounded insane. Even to Harry who had really lived it. Finally, he decided to fess up. No one here would let him leave otherwise. He heard of his mother's legendary stubbornness, second only to Hermione.

"Snape taught me…" He whispered. Hoping that no one heard him. Of course they all did.

No one spoke. Dumbledore looked upset. Everyone, minus Harry, was looking towards Dumbledore for a sign. "He's telling the truth." he said sadly and with a deep sigh he stood up and walked towards the fire place. He threw in a handful of floo powder and called out, in a deep, commanding voice, "Severus Snape"

A moment later the potion's master unfolded himself from the fireplace.

"Yes Albus?" He spotted Harry. "Ahh. Should have know it would be you. What did you do? Something stupid?"

At the outraged look on Harry's face he smirked and added,

"Don't tell me you joined the Dark Lord…"

Harry just sputtered. "How dare you! Even suggest I would join that slimy git!"

Dumbledore, despite being scared, let out a small chuckle. His eyes seemed to gain a shadow of their usual twinkle. "I have never heard him called that before…" Then turning his attention to Snape, "I just heard that you were teaching Harry Occlumency. Is this true?" Dumbledore's eyes poured deeply into Snape's. Dumbledore was stumped. Snape was leaving his mind open and didn't teach Harry anything but potions.

Meanwhile, Harry was having an apoplexy. He was pale and stammering on his chair. "Professor, I can explain--" He started.

"You better Potter" Snape sneered, "This is the last time I am blamed for something because of you!" he spat.

Harry realized that Snape must be a spy here too, and he still didn't like him. Figures. Harry tried to put his thoughts into a believable story. Well, as believable as it could be…

"I…I…" Harry started then decided he wouldn't be able to say it. So he took a different route. "Ever hear of a Wishing Stone?"

Everyone in the room nodded.

"What does this have to do with your newfound knowledge of Secrets?" Snape bit out.

"I got one from a friend…Ron-"

"I'm going to have a talk to him…" Started Lily.

"And as a joke I made a wish…not thinking it would come true…"

Snape snarled, looking completely pushed to his limits. "Well of course it would work!" He sighed, "as long as you broke it…that is…Did you?" At Harry's pale face Snape said, "Figures. Potters," he spat, " Never think about the consequences of their actions."

Dumbledore had gained a little bit more twinkle in his eyes. "And what did you wish for Harry?"

Harry shot a nervous glace at Snape before Dumbledore said, "Don't worry about Severus, Harry, He's a-"

But Harry interrupted him, "Spy…He's a spy."

"How did you know!" Snape looked outraged. His eyes were bulging out of his head. "Only the Or-" He cut himself off, afraid to speak to much.

"Your secret's still safe…"Harry said. Trying to re-assure him. Harry laugh inside. He never imagined wanting to re-assure Snape!

Dumbledore, knowing something important was going to be said, gestured for Harry to continue.

Harry sighed, a deep gut-wrenching sigh. He didn't want to say this. No one would believe him. But he really didn't have a choice. All Harry could do was pray they would understand…and not get to upset. Harry rested his head in his hands, completely cutting off the scene in front of him.

"That Voldemort never heard the Prophesy…" Harry mumbled.

"What!" Complete pandemonium broke out. .

"How did you-"
"Who told-"
"You what!"

"CALM DOWN!" Dumbledore yelled. Then, softer. "Harry, please, explain."

With another deep, gut-wrenching sigh, Harry began. "Everything is different…Before I was Born someone told Voldemort the first half of the prophesy…Up to the 'Mark them as his equal'"

Every gasped. Harry really did know the prophesy

"So he had a choice. Me or Neville. He chose me. On Halloween Voldemort went to Godric's Hollow and dueled you dad. He won. Then Mom died to save me. This made the Avada Kedavra ricochet off me and hit him. Your love saved me. It left me with a lightning bolt scar and him just as a soul I guess…"

Somewhere in the room hysterical laughter broke out. Looking around Harry realized Snape--Snape!-- the potions master, was laughing uncontrollably in his chair.

Dumbledore spoke first, piercing Harry directly in the eyes. "How did He hear the prophesy?"

Harry continued, "You went to the Hog's head for an interview. Professor Twelawny. You were going to pass her up, when she had a prophesy. A servant was there but he was kicked out."

"How do we know he's not lying?" Snape growled. He really didn't like the Potter's and there lying
.
Dumbledore sighed, "He's not…"

"Occlumency…" Harry mutter, then at the unasked question he continues, "The scar connected my mind with Voldemorts mind," Here everyone cringed. "So you had Snape-"

"Professor Snape Harry," Dumbledore corrected. He was getting over the shock. There was a logical--well, logical in the wizarding world--explanation for all this. He was starting to feel better, now that he had it under his control.

"Yes, anyway, you had him teach me Occlumency. Except I was never any good at it…"

Dumbledore nodded and Snape walked over. He leaned and looked Harry eye to eye, not even two feet away. He smirked.
"How did he get past the secret keeper?" Snape asked

Harry cocked an eyebrow. "The secret keeper was switched from Sirius to Wormtail-"

"How do you know my nickname's Wormtail? And why do you keep referring me by that?" Wormtial piped up. He was really getting annoyed. Harry usually called his other friends by some random, humiliating nickname, and him as 'Peter'.

Harry sighed. This was not something he wanted to say. But it had to be said. Harry steeled himself then explained all about their illegal animagi and the Marauders.

There was silence. "What about the secret keeper?" Snape demanded.

Harry looked down. The room was full of tense silence.

Harry shut his eyes. "I don't want to say" he whispered. "And I won't be. So don't ask again…"

The room was silent. Everyone was looking at Harry.

"Oh my God…" Snape exclaimed before grabbing hold of Harry's' shoulders and shaking him. "What. Did. You. Do!"

"Serverus please!" Lily cried, looking on the verge of tears.

"What else Harry…" Dumbledore asked kindly, but on the inside he was nervous. How could one small wish have such an impact!

Harry then went on to explain about the Order, Voldemort and his adventures. By then end every one was the colour of puce.

"What do you mean you dueled Voldemort…" James choked out.

Snape scoffed, "You couldn't duel Voldemort. No one alive, other then Dumbledore, has ever dueled Voldemort and lived to tell the tale."

Harry looked at Snape before he responded. "Not really dueled…If I had really dueled I'd be dead…That was luck…"

"No Harry." Dumbledore stated with a touch of pride, "That was a real duel. You bowed. You attacked. You could have just stood there. Instead you cast a spell." Dumbledore had his hand on Harry's shoulder.

Harry quickly looked towards his dad, and was overjoyed at what he saw. Despite James being scared out of his mind, he was proud. Harry almost started to cry. His father. Proud of him. It was all he could ever wish for.

No one spoke for a while. Everyone looked pensive. Then, suddenly Dumbledore sighed and said "You were a parselmouth right?" At everyone's shocked look and a few different mouths forming the word 'parselmouth' Dumbledore added "Because of the connection with Voldemort?"

Harry just nodded, unable to speak.

"Then, since parseltounge is a language, maybe you still know it…" Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling as he said "Serpensortia"

A snake slithered out of the end of Dumbledore's wand.

Harry looked from Dumbledore's eyes to his parents, then from each of the marauders, back to Dumbledore's. What would they sat if he still was a parlsemouth? Would they believe him? Or would they think he was an imposter…

"I-I don't know if I will be able too…"

Albus just gestured in response.

Gulping Harry looked down at the Snake. "Hello?" Harry began. At all the gasps from around the room Harry assumed he spoke in a hiss so he continued, "How are you doing?"

"Just fine" the snake answered lifting it's head to look directly into Harry's eyes.

Harry nodded and Dumbledore vanished the snake. "That proves this theory." Dumbledore looked directly into James and Lily's faces. "This Harry isn't the same as the Harry you know. They are, in reality the same person. They have just been raised differently. He is still your son. Now. What to do about this time problem…"

For some reason. Dumbledore looked triumphant.

"Now Harry, about that new wand of yours…" The twinkle was back full force. Dumbledore sat resting a cup of tea on one spindly knee, while popping a lemon drop into his mouth.

Harry rummaged through his pockets. When he found it he handed it to Dumbledore.

"I presume this is the wand you had before?" Dumbledore asked, searching the wand. He twirled it in his fingers, then he swished it around before, finally, casting a few spells. "It's a very nice wand…"

All Harry could get past his closed throat were a few grunts.

Dumbledore leaned forward, "May I ask what is so important about this wand?"

Harry could already tell he knew. He was the person to tell him before he changed time. "It's Voldemort's brother wand, and the feather is from Fawkes." Harry crossed his fingers under his lap. He was really hoping that was right. He didn't want to know there was anything more involving his wand.

"Fawkes?" Dumbledore said wistfully, "You know Fawkes?"

"Err…"

Dumbledore cut him off, "I haven't seen Fawkes in a long time. He left about 16 years ago…" He sighed. He loved Fawkes. He had been his first pet and had found him when he was just starting school.

Dumbledore handed back the wand and sat up. "Lemon Drop?"

After Dumbledore and Snape left the six people sat in silence until…

BOOM!

"Draco you idiot!"

"Shut up! I heard something!"

"And you call yourself a Slytherin! You can't even spy outside a -OW! Why'd you do that!"

Muffled laughing was soon followed by, "At least I am a Slytherin!"

Inside the room, James sat up and said, "Harry, we…err-"

Lily, rolling her eyes, cut him off, "It's your birthday…" She got up and pulled a stunned Harry from his chair. "Open the door…"

A wide mouth Harry slowly walked towards the door. He stopped in front of it, half afraid and half in anticipation for what was behind it. He swallowed then threw it open.

It banged with a crash, letting two people fall into the room. One was a tall, red headed boy, the other was slightly shorter, and blond.

"HARRY!" they both cried, arms wide open, from their perch on the floor.

"Err…" Harry just stood their. This was weird. He never saw Ron act like this and he never thought Draco would…

Noticing his confusion Lupin got up and walked behind Harry, ushering him through the door. "Happy Birthday!" he whispered in his ear, while many other people screamed it, after jumping from their hiding spots.

A wide grin spread across Harry's face, then it fell, when he thought, this party wasn't for me…

Yes it was, Another part of him said, You know these people, besides, it will be interesting to see what the got the Harry you could have been.


This stopped the rest of his thoughts in that matter and his grin returned.He decided to enjoy his birthday. Sure, he wasn't this Harry, but he was still Harry.

Someone pushed him into a chair and the guests started throwing presents at him.

He glanced around the room, a random banner here, streamers, but those weren't important and he glanced right over them. He stopped at his parents, they were both wearing faces of anticipation. Sirius, Lupin and, Peter were beside them, and each looked confused, but amused. Figures, only the Marauders would find this funny. He shook his head and started to unwrap his first present.

Lily was a little confused , but, she wouldn't admit it, she was a little bit relived that Harry changed. The Harry she raised scared her with his interest in the Dark Arts. She was also relived that the Harry here now was away from Voldemort and that dangerous life. She was still, and always would be, his mother.

James, on the other hand, was confused and, like his fellow Marauders, amused. He still didn't understand everything that happened, but if Albus said it was true, then he believed it. On the other hand, it was funny. His Harry was the exact opposite of this Harry, and it would be fun to watch him react to this life. He was a little upset in that fact that maybe it was how they raised Harry that made him that way, and this Harry was fine because he wasn't raised by them.

Meanwhile, Harry was busy unwrapping g his first present. It was from Ron. Inside was an assortment of wizarding candy. So far, he acted like the same old Ron.

His next present was from Draco. Unwrapping it he saw it was a book titled, Deadly and Harmful Curses. "Err…" He looked at Draco who was gesturing loudly. Harry opened the book, inside was a title page that read, Defending Yourself Against the Dark Arts: A Survivors Handbook.

Harry was confused. He flipped through the book, finding it was contained not the first book, like the cover said, but the book on the title page. Did this mean that the gave the impression of being immersed in the Dark Arts, but actually weren't? Shaking his head Harry decided it was his birthday and all hard though was to be avoided. He shut the book and put it under his chair.

Harry never looked at his parents, if he had he would have saw identical looks of disgust.

Grasping the next present, which was from his mom, he opened a lovely leather-bound book with rich gold inscribed on the front which read, Anamagi: 1st Edition. Harry opened it. Inside were detailed pictures and descriptions of how to become one, and pictures of almost every known animagi animal. It brilliant.

Unnoticed by Harry, when he opened the gift the room fell silent. Most books teaching how to become an animagi were destroyed. It was now illegal to become one. No one in the room would tell, they were all trusted friends. What really surprised them was the fact that Lily gave he son the book. No one would of guessed that prefect, follow-the-rules Lily would give an illegal book to her son. James they would have thought, but Lily surprised them all.

From his dad, Harry got a mirror.

"Is this the two-way mirror?" Harry asked, examining it.

Non-plussed James answered, "Yes…I'm not going to ask how you knew…" His voice got stern, "I have the other one. Don't ask for it."

Harry looked up. "I'll tell you later" He was glad that has father was keeping the other mirror. That meant that Harry could talk to his family whenever he wanted.

The rest of the Marauders gave their gifts next.

Lupin brought his up first. It was a huge dome-shape with a white cover draped over it.

"I saw this the other day, and I though you might like it." Lupin the proceeded to remove the covering.

"Hedwig?" Harry asked in a whisper, to only Lupin heard.

When he heard a small smile curled his lips and he whispered back, "Know him?" He was confused and delighted that Harry liked the white snowy owl he bought him.

Harry nodded as the owl chirped and nipped his finger, "I got him on my first year…"

Flabbergasted all Lupin could say was, "Well…It's a good thing I bought him then…"

Sirius bough him a book. One that the Marauders found amusing, but Lily wanted to confiscate. It was a thick book called, Pranks for the Prankster.

Peter gave him a brown leather journal.

From the rest of the guests he got several books, some candy, and a few things for school.

The party was almost over when an owl flew in the window and landed in front of Harry. Harry removed the letter.

Harry,

As you know, it is your birthday, a day of celebration. I don't normally give my students gifts, but I felt, due to the special nature of yours, that I shall change that tradition just this once

Have a Happy Birthday Harry,

Albus Dumbledore

The owl flew away once Harry had removed the letter. As soon as it crossed the window three more followed, carrying a long parcel between them. It was dropped on Harry's lap and was very heavy.

Nursing his injured lap he removed the wrapping. There were gasps from around the room. A silver sword was laying open on Harry's knees. The most interesting part of the sword was the hilt. It had rubies incrusted among it, along with the engraving of Godric Gryffindor in fancy, curling letters.

Harry's parents ran up.

"Who sent that!" James asked, picking it up.

"Professor Dumbledore" Harry whispered in awe.

"Is it really Godric's" Lily asked breathlessly, always the scholar.

"Yes mom. Remember the Basilisk?"

"No…" Started James, then he went pale. He remembered the story Harry had told him, though he didn't want to believe it.

The party ended soon afterwards. His friends left, saying they would visit soon.

Later that night Harry was lying in bed, thinking back on his birthday. His first ever birthday party. Though that wasn't what made it special. It was his parents. He knew he wouldn't get another birthday with them, and he had cherished the one he got.

A/N: Please, read and review. Thanks to all who have reviewed. bows

Chapter Three:That Persistent Little Voice… --Harry has a somber talk with his Dad which leads to morning humiliation and a fun game with the guys. Not a total fluff chapter, and it's a little short.