Disclaimer – as always I own absolutely to do with Harry Potter, characters, places and such they all belong to JKR, the chapter extracts in the story belong to JKR, Harry Potter and the Prisoner and Azkaban along with every thing you recognize. Just so everybody knows and am not sued
A/N – I am so sorry about the long wait for this chapter, two holidays in two weeks really gets to a person and their update schedule. Hopefully updates should not be far between now.
Review Responses at the end of the chapter.
Italics thoughts
Chapter 6Spending the next couple of days in his room, James planned his next moments. He wanted to know the truth about Sirius and he would not hear it from nobody else apart from the man in question.
But where to find him? Was the question that was frequently stuck in his mind, when he was alive he would be the first person Sirius would come see if he was stuck or in trouble but being dead twelve years could change a person.
Maybe he has gone to see Moony? He thought but dismissed it right away, hadn't Sirius though he was the spy?
Maybe to see Dumbledore? That was dismissed as well, if Sirius was on the run from the ministry he wouldn't go see someone who helped them out every once in awhile even with the amount of trust The Marauder's had for Dumbledore, the ministry would surely try and find Sirius through the headmaster.
Then where?
He stood up and walked to the window that overlooked Diagon Alley, down below he watched the world of people go by. People happily chatting to friends about the latest dress robes or the latest song out by the Weird Sisters, his eyes wandered over the Alley taking in the sights he had not seen in twelve years.
His eyes stopped at places here and there, the crowd outside Quality Quidditch Supplies all staring at the front window where the newest broomstick out lay. He knew this because he spent some time himself staring at the window.
Young students laughing and talking as they walked from Madam Malkins Robes for all Occasions, Flourish and Blotts and the Apothecary clutching parcels that containing all their new school supplies.
He watched with longing, he wanted to be out there laughing with Sirius, Remus and Peter, him and Lily walking hand and hand from shop to shop buy the necessaries for their home and family, him and Harry standing along with the crowd ogling at the new broomstick but he couldn't, he never would be able to.
Lily was gone and she was never coming back, he wanted to be with her in whatever place she was, that was where he belonged with her and their son but instead he was back in the world were he was left with nothing. No home, no family and a possible murderous best friend.
He blinked out of the trance that he had unconsciously fell into and noticed that he had been staring at a figure sitting down at a table outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour writing something onto a piece of parchment.
The figure he recognized was the boy from the other night, Neville? He thought, in clear light he could make out the Neville's untidy black hair that stuck out at odd angles. He brought his own hand up and ran it through his own untidy black hair, strange I thought I was the only one
Bringing his mind back to Sirius he suddenly remembered Sirius's old childhood home, Maybe Sirius could of gone back he thought as he crossed the room to grab the coat and hat Mrs Mann had given him and headed out the door determined to finally find out the truth about his best mate.
On the last day of the holidays Harry sat once again at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, chewing on the end of his quill. He had saved his worst piece of homework to last, Potions! (1)
He hated the subject but not as much as he hated the teacher, Severus Snape. Snape had always had something against Harry from the first moment he stepped into the school three years ago.
He flipped the page of his potions textbook that was propped up against the umbrella pole on his little table, and careful lifted his ice cream filled spoon to his mouth so it would not drip onto his essay.
As he was about to eat the ice cream a loud shout sounded down the Alley towards him,
"Hey Potter!"
Harry jumped in his seat and dropped his spoon that landed in the centre of his essay, the ice cream mixing with the wet ink on his parchment.
Cursing who ever it was that called him, he attempted to fix his essay with the napkins on the table but only succeeded in making it worse, the sound of a chair scraping across the ground made him look up into the beaming face of Oliver Wood.
"Potter" Oliver greeted with a nod of his head
"Oliver" replied Harry scowling at Oliver for ruining his essay,
"How are you Potter? Great summer? Been working on your Quidditch skills?"
Of course, Quidditch what else would Oliver Wood talk about he thought moodily
"Am fine Oliver"
He grabbed some napkins off the passing waitress and accidentally knocked over the Ice Cream Sundae she was carry, great! It's not my day! She did not notice however as she was smiling coyly at Oliver, who was oblivious to her affection and waiting for Harry to ask him something.
"How was you summer Oliver?" he said a few moments later, after his second failed attempt at rescuing his essay
"Brilliant I was working on our plays for this year's Quidditch season"
Harry resisted the urge to bang his head against the table and tell Oliver to go away instead he sat silently and listened to Oliver ramble on about Quidditch
"This is my last year at Hogwarts Potter, that also means that it is my last chance at winning the Quidditch cup as captain for Gryffindor. I know that Quidditch puts a lot of pressure on seekers but you must be practicing at every chance you get, I want that cup with our names on this year and will settle for nothing else. Understand me?"
"Yes, Captain, Sir" he said in a loud voice while doing a mock salute
"Good, now have you seen the new broomstick?"
"The Firebolt?"
"Beautiful isn't it? What I wouldn't give to have one of those on the team"
Harry nodded understandably; he had been staring at it every day wishing he had one.
"Am sorry Potter but I must be going, don't forget to practice" with a light smile Oliver was gone rushing back up the Alley to get one last look at the Firebolt before leaving. Hearing a loving sigh behind him he turned around to see the young waitress following Oliver up the Alley with her eyes.
He gave her a peculiar look before turning back to his essay, pulling a piece of parchment from his bag he began to re-write his essay with his ice cream bowl far away from it.
Prongs transformed back into James once he made sure the coast was clear, he walked out of the small alley to find himself on the side of the road that was opposite number 12, Grimmauld Place.
He crossed the road and walked up the stone steps outside the house, and looked at the front door. It was painted black and scratched, he raised his hand and using the silver doorknocker that was a twisted serpent he knocked twice and waited.
After a few minutes nothing happened he was begin to think no one lived their when he heard mumbled from the other side of the door, he edged closer to it thinking he was hearing things but once again the mumbling was there.
He knocked again and heard a faint squeal, before the sound of clicks replaced the mumbling. The door opened to reveal no one there, he frowned and was about to step forward when he noticed something by his shins.
He looked down to see a house-elf with a loincloth tied around its middle, the elf had white hair growing out of his bat like ears, bloodshot and watery eyes and a snout like nose. He knew whom this elf was he had heard Sirius complain about him too many times.
He smiled down at the elf but only receive a sneer back, "Hello Kreacher" he said friendly
The elf, Kreacher looked like he wanted to close the door in James's face but he had moved his foot forward so the elf could not.
"Kreacher does not have any visitors, who are you?"
"I am looking for your master" James replied
"Kreacher does not have a master only a mistress"
"I am looking for Sirius, is he about?"
"Young master does not belong to the Noble house of Black no longer"
James snorted, "Like it was ever noble"
Kreacher looked up at James the hatred shown in his eyes, "Young master is in Azkaban, not been seen in twelve years"
"So he has not come back here?"
"Kreacher has not seen him, Kreacher has cleaning to do he must go" before James could reply he pushed the hard and slammed it in James's face. James stood there blinking several times at the door.
Where now? He thought as he turned and made his way back to the alley so he could turn back to Prongs and head back to the Leaky Cauldron.
(Later)
James walked back into the Leaky Cauldron his thoughts still clouded with where he could find Sirius, he had never had this much trouble in finding him in all his short lived life.
He looked around the room to see if there was any remaining customers deciding whether to have a drink or not, several people sat here and there it was not crowded but enough people sat around for him to be noticed, he decided against the drink and headed towards the stairs taking his hat off when a small red headed girl called out to him.
He turned around and saw her beckoning him towards her, he looked suspiciously around the bar before going and sitting next to her at the table she sat at.
He looked at her questionably but she kept her head down looking at the surface of the table, after moments of silence James was about to ask her if she was ok, but she broke the silence by looking up and staring at a spot over his shoulder
"I know this might seem a bit weird but…but… I …I have to t…tell you this" she took a deep breath before continuing on determinedly, "you are my brothers best mate but…but… I just wanted to say I … I … like y…you H…H…Harry"
She smiled triumphantly at James and waited for him to answer, who sat looking at the young girl with his mouth gaping.
"I…I…I" he began to say, the smile slowly fell from her face as he struggled to find something to say
"Its ok if you don't f…feel the way I do" she said standing up, "I completely understand, I mean am just a silly little school girl will a silly little crush it will pass"
He noticed that her neck and face were beginning to go the same colour of her hair as he opened his mouth to say something else she held up a hand, shaking her head "its ok"
She turned away quickly and ran towards the stairs before he had the chance to say anything she had obviously mistook him for someone else, Harry I think she called me, mentally shrugging he stood and continued on his way to his room, he was just about to pass the parlour when he heard voices,
(Ok again this part is not mine in any space or form)
"…Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to power. Black lost everything that night Harry stopped You-Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that…" said a voice of a man
James frowned and leaned closer to the wall trying not to be seen by the figure that was standing by the door, listening as well it seemed.
"Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt him while Dumbledore is headmaster. I suppose he knows about all this?" another voice spoke back to the man and James clearly heard that it was a woman
"Of course he knows. We had to ask him if he minds he Azkaban guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed"
"Not happy? Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?"
"Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards, nor am I, if it comes to that … but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid"
"If they save Harry - "
" – then I will never say another word against them, its late, Molly, we'd better go up"
James watched as the figure by the door moved to get anyway quickly and almost collided with him but moved away at last minute, the man and the woman exited the room and slowly made their way up the stairs. Once out of sight James followed them up the stairs to his room taking in the information that he had just heard.
By Black, they can't mean Sirius right? He thought, he wouldn't go after some boy that was at school at Hogwarts.
How much as Sirius Changed?
And who was Harry?
Ok what does everyone think? Its not the best I know but I hope its ok, please review and let me know. i tried to make it longer than the others sorry if its not,
Quick A/N – (1) – I know Harry spent his last day differently but he still met the Weasley's after he done his essay
Yeah, so the Oliver part, am obsessed with his character and wanted to put him in.
Review ResponsesMitchicul – I can't answer those questions and you know that, maybe he will find him, or maybe James will find him! Who knows … and the birthday song there is always next year!
Barbossa'sApples – lol, yeah a bit off topic but thanks for your review sorry for the long wait
Kim Kotchanski – thanx for your review
Suicidal Bunnies – thanks for yours as well
Amrawo – Thanks
Eric2 – I know its short I am working on making them longer but the last chapter I wanted to get something out before I went away
BeautifulLady – thanx a lot, am working on getting them longer. Am glad you love the story and hope you continue reading.
MarauderKid – you might have to wait longer for James to find out it is Harry …or not! Chapter 5 was not really important more of an interlude to show that someone was actually taking an interest to James's disturbed grave.
Jekl – am sorry about the confusing but thanx for noticing it and telling me. I forgot to mention Harry it is a mistake on my behalf, I will fix it at a later date and replace it.
Nooka – thanks for putting me on your fave's, I know what you mean about liking a bit more to read hopefully they will become longer.
Thanks to reviewers, keep on reviewing please.
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