Somewhere I Belong

Chapter Three – Meeting The Past

Harry woke up with a shiver and thought about the strange dream he had just had. For one second he almost believed it was true, but it wasn't. He hadn't just heard his dead father and godfather talking the night before...or had he? He slowly opened his eyes and sat up in shock as he saw two bright blue eyes looking down at him. The younger version of Dumbledore smiled at him, his moustache quivering.

"Ah good, you're awake!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "I thought I'd have to wake you by myself! Now, please get dressed, for we must go down to the Great Hall to introduce you to your new...er...peers."

Harry nodded as Dumbledore walked out of his room and quickly started going through the trunk of clothing that had been provided. He threw on some clothes quickly, almost tripping over the hem of his robes. He couldn't believe what was happening; he was going to be attending classes with his 16-year-old father! Harry pinched himself to check if he really wasn't dreaming, but ended up regretting it. His overexcitement caused him to pinch hard. After pulling on his shoes, he quickly walked out of his room, meeting Dumbledore right outside.

"Alright then Harry, let's go." Dumbledore said, and they set off at a quick pace to the Great Hall for breakfast, Dumbledore talking all the way.

"You are an exchange student from a school in America...your last name will be Patter. Don't tell anyone that you are from the future, you understand? Especially people who are important in it," Dumbledore added, his eyes twinkling as he looked down at Harry. But Harry had more to worry about...he could hear lots of voices now, and without even realising, he had arrived in front of the Great Hall. He began to fidget with his robes till Dumbledore stopped him and smiled kindly.

"Do not worry...now come Harry. Meet the past."

With that statement, Dumbledore threw the doors open and curious faces turned to see who had caused such a racket. Heads turned as Harry nervously walked alongside Dumbledore to the teachers' table, and he could hear curious whispers all around him. When they reached the staff table, Dumbledore cleared his throat and waved his hands for silence. Harry scanned the Great Hall and his heart dropped as he realised that his dad or Sirius was nowhere in sight.

"Students, I have a little announcement to make. We have a new exchange student in our midst! I'd like to introduce you to Harry Patter - who has come here from a school in America. He will be joining the Gryffindor sixth years, and I trust you'll make him feel right at home." Silence followed Dumbledore's little speech, but after a few seconds, people began to talk again, and Harry found himself being ushered to the Gryffindor table by Dumbledore. With a last half-scared, half-worried look at Dumbledore, Harry slowly walked to the table he was so used to sit at in the future. Harry sat himself down next to a girl about his age with fiery red hair and tried to ignore the stares from fellow Gryffindors. The girl next to him cleared her throat and he looked up at her and found himself staring at a pair of green eyes...his green eyes. This was his mother. Lily-

"-Evans." she stated her full name, a half smile on her face. "I'm in your year."

"I…uh…cool. I'm Harry."

"Yes, I figured," she stated, sounding a bit grumpy. Harry wondered if she was always like this. He must have had a strange look on his face because Lily sighed and said," I'm sorry...it's just, you look like someone I know…who I don't...er, approve of.... and he…uh"

The bell rang.

Lily quickly picked up her bag and smiled at Harry," Potions class now...I'll see you there."

And completely forgetting that Harry was supposedly new and had no clue where to go, she hurried out of the Hall. 'Great.' Harry thought, as he got up and started walking. 'She doesn't like me cause I look like my father...' Harry was so nervous about everything that he soon tuned out of the world he was in, and was only awoken when he collided with something hard.

CRASH!

Harry bumped into someone, knocking that person over. Harry steadied himself but almost fell over again when he saw whom he had knocked over.

"Uh...I'm sorry...I didn't see you, and-"

"It's okay," answered his future DADA teacher, smiling slightly. Harry nervously reached out his hand to help him up. He took it and Harry pulled him to his feet, muttering 'Harry Patter'.

"Remus Lupin." said the blonde boy, and the lack of graying hair and a deep sadness in his eyes startled Harry. "He have Potions now...we should go...the teacher is head of Slytherin, and absolutely hates Gryffindor students."

"Er, yeah. Okay." Harry answered, an image of Snape popping into his head. He hoped that this teacher wasn't related to Snape.

And so, Harry followed Lupin to the classroom where he attended Potions in the future. Remus walked to a seat near the back, and Harry, quite nervous, just followed and sat next to him. He saw Remus give him a strange 'What are you doing?' look and open his mouth to speak - but he never did. Suddenly, their teacher strode in and the class fell silent.

"Good morning everyone. Ah, the new student. Welcome, Mr. Patter." Harry was about to reply but the teacher just went on speaking. He was halfway through an explanation of his last lesson when the classroom door burst open and two people walked in as if they were not 10 minutes late.

"Aha, Misters Black and Potter. How kind of you to join us." Harry looked at his dead godfather and father and saw that neither of them seemed to be sorry for coming late. Instead, both were grinning.

"No probs," chirped up James, and Remus let out a soft impatient sound.

"Now, can you please tell me why you were late, because if you can't come up with a good reason, that's 20 points off Gryffindor and a detention each." James seemed to be thinking hard, but Sirius just let out a sigh.

"Oh Professor, it was horrible..." he exclaimed in a mock fearful voice. "It was my first one!"

"First what, exactly, Black?" the professor asked, and Harry almost burst out laughing when Sirius let out an embarrassed giggle (exactly like a girl's). By the look on James' face, Harry could tell all this was made up.

"My first...you know...time of month." Sirius said in a loud whisper, blushing. James snorted loudly and almost fell over. Sirius grinned cheekily at the teacher as his face contorted (almost like Snape's did when Harry did something wrong and got away with it). He took 40 points off Gryffindor and gave them both detentions. Harry rolled his eyes in despair, not even realising James and Sirius coming towards him, their grins slowly fading at the sight of him.