Chapter Three

That Persistent Little Voice…

The next day Harry sat and read a few of the books he had received for his birthday. He was still confused by Draco. Was their love of the Dark Arts just a huge cover? Harry sighed and sat his book down.

"Harry?" James popped his head around the door. "Can I come in?"

Harry nodded. He wanted privacy, but at the same time he didn't. Besides, who was he to say no to time spent with has dad?

James sat down on the bed beside Harry. He sighed. "I don't want to believe it son." He looked at Harry.

Harry knew what he was talking about, and was about to respond when James continued.

"That the person right in front of me looks like the Harry I raised…Yet isn't. I feel horrible that you were forced to like with Lily's sister...about everything." James rested his head on his and looked at Harry, "How do you feel about it? About how your life turned out?"

Harry was speechless. James noticed, and thinking Harry was hurt, started talking again, "I'm sorry…It's…just…" He sighed, "You know as well as I do that when a person changes time, especially if it is as big as this, the universe will try and correct its self…" He slumped down and put his face in his palms, "The only question is, will you go back…or will you fulfill the prophesy here?"

Harry was stumped. He never thought about it. He loved being here and he didn't want to go back…not yet at least. So, he said, "Isn't it a little early to be thinking about this? I mean, won't it take a while?" Harry gestured wildly, "For the universe to correct itself?"

James sat up. This Harry was very different from the Harry he raised. That Harry would have stayed where he was most comfortable and not thought about going back. This Harry might try to avoid the subject, but he could give him credit for not dismissing the fact.

"Yes. I guess your right." a small grin crossed his lips, "I just promised Moony that I would talk to you"

Harry laughed, "That sounds like him alright." Harry mirrored his father's grin as he said, "You go tell old wolf boy that I learned form the best. And won't be afraid to use it!"

James fell off the bed and rolled across the floor in tears, "Old…wolf…HA!" When he recovered he sat up on the floor and asked, "Taught from the best huh? Did Moony ever tell you about the time…"

Harry lightly tread down the stairs. It was early and he didn't want to wake anyone. He had his sword in hand. Since Voldemort wasn't after him now, well, Voldemort didn't know about him specifically. Harry had decided to go practice outside.

He had made up his mind that it was safe, and, being as stubborn as he was, nothing was going to stop him. Not even that persistent little voice that tells him not to do stupid things like, are you sure you should be snooping through Lupin's desk for his diary and, is placing that dung bomb in Sirius' bed really such a smart idea, could stop him.

Once he closed the front door he lifted the sword and started thrusting and paring. He quickly realized that wasn't such a good idea. The sword was heavier then he first thought and someone was laughing at him. He decided that he looked quite foolish and stopped.

"Who is that?" He grunted.

The only response he received was muffled laughter from the trees.

Harry growled. If he wasn't in such a bad mood his cheeks would be bright red. Unfortunately he was mad and he wasn't in the mood to be made fun of.

"Fine!" Harry half yelled, "Go ahead, laugh! I. Don't. Care! I'm hungry and am going inside to eat! I really hope I made your day!" With that he stomped inside and caught himself just before the door slammed behind him.

Despite how made he was at the stranger, he didn't want to wake his parents.

He entered the kitchen and set his sword on the table before starting some bacon and eggs. All the while muttering about stupid fools and their inability to mind their own business.

Just as he placed breakfast on the table his parents came down.

"Harry!" Lily exclaimed, "You didn't have to make breakfast!"

"Doesn't matter, I do it all the time…" Harry mumbled as he sat down and started to eat.

Despite how stupid and pointless his practice was he sure had worked up an appetite.

"Sword practice huh?" James mocked.

Harry looked up and saw his father with one eyebrow raises, fingering the sword.

"How was it?" There was an odd twinkle in James' eyes as he asked.

Harry looked back at his plate and had a forkful of eggs half-way to his mouth before, "That was YOU!"

Harry growled. How could his dad laugh like that. Didn't he know it was his first time…well second, holding a sword? Then he looked up and saw the look on James' face and he burst out laughing. His bad mood gone.

"You'll pay Prongs. That you will. You'll see" Harry's eyes gleamed, "I'm not the son of a Marauder for nothing!" He said the last part to himself, in a low whisper.

James choked on his food and didn't get any help from Lily who was sitting there totally confused.

At her flabbergast look Harry answered her unasked question, "I took the sword out and He" he pointed and glared at his dad. He still refused to say 'Dad'. "Saw me and laughed!" Harry huffed, dropped his fork and crossed his arms as he slouched in his chair.

His angry look didn't last long though. As soon as he saw his mother rant to his dad, and his dad's guilty look, he burst out laughing…Again.

Once Lily realized Harry wasn't upset she turned on him, "Harry! I really didn't think you would fake anger to get your father in trouble!"

Harry winced. She said father. In his few days here she always called James Dad to him. Only once before did she ever call James father. Harry knew he was in serious trouble.

James on the other hand was propped up, holding the table for support wheezing, "You should have seen his face! Priceless!"

Lily then turned on James…

All in all, Harry had had more peaceful mornings.

The front door crashed shut with a bang.

"Damn it Padfoot!" James shouted from upstairs.

Harry was sitting on the couch when three men walked into the living room. Sirius sat to his right, Lupin to his left, leaving Peter to take a chair on the other side of the table. Sirius draped an arm over Harry's shoulder just as James walked in.

Harry was just a little anxious. Well, who wouldn't be? All four of them were wearing malicious smiles. Harry was sure they were for him. What did the Marauders do best if it wasn't humiliation and discomfort?

Harry bent over and groaned.

Lupin, realizing Harry knew something was up, chuckled. "There there Harry, it won't be so bad!" he cooed as he rubbed his back.

"Ya! Prongs here has decided-"

"Hey Padfoot!" interrupted James, "This was all" He went wide-eyed and tiptoed to the doorway. He opened it and peered out of it. Shutting it he sighed. "Lily's" He whispered, then he continued in his original shrill tone, "Idea! Not. Mine."

James returned to his seat to hear four voices choral out, "Whipped!"

For James' benefit, he took it as a man. He only complained once.

"Hey Harry! That's not fair! She's your mother too. You have to live with her."

He got the desired effect when Harry blanched and was silent.

"Well," Started Sirius, sitting up, "You need the talk!"

If it was even possible, Harry went even whiter. "The talk?" he squeaked.

Then it was Lupin's turn. He wasn't a Marauder for nothing. He may be the quiet one, but it didn't mean he couldn't enjoy Harry's discomfort. Or add to it.

"As Sirius was saying before he was so rudely interrupted." He glared at James who was, unsuccessfully, trying to look innocent, "Since you didn't have parents to give you 'The Talk' before. We shall help out now." When Lupin was finished he was wearing a smug smile.

"Err…" Harry was fidgeting in his seat. Little did they know but he had gotten the talk by Sirius last year. Sirius had pulled him aside during Christmas. Despite the embarrassment factor, it was one of the memories he would never forget.Sirius had taken two dolls and made them kiss. What had started as a talk turned into a game. Soon, the Mrs. Potter (controlled by non other then Mr. Padfoot) was doing the splits and singing I need a Hero, while Mr. Potter was doing the Hula. All in all, very unproductive evening.

Harry didn't know. Should he tell them and get them to leave? Or should he let them go through the discomfort of talking to him, then tell them? With a slow, evil smile his choice was made.

There was a few minutes of uncomfortable silence. Harry looked up to see Peter beat red and staring at the floor, Lupin wasn't as red, but there wree similarities. Sirius was dreamy eyed and in another world. Harry winced. He did not want to know what he was thinking! And his father. James was looking at each of his friends with a glare on his face.

Harry had to bite his lip to stifled his laugh.

Finally James gave up and looked back at Harry.

"Err…well you see…sometimes…" He trailed off, biting his lip.

Then Peter attempted, "Kissing is good…but sometimes you have to listen to the voice…umm…and it will be persistent…uhh…ya, it is always a good thing to do what it says!" When he was finished he slumped in his seat and mumbled, "Your turn Padfoot."

Sirius sat straight and leaned forward, turning his head to look Harry in the eyes, Lupin followed suit.

It was strand for Harry, to have two peoples head in his face at the exact same time. But he went with it. He really though that these were the only two people in the room who could tell him anything of value.

"You don't want to have little wolfies running round do you?" Came Sirius

"Oh No!" Lupin rolled his eyes, "Or what about little grims?"

Harry, catching on, decided to get in on the game, "Or what about little Pronglets?"

This brought uncontrollable laughter to the three on the couch, and they turned there heads towards the infamous Prongs. He wasn't listening. It turned out that he was staring at the floor, humming to himself.

James knew this was a bad idea. He tried, he really did. He just couldn't. He remembered his father son talk when he was a kid. He never wanted to speak of it again. That's why he agreed to let the whole gang in when he talked to Harry. Unfortunately now Sirius was doing the talking and nothing productive was said as of yet.

He had decided to hum to himself and shut his eyes. Hopefully when his friends where done he would never know what was said, and be able to fix all the misconceptions…

"James!" came the shrill voice of Lily, "Can you get in here!"

James' blanched and jumped off his chair, sprinting into the kitchen.

Sirius, who now had tears running down his face sat back up, repositioning his arm across Harry's shoulder. "Now that that's over with." He muttered to himself, he continued louder. "Harry, we have decided to induce you into the Marauders!" Sirius grinned.

The Marauders had a long standing tradition, and it was about time Harry was let in on it. Well, they weren't originally going to do this, but since Harry now knew all about them, Sirius, Lupin and, Peter had decided on it. James had no say in the matter.

They also called each other by their nicknames now because Harry knew…

"NO!" James screeched, causing everyone in the room to either laugh or wince, as he slid into the room. He grabbed the doorframe for support but he ended up with one leg in front of him, and one behind. So it was a lost cause… "I forbid you to let Harry in! He's too young…" His protests soon died out. His head was facing through the open door into the kitchen.

He regained his footing. Everyone in the room, minus Harry, wore identical grins.

"Now that she's gone…" James mumbled more to himself, he then clapped his hands and said in a brisk manner, "Let's do it!"

"Do what?" Harry proceed with caution. These were the Marauders. Harry was many things, but stupid was not one of them…Most of the time.

James face lit up and his eyes twinkled, "Sirius, if you please!"

With his free hand Sirius reached into his pocket and removed something small and black.

"The Game."

"The what?" Harry asked, confused.

"The Game." Sirius continued, throwing it in the air and catching it. "You hold it, then a question or dare will appear. You have to answer truthfully or it will vibrate." an evil grin crossed his face, "and we'll know you're lying."

"Er…" Harry was speechless. This sounded an awfully lot like the muggle game Truth or Dare…"Isn't that a Magic 8 Ball?" Harry asked. Oddly enough, that was the first thing that crossed his mind.

Sirius shrugged, "Could be."

"Er…" Harry should have left it at that. These were the Marauders. "Isn't that a violation of-" He was cut off by a hand covering his mouth.

"Harry, never mind that. You need a nickname first!" Lupin cut in, removing his hand form Harry's mouth and shaking it widely. "Drool…" He grimaced.

"How about we wait until he perfects his animagi form?" Piped Peter.

Everyone looked pensive.

James patted him on the back and said, "I believe that will work…" James then got a far away look on his face. He had to be prodded by Peter several times to bring him back to reality.

"Er…that was weird…" Harry murmured, not heard by anyone he asked, "What happens if I refuse to tell the truth?"

This time Lupin leaned in with an evil glint in his eye, "Why, little Harry. That
is the best part…" He then smirks, "You have to do a random and humiliating dare the next day." He finished, looking smug.

"Who-" Harry asked.

"I enchanted the ball." It didn't seem possible, but with that sentence Lupin became even more smug.

Harry leaned forward in defeat. It wasn't that he didn't want to play. He was just afraid because who he was playing with .

"I'm game…" Harry muttered stoically. He didn't really have a choice in the matter…

"Good" said James he sat down and clapped his hands. "Since Harry's new, he should go first. We'll start easy…"

The ball was handed to Harry who looked down at the little gaping hole.

"What's your favorite colour?" Harry was starting to like this game. Sure, it was just the first question, but it would let him find out information about his dad and friends he wouldn't learn otherwise. "Mine's green."

Sirius looked scandalized. "A Slytherine colour!" He mocked glared, "Mine's gold. A Gryffindor colour"

Everyone just rolled their eyes.

"Yellow" Came from Peter,

"Silver" From Remus,

"You like silver?" Harry asked baffled.

James spoke first, "You wouldn't believe it, him being a werewolf and all, but he's always liked that colour…" he shrugged, "By the way, mine's red…"

Next it was Remus' turn. "Who did you first kiss?" Remus laughed, "Susan Benman."

"That cute sixth year with the pigtails?" Asked Sirius. Lupin nodded, "Good on ya mate. Me," Sirius beamed, "Lacy Marshall."

"Er…" James looked guiltily between Harry and his friends, who laughed at his predicament. He became resigned. "Mary Sheller…" he mumbled.

Harry laughed. "Cho Chang" he went red at their glances, "Last year at christmas...". He wore a look that said 'mock-at-your-own-peril'.

No one looked particularly surprised, though his father looked proud, and Sirius said. "Becoming a Maruader you are!"

"Bertha MacKinnion" Peter added.

James then shook it up and said, "What's your deepest wish…" he when silent and looked pensive. "I guess I would say…" He went quiet. So quiet everyone had to strain to hear him, "That I had more children." He looked up guiltily to Harry who just smiled. He understood the need for a large family. He'd seen the Weasleys.

Next was Peter's turn. "I wish…" a shiny tear escaped his eye, "I had never lost my parents…"

Sirius and James both reached out and patted him on the back. "S'ok mate."

It was Sirius' turn. "I want my motorcycle back."

Harry's face brightened when he heard this, "What happened to it?"

Sirius looked down at Harry and said, "some Death Eaters stole it…Why?"

"I used to dream about it…Nothing much…" Harry looked at his toes. It was his turn. He sighed, "I wish…" Then he let out a mirthless laugh, "the last time I wished something I changed the future. " he shook his head, "Never mind. Right now I wish…" he was stuck. Did he wish that Voldemort was dead? Or that not everyone he loves dies? After a minute of silence it was easy.

"I wish that Voldemort would stop killing the people I love." It was blunt and to the point.

Everyone was shocked into silence until Lupin spoke. "I wish I wasn't a werewolf anymore…"

Soon afterwards they stopped the game. The mood had became somber and tense. It was a little too hard, and too soon, to be answering questions with the weight of the world on your shoulders.

A/N:Please read and review! I know this chapter is short but is was fun to write, and hope (crosses fingers) it was fun to read too.

Thanks to all my reviewers:
Kira6, Szihuoko, Queenlover, sari5156, Autumn92685039, miz-attidude, where-my-heart-resides, intoxicated by eriks music, ben 'n' jerry, BabyDragon848, Virginia Riddle-Malfoy, viira, fudgebaby, bandgsecurtiyaw, Master Slytherin, Never Odd Or eveN, Romulus5000

ben 'n' jerry: Let me tell you, I sat at my computer for over 20 minutes re-writing the part where Harry shows his arm…I would put it that he was then backspace and put it that he wasn't a death eater. I couldn't decide. I hope my decision is ok though.
BabyDragon848: Hard to tell. Hopefully this chapter helped a little. If not, your just going to have to wait!
Virginia Riddle-Malfoy: lol, What do you think? Yes, it would be sad for Harry to stalk Sirius just to have Sirius hate Harry…

Next Chapter:Mr. Ordinary--Harry spends a day with his friends (Draco and Ron) in Diagon Alley. I think the title says it all.