Cheerio, my glorious fan-ficcers! Another chappie for your enjoyment! If you want somehting to happen in the fic, dont be shy, JUST REVIEW! As James says: SIMPLE! Bahaha! Anyhoo...hope evryone likes this one yada yada...i probs wont update for a while cos it's xmas soon...and..well, yeah. Cos its Christmas. Cant think of anyway to explain that. Soon, eat it up my monkies! And dont forget TO REVIEW! iv got to know that you guys are still liking it! Otherwise I'll just give up...which is so...eurgh. So REVIEW! Kindly appreciated!

DISCLAIMER! i had this really awesome dream the other night where i got on this random train and it turned out to be the hogwarts express, and i got to beat up all the kids i dont like and piliage from the trolly witch and claim danny as my de facto, and i could do it all as I OWNED HPTM! ...then i woke up.

Transport yourselves in transports of delight!

"No way." whispered James, collapsing into the splintered oak chair. "I'm not doing anything...just...just leave me alone." He felt a prickly burning behind his eyes and gathered his hands over his face as a icy barb-wired emotion deluged him. He felt hot tears spill over. He could sense Sirius near the door and hoped he was not watching.

Ginny stared compassionately at him for a moment, then strode forward and knelt before him, her hands united as though in prayer. "Please." she murmured so quietly only James could hear. "Please. This...this could help end the war. You know about V-Voldemort, don't you?"

"Yes,." James croaked from behind his hands. He had heard of Voldemort. Scattered here and there amongst the Daily Prophet were short articles tossing his name carelessly about. Nothing serious. But, James had heard his parents talking (it was one of the only thinggs they ever only talked about)…they were friends of the Headmaster Dumbledore, and, from what James had gleaned from his midnight perchings atop the manor's marble stairway, Dumbledore seemed to be cautiously watching Voldemort's every move with an ominous apprehension that had spread noxiously about almongst friends and admirers. No-one could confidently say Dumbledore was not worried...and when Dumbledore worries, the reason why must be a grave endeavour indeed.

"Then you'll know…well, I'll explain it to you later...but, please. You must come down and pretend to be him! For half an hour at least. Prop up a nice little smile, speak to...him, and you can be on your way. Harry really needs your help. Do it for your son" James felt a small hand close around his wrist and prise his hands away from his eyes. Ginny's pale face swam blurrily in front of him, rippled strangely due to a new brim of tears. "Please." she whispered.

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"Ok, well, you do it Evans."

"What? You have to be kidding?"

"C'mon! You're his...mother."

"I am not taking off his clothes! Does it matter if your not dressed as him?"

"Ginny said it mattered. Please! Do it!"

"You're his father!"

"And you're his mother. Simple! I bet in this world you're used to it!"

"Eurgh, Lily no!"

"Sirius, stay out of this."

"I agree. You want to dress like him, you take off his clothes!"

"Fine!" James shoved them both towards the door. This was not going to be pleasant….

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"Alright!" Ginny spoke firmly, although the hand resting upon the kitchen's doorknob was trembling slightly. James could hear the happy people in the next room and felt no need at all of joining them. A party you don't want to be the hub of, he thought wryly, that's a first.

"You know what to do. Just talk to him, assure him you know where it is, he'll shake your hand and do all that proper stuff. And you just grin and bear it." her voice softened "I know this all must be a shock for you, what with your parents and everything, but just try. Harry will thank you." she twisted the door handle and began to open the door, then abruptly snapped it shut again, and whipped around to face James. "One more thing. "she added " Don't say too much. Might give us away and I don't see the outcomes being very favourable if that's how it winds up"

James shrugged half-heartedly. Why was he doing this, he thought to himself wildly as Ginny swung the door wide open and marched inside the crowded room. Why?

"HARRY! Oi, Harry's here Mum!" came a loud voice, and, not even a second after he had stepped through the door, he was waylaid by a tall someone.

All he saw was a blur of flaming red hair and a flash of a grinning , freckled face before he was being tugged ruthlessly by the arm toward a knot of gentlemen. He was then immediately shunted into the middle of them by the red-haired someone, who then mysteriously vanished, but not before James had seen the mischievous grin upon his face.

Looking about in a startled daze, he found 6 or so elderly gentlemen, who were peering at him, obviously disdainfully bored. James could just tell they were Ministry seniors: every minute detail was meticulously in place for them: they were all immaculately dressed, spotlessly shaved, pristinely combed and rigidly postured. They all trailed that stuffy old senior musk about after them, injecting it painfully into every detailed proceeding of their boring, routeined lives. James felt himself automatically straighten to his full height and fastened what he sincerely hoped was an expression of biting scorn about his face. He was yet to discover anything in this world that severely annoyed to the extent of blind violence than a rigid adherence to rules. And with these men present, there might just be a massacre, thought James grimly.

"Ah. Good evening, Mr. Potter." James twisted his head around, unsure of who had spoken. "Ahem, over here, boy." His eyes settled upon a man who's appearance James found at once a very welcomed relief from the ministry senior's. He had along trailing beard which was streaked with age and gold-rimmed glasses perched before two beady, calculating eyes. But it was the mood that rocketed from him that cast him apart from the others circling him; of harshness and resilience which James immediately found intriguing.

"Well, Harry!" he said genially. "This is the first chance I've had to speak to you face to face since Dumbledore's funeral!"

James blinked. "Excuse me, what!" he said.

The man laughed heartily, slapping James upon the back. "Sense of humour still intact then, eh? After all those furious battles and such, we all thought some part of you would be missing! Yes." he replied to James' startled look to the word 'battle'. His son was in battles?

"We know all about your battles." the man's tone was suddenly menacing. He looked coldly down his nose at James, whose eyes darted towards a space between two of the seniors. A nice Stunning spell wouldn't go amiss right about now. The man bent his face towards James', until they were about an inch apart. James could see his own nervous reflection in the man's evilly glinting spectacles.

"Send Death Eaters to Azkaban, will you? You're 17! You're no Auror and you never will be! Just tell me what you're after. Oh, yes, we do have powers of deduction, young Potter!" he snarled venomously, wrongly interpreting James expression again. " These so-called "battles" are taking place in highly unusual places. Then Death Eaters miraculously pop out of nowhere and attempt to stop you, whatever you're doing! Why?" his keen eyes shone brightly and his brow furrowed deeply in anger. "What are they trying to stop you finding? You don't have to be uncommonly intelligent to notice you are searching for something!"

James couldn't help himself. "Well, I guess that's good thing for you, then isn't it?" I said rudely, and pushed his way savagely through the tight knot of old men. The moment James had said that, they all started muttering and 'hrmph!'ing. James didn't care. He had a nasty niggling feeling he had just insulted someone very important, but that wasn't his worry. Harry, his son could deal with it.

Now, for the first time, James could actually get a good view of the surroundings. He was in a long stone -walled room, which was centred with a large scrubbed wooden table, laden with dishes and frying pans and capable of seating more than James could be bothered counting. A hearty fire spread merrily crackling flames up and warmth around the room, which was crowded with an odd jumble of people.

There were the stuffy old men, and that old man, pulling on cloaks and throwing him filthy looks. But there were also an assortment of interesting-looking grown wizards, laughing and toasting for something around the room, slapping each others backs gaily and contributing to the low cheerful rumble that suffused the room in glorious sync with the cheery warm firelight. James immediately felt a grin unfurl upon his face. . It wasn't at all like he remembered Grimmauld Place, but he felt content here, like he had known these people all his life, though actually not knowing anyone. He adjusted Harry's belt irritably. Didn't this kid have any clothes that fitted?

His eye was then caught by a strange looking man, who was beckoning covertly to him without looking in his direction. James glanced behind him to see if it was really him the man wanted, then , upon finding the space behind him empty, walked over to the drinks table before the man and pretended to fix himself a drink. The man ,wearing an uptight expression and reflective aviators, kelt forward upon the pretence of collecting an empty cup and whispered to James :"Sorry about Scrimgeour. Awfully controlling, eh?"

He then nodded furtively with a grim expression towards the dark empty part of the room at a pantry. Cottoning on, James nodded as well, and, feeling important and spy-like, meandered indifferently over to it. The man slunk across the room, opened the walk-in pantry's door, pushed James inside, and closed himself in afterwards.

Then he turned to James, his uptight face relaxing into a gracious smile. "Well done! Well done! You've found it! We are all exceedingly thrilled with the news. Sorry about Scrimgeour again. He's getting suspicious of Tonks, Twives, Kingsley and me, so, what better way than to test our Anti-Order resolute than visit its headquarters? He made us all come as a guard, but…"

James stared bemusedly at the man. What was he on about?

"Sure he's on to us…anyway." he lit his wand with a flourish, and his smile widened gradually, as though he had forgotten how it's done. James noticed a band around the man's wrist as he raised his wand, it was spangled with little red stars…."All this concealment...but I had to talk to you. Just you let you know…we're going to back you!"

He looked expectantly at James, as thought this statement was hinged with significance and it should have elicited a exclamation of wild immoral joy from James. But the most he could manage was a small awkward smile.

This obviously wasn't the desired affect the man was going for. Hissmile drooped and his mouth slid back into it's habitual stiff line. "Well, thought you'd be happier. I mean, that's a great risk I'm taking here. Gambling everything we've got on some 17 year old kid's hunch…But I'm gonna do it. We're gonna do it!" he smiled painfully again and James was terrified to see tears sparkling in his eyes from the light of the wand. "We're gonna defeat him." he said croakily. "Just tell us when you need us and where, and we'll be there. Ready to put all our live son the line for you." he petered out, apparently too caught up in emotion to speak.

"Er, thanks."

The man's smile wobbled, and he began chocking and sobbing in an entirely un-manly manner, completely unfit for someone of his height or carriage, as James found out as the man broke down upon his shoulder, blubbering incoherently. A stunned James patted his back, his own feeling as though it were slowly snapping under the man's weight-

"What are you doing?" came a voice as the pantry's door was ripped open and light flooded them. A girl with bushy brown hair stood before them, hands upon her hips, a look of amusement thinly veneered as curiosity upon her face. She looked from James, whose hands were nursing his spinal chord, to the man, who had bolted upright the moment the door was opened and was now wiping tears from beneath his aviators.

"Nothing, nothing Ms. Granger. Just…just a bit of Heighland Star patriotism." he cleared his throat and excused himself, walking extremely erectly back to his post by the drink's table.

The girl - Granger - watched him go with a slight smirk upon her face, then turned to face James, the smirk growing. "Well. How very emotional."

He narrowed his eyes contemptuously at her, but she merely laughed. "C'mon, Ginny's looking for you, and you haven't had dinner yet."

He allowed himself to be steered towards the scrubbed wooden table, which was laden with dishes , all wafting enticing warming aromas over him.

James' stomach ached longingly. He had skipped breakfast as he had overheard two girls remarking that Evans was going to spend the whole Hogsmead trip day in the Gryffindor tower, so he scampered up there to find her…..he sighed. If only he wasn't such a generous, loving person, none of this would have happened…

"So, what did Zeichman want?" muttered Granger to him out of the corner of her mouth whilst ladling spoonfuls of creamy tomato soup into a bowl.

"I dunno." murmured James. He walked away from her and towards an utterly sumptuous-looking Shepard's pie that was calling beguilingly to him…

"Harry!"

Ginny rushed forward and grasped him by the elbow. Then she breathed quietly: "These are your best friends. Just talk to them for a few minuets and then I'll have you upstairs with Lily and ,Sirius." Then, the tall, red-haired boy who had thrown him so unceremoniously into the old men knot appeared and Ginny hushed up.

"Harry!" he said desperately, dragging James over to a quiet corner, and, most unfortunately away from the enchanting pie. "What did he want?" Granger appeared at the boy's shoulder, peering nervously at James. He looked from one face to another, both shining with eagerness and a certain trepidation.

"Nothing." said James simply. "He just apologised about that old man, and started crying-" -here, the tall, red-haired boy shot the girl an amused look- "-and then Granger here butted in. Simple. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a rather eye-catching pie over there that is in desperate need of my attention. Then, Ginny here and I shall call it a nightcap! Cheerio!" And with that he walked off, Ginny in tow, leaving the two looking like they had just been unexpectedly bludgeoned with a frying pan.

"James! That wasn't nice! They are his best friends, and they think he's being rude to them, now aren't they!" hissed Ginny the moment they were out of earshot.

"Well, that's his fault for not being conscious." James said indifferently, and, with relish, took up a knife and began slicing the attractive pie.

"Would you mind cutting me a piece too Harry? Looks rather good, doesn't it." James looked up. A man met is gaze. A man with kind eyes and light brown hair frosted with grey…..though, James could clearly remember it all brown…..

"Moony?" James stammered, letting the knife fall with a clatter. The man's smile dropped in surprise. His eyes then darted to James' forehead. Panic and shock sprang upon his face.

"I'm sorry, Lupin. Harry's really rather sick, and needs to be off to bed right this minuet!" said Ginny loudly, and she clasped James by the shoulders and forcibly steered him through the party and towards the door. Scrimgeour and the stuffy old men were still in the corner, looking more than ready to leave. As Ginny and James exited, he distinctly heard one say: "For a prophetic hero, he doesn't have very good manners."

Only once they were climbing the dark staircase back to the Time-Keepers room, did James ask.

"Lupin. Is was Remus, then?"

Ginny, who had her back to him as she ascended the stairs, took a moment in answering. "Yes. It was him. Oh, James, he knows! He knows it's you and you must promise me you'll all stay away from him."

"What? Why?" asked James, hurt he couldn't even talk to this new, all-grown-up Moony.

"Because. He just doesn't need this. No-one needs this."

They gained the landing, and upon entering the Time-Keeper's room, James ascertained one fact: Harry, his son, was conscious again. He was sitting in the chair James had been in before, and rose as they entered. Lily and Sirius, James observed, had been sitting before the boy's feet as though listening to him regale them with some heroic tale. A tale from one of your battles, James thought disdainfully. He had been his son for only a brief while but it had been enough to prompt him to believe the boy was working as some sort of unlawful criminal spy with the likes of that creep Zeichman. Lily slowly got to her feet as well and joined James at he door. She looped her hand through his arm. But James was too incensed to notice…

They all seemed to dislike him, James thought bitterly, he must be horrible. He must be….

Harry stepped before his father and looked him squarely in the eye. He had a hard intense look riding face. "I've been dreaming of this moment my entire life." he said in a tight voice, casting his eyes downward. "And, now that it's here….I'm speechless. I…" his voice broke, and he slowly reached out and collected both Lily and James in a hug that seemed neither awkward or inappropriate. James felt his disillusioned contempt float away. He could hear Evans quietly sobbing to his left. When they broke apart, James looked the boy fully in the face. Exactly like me, he though, except…except he's got her eyes…

"Please." Evan's voice broke and wavered into the warm silence as she spoke. "Tell us what happened. Everything."

Aw! Soo bloody emo...tional! Well, i really oughta rush off to bed as it's currently (consults watch) 2:46am. So, if theres any speelig mistks, blame it purely on the hour! Bahha! So, everyone who reads this PLEASE REVIEW! i dont want to sound desperate, but i NEED to know if you guys like where it's headed! SO REVIEW FOR FLIPS SAKE! GOSH! bahaha! tune in next time! xoxoxoxox

PS. btw ced, your virtual cookie dough is inherrently no use to me. Neither can i devour it or cook it. Trust me, i've tried dismally.