Somewhere I Belong

Chapter 6 – Potter Vs Potter

Harry groaned, opening his eyes, sweating, still reliving the nightmare he'd been having about Sirius' death. He'd been in his parents' time for a few days now...and the days hadn't exactly been very pleasant. He had finally got a bed for himself, by going and asking McGonagall. He had also stolen a knife from the Great Hall during dinnertime, so that he could resume his cutting, though he had realised he didn't need to cut himself so much anymore, especially if he spent a major part of his day with Lily.

He had never imagined it would be so hard to get so much as a smile from James. Maybe that was because every time he'd seen him, either in the photo album, or in Snape's memory...James had been smiling manifold. However, James had nothing to give Harry but sneers and glares. In fact, Harry was getting rather irritated at James' arrogance. Sirius, after losing his bed to Harry, seemed to be following up with James' act more than eagerly, although he was nowhere as bad as James. Remus obviously didn't like James' attitude towards Harry, but did not make much of an effort to stop James. Peter-like Harry even cared what that idiot of a rat thought of him. His only relief was Lily, who was being extra nice to him.

He had noticed James and Sirius whispering conspicuously to each other, glancing at Harry out of the corners of their eyes now and then. He didn't doubt for a moment that they were plotting against him. He'd just have to be prepared for whatever it was that they were going to do. Well, he'd just have to show them they couldn't push him around.

"Hey Potter, wait up!" Sirius called from the top of the dormitory stairs to James, still knotting his red and gold tie.

James gave him an amused look, and patiently waited until Sirius joined him. He noticed Patter coming down the dormitory stairs after Sirius, and shot him a glare, and was surprised to see it returned.

Harry headed down the stairs and stopped in front of him, still glaring at him. "Surprised, are you?" Harry drawled, looking amused. "I know you're plotting something against me, Potter. Just thought I'd warn you- I'm not as easy to prank as you think." He walked past James towards the Gryffindor common room entrance.

James felt his anger rise, and raised his wand towards Patter. "Furnunculous!"

Harry whisked around. "Protego," he stated calmly, putting up the Shield Charm, blocking James' attempt to hex him. He raised an eyebrow in triumph, as if to tell James 'I told you so', and then pushed past the portrait and walked out of the common room.

Sirius snorted loudly, now hopping on one foot to tie his bootlaces. He tripped suddenly, and rolled down the staircase, finally landing at James' feet.

"Serves you right for laughing at me," James chided, holding out a hand for Sirius to get up.

"I couldn't help it...ouch...it was too funny," Sirius panted, still laughing. "Seriously, that Patter's starting to scare me. I know he looks a lot like you otherwise as well, but when he starts glaring and throwing his arrogance around...I'd mistake him for you any day!"

James gave Sirius a glare, and then gave his wand a wave towards Sirius' boots, magically tying up the laces.

Sirius stared at his boots, "Hey! Why didn't I think of that!"

"Maybe 'cause...like Lily said...your brain is too small"

"Hmph," He gave James a push," There, go and side with Lily Flower now! No one ever thinks nicely of poor ol' Paddykins." He pouted at James.

James laughed, slung an arm around Sirius' shoulders, and started walking towards the Fat Lady. "You know Padfoot, I think we should put the pranks we planned for Patter into action."

"Really!" Sirius looked delighted.

"Yes, really"

Harry walked through the Great Hall and plonked down next to Lily and her friends at the Gryffindor table, feeling elated over having got one over James. He knew that he had probably provoked Sirius and James even more, but he didn't care. He watched James and Sirius enter the Hall, secretive looks on their faces, and knew for sure that he was going to be pranked.

Lily spoke up," What have they done now?"

Harry grinned," Oh nothing, James tried to hit me with the Furnunculous spell, and I blocked it. They're just plotting against me now."

Lily looked at him, suddenly looking very mother like as she gave him a look of pride. "I don't mind you standing up to Potter, Harry, but..."

"I just figured that someone should stand up to them. Don't you agree?"

"Of course I do...it's just Harry...it's not very nice to be on the receiving end of their pranks"

"I guessed that...I'll just have to be prepared for anything they throw my way"

"Uh...I think they just did, Harry"

"Did what?"

"I'd rather not tell you, uh…just...just look at your reflection"

Harry peered into his goblet, and almost fainted at the blurred reflection that he saw staring back at him. He now had greasy, black hair and a hooked nose. Great...now he was stuck looking like Severus Snape.

Sirius choked on his pumpkin juice, after seeing James' handiwork. He let out a chuckle, his laughter growing louder by the second.

"God, James...you're cruel!"

James was laughing too hard to answer. Remus and Peter came up from behind.

Remus quietly asked, "Okay, now what have you done?"

Sirius just pointed to Harry, chortling. Remus stared, suddenly realising whom it was. Even he was unable to stop a smile from spreading across his face at Harry's horrified look. Peter had already started laughing.

James yelled out,"Hey Patter, that'll stay for an entire day, just so you know." He went back to laughing, leaning on Sirius for support.

Harry suddenly glanced up at the four of them, his eyes flickering over James and Sirius, who were laughing their guts out. Remus watched quietly, seeing the amusement that flickered in Harry's eyes as he watched them. So the new kid had a sense of humour then. Harry's eyes flickered over him for hardly any time, and then turned on Peter. Remus was intrigued at the look of hatred that suddenly flared up in his eyes, and wondered what exactly Harry had against Peter. Somehow he had a feeling that there was more to Harry than he was letting on.

Harry walked to Charms with Lily accompanying him, both trying to ignore the smell that the Dungbombs enchanted to follow them around everywhere were giving off. Lily was furious at James. She was fuming at him all the way up the stairs. Harry figured it was better to listen quietly than give his opinions in the middle.

"Urrgh...what a conceited jerk...I swear I'm gonna give him hell for this! I HATE HIM!" She suddenly snapped, "Harry, ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME!"

"Uh…er...yes I am. Just thinking of how to get back at them, that's all."

"Good, cause I intend to!" She plonked down furiously at her seat, and glared at James when he entered. James coloured, and quietly walked to his seat, Sirius giving Harry a smirk as he followed James. Professor Flitwick asked everyone to vacate their desks to practice the Summoning Charm, as he felt that the majority of the class had still not got the hang of it, and soon there were pillows hurtling in every direction.

After a few minutes, Harry noticed Sirius chortling away to glory, and James looking mortified. He perked up, trying to hear what they were saying, and managed to hear enough to understand what was going on.

"Sirius...you dumbass! What did you do that for! I TOLD YOU...I only wanted to prank Patter...not Lily! I'll never have a chance with her, once she realises what you just did! She'll think it's me who did it, not you!"

Harry held back a chuckle at the desperate tone in James' voice. He brightened up, suddenly realising how he could get back at James.

He glanced at Lily, and tried not to laugh at what Sirius had just done. Lily's red hair was all gone, in place of which was short, black, untidy hair, just like James and Harry's. She didn't look too bad with it, but he had to admit her red hair suited her better. Lily hadn't noticed as yet, in her anger at James. Suddenly she reached up to touch her hair, a confused look on her face. Harry quickly reached out and caught her arm, and quietly whispered something in her ear. Lily shook her head violently. Harry whispered again, a mischievous look in his eyes.

She nodded reluctantly and then turned around, fury clouding her green eyes, and glared at James.

Sirius piped out, "Hey Evans, how's it feel to look like Jamesie here? Cool, huh? James has been having this idea for a while now."

"JAMES POTTER, you...you arrogant jerk, I'm going to KILL you for this!"

James flushed, but apparently decided that it was better to let Lily assume he had done it, rather than try to convince her that he hadn't.

"Well Evans...I think you look rather pretty with my hair."

Even Harry, with his limited knowledge of how girls' brains worked, could have told him that that wasn't the right thing to say. Lily picked up her inkpot, flounced over to him, and tipped it over his head. James just stared back at Lily, ink dripping over his glasses.

She glared at James again, "Look Potter, I want you to reverse those spells you just put on Harry and I. NOW!"

James stared at her, looking as if he was going to fight back for a second. Lily shot him a look, and he sighed. Then, much to Sirius' disappointment, he flicked his wand and reversed both the spells, and also stopped the Dungbombs from following them around. Lily gave Sirius a triumphant smile, and walked back to Harry.

Sirius groaned loudly, watching James as he reversed the spells on Harry and Lily. "Seriously, James...you are turning into a wimp! I suppose you couldn't say no to her!"

James was about to answer, when he heard Lily and Harry snickering at him from behind. Harry gave Lily a high-five as she returned, and James suddenly realised he'd been had. Set up by Harry Patter, who had all too easily found out that Lily was James' weak point.

Harry laughed, shooting a glance at James, and then turned back to Lily, who gave him a peck on the cheek. He felt a sharp rush of hatred and jealousy towards Patter, and stared away, willing himself not to look, so that he wouldn't go over and punch Patter in the face, and probably make an even bigger fool of himself. He heard Sirius and Remus laughing heartily, and Peter reluctantly joining in, apparently not able to decide whether to laugh or give James some moral support. Right, so his friends knew he had been set up too, and they were laughing! Sometimes being friends with the Marauders was like having no friends at all. James walked to the other end of the class, and started practicing the Summoning Charm, though he already knew it so well he could have summoned his broom in his sleep and it would come whizzing towards him.

As soon as class was over, he walked out before anyone else did. He heard footsteps following him, someone running, and came face-to-face with none other than Harry.

"What do you want, Patter?" He heard himself growl.

"Uh," Harry looked flustered, and a bit embarassed,"I just...um...what I did back there- it wasn't too nice. I just wanted to apologise."

"Apology NOT accepted, sorry," James said, and turned away and started walking again, but not before he noticed that Harry looked rather hurt and angry. Like he even cared.

"That was a pretty decent thing he did, you know James," he heard Remus say. "I mean, not many people would have apologised after doing something like that."

"Hmph…well I don't care"

Sirius came out, "Hey Prongsie, sorry I laughed at you…alright? Anyhow...I'm pretty hungry now, wanna go for a snack before the next class! And later on, we can give Patter the shock of his life, okie?"

James knew Sirius didn't completely mean what he had said about being sorry, but he could never remain angry with Sirius for too long anyway.

He smiled. "Sure thing, Paddy"

Harry stared forlornly at the floor as he walked to his next class, Lily next to him. He had to admit his way of getting back at James had been brilliant, but he hadn't been too pleased at the outcome. And James not accepting his apology made him feel even worse.

"Hey Harry, don't worry about it too much. I know what we did was pretty cheap, and I feel as bad as you, but James deserved it. He's way too arrogant for his own good. Someone needs to put him in his place a little," Lily quietly said, giving Harry's hand a slight squeeze.

"Well okay, if you say so...I'll try to cheer up, alright! I'll be back in a minute, I just need to get another roll of parchment."

Harry ran to the Gryffindor dorms, rummaged in his trunk, and pulled out a new roll of parchment. He ran down the stairs, and stopped short as he felt a familiar chill swoop over him. Voices- those of his parents, called out in his head, and he pulled out his wand, trying to summon up a happy thought as he saw the Dementor glide towards him. He finally concentrated upon the feeling he'd had when he realised he was back in his parents' time.

"Expecto Patronum!"

A silver stag burst out of the end of his wand and charged towards the Dementor. It suddenly struck him that a Dementor couldn't have entered Hogwarts this easily.

"Riddikulus!"

The boggart exploded, and vanished in a cloud of smoke. Only then did Harry notice the four Marauders staring at him in shock, or rather, staring at his Patronus, which was still hovering about him.

Oh shit.

Prongs- his Patronus was Prongs.