Hey gang im back with the second chapter
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, i wish i owned the whole think but i would be lying hence the reason i am disclaiming
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Gate11au: Thanx for the review. Heres the next chapter and in this chapter you will see Remus' reaction to James which was great fun to write. Don't worry Harry will find out soon enough. But for now... Enjoy and read on...
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Ok there was reviewers corner. FOr all of those who have read this and not reviewed i hope your enjoing thistoo.
Now on with the story...
Mirror Image
Chapter two: Moony And Prongs
In his office at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry Dumbledore sat staring at the flames.
They were green with the floo powder and Remus' head sat in the flames. His face was drawn.
A full moon had just been. And Remus was tired. This full moon had been particularly trying.
He was tired. He transformations were still painful despite the wolfsbane potion. It was as if the wolf inside him could feel the human weakness. It was trying and it was a problem.
But right now what he cared about was the fact that Harry was not responding very well to the summons Remus had finally managed to talk Dumbledore into.
"He refused to come Albus. He said he is not leaving his aunt and uncle's until the end of the summer. He never stays there longer than he has too. Do you think everything is ok?"
"No. I do not." Dumbledore said after a moment. "I believe Harry believes that by staying with his aunt and uncle no matter what happens he will help keep you, the weasleys and Herminone safe." "But, that's just stupid!" Remus said outraged. "It's not actually. Its perfect logic. Something I have come to expect from Harry."
Remus looked like he was going to interrupt when Dumbledore held up his hand and silenced any comment. "Harry now is well aware of the reason he must remain at the Dursley's. It is this reason he now refuses to leave before September the 1st." Dumbledore said calmly.
"He can't spend his birthday there!" Remus said after a moment. "I can't let him be there on his birthday Albus. I can't." Remus winced in pain. He couldn't stand that Harry was suffering and he could do nothing to help him because Harry would not leave the Dursleys.
"His birthday is tomorrow." Dumbledore said. "I know that!" Remus said "Let me go and get him tomorrow. It'll be part of my present to him."
"I…" Albus stopped speaking when he saw Fawkes becoming restless.
One of the paintings was trying to get his attention. "Something has come up Remus. I will come back to you with a solution."
Remus nodded but was confused at the turn of events. Still he nodded and he terminated the floo call.
Albus turned from the fire and looked at the portrait. It was Liya Potter one of the first headmistresses and an ancestor of James and therefore and ancestor of Harry. Albus frowned. Liya was usually missing from her portrait.
"Liya what is it?" "Something has happened Dumbledore." She said breathlessly. There were tears running down her face. "You must go back to Godric's hollow at once."
"What?" Dumbledore felt his voice grow loud from panic he couldn't place. "Liya explain yourself." Dumbledore demanded his heart tripping slightly. "Its James Dumbledore. James. He's alive. It's a miracle and I don't know how it is possible but he's alive."
Dumbledore was an old wizard and it took a lot to frighten him and even more to shock him. But this had. He nearly keeled over.
How was this possible?
No spell could work the dead.
No spell.
Not even dark magic.
How was this possible?
Unless…
Dumbledore looked at Liya. She smiled and nodded. "A star has fallen."
"Fawkes." Dumbledore called Fawkes let out a soft note of song before letting Dumbleore hold onto his tail and they headed for Godric's Hollow.
Remus terminated the floo call and wondered what on earth could be more important than Harry?
He trusted Dumbledore's judgement. In these dark times it was the only thing he could trust. But sometimes Dumbledore was so good at seeing the bigger picture he forgot about the people in the bigger picture.
And who was more important in the bigger picture than Harry. Remus was worried about Harry. It was true all the Order was. His letters were bland.
They expressed no with to leave the Dursely's and he seemed distant. Remus had never seen Harry this way. He had been through so much why did this have to happen to him too?
Remus knew he was getting on everyone's nerves. He knew everyone cared about Harry but they didn't realise that Remus had made himself a promise.
He had to be there for Harry. He had to help him. He was the only person left that had known Lily and James the way Harry liked to talk about him.
To be truthful Remus felt as dejected as he was sure Harry did. The only thing that kept him going was the fact he knew he had to be there for Harry. He couldn't leave him.
He had to protect him. He knew he was getting depressed and worried because the transformations were getting steadily more violent. But he was fighting. He couldn't lose. He couldn't leave Harry alone.
That was what had kept him going in the weeks when he thought he might die from the pain. He was the last of the Marauders and he felt like he was dying.
He had thrown himself into work for the Order to try and forget. But his worry for Harry was making him feel like he couldn't breathe.
He had to get Harry away from the Dursleys. The Dursleys wouldn't understand. They'd be horrible and Remus feared for Harry. He needed Dumbledore to allow Harry to return to the Order.
He could look after him that way. He could protect him. As soon as Dumbledore floo called back he was going to demand that Harry be put in his care.
He wanted to have full responsibility. He trusted that the Weasleys would take care of Harry but he wanted Harry to be with him. And he was going to fight Dumbledore on this until he had his way.
He had to be allowed to go and get him tomorrow. Tomorrow was Harry's sixteenth he couldn't stay at the Dursleys. At the Dursleys it would go unnoticed. At least if he was at the Order everyone would remember."
Remus was known for being placid but he had made up his mind about this and he was not about to back down.
As he was thinking this he heard Dumbledore call. "Remus!" He turned and hurried back to the fireplace. His argument set in place.
"Dumbledore I trust your problem has been solved?" He asked. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "They have. As have yours."
Remus shook his head. His argument welling as he faced Dumbledore. He was not going to back down this time. He needed to know Harry would be placed in his care. He knew he was probably being selfish but Sirius had made him promise that if anything happened to him Remus would look after Harry.
"I don't think so. Not until Harry is at the Order with me." He said steeling himself for a fight. "I don't think that will be necessary Remus." Dumbledore said gently.
"It is necessary Dumbledore!" Remus said struggling to keep his voice even. "I want to know he's safe and that he is being cared for. He needs that right now." "I agree." Dumbledore said nodding.
"Please listen to what I have to say. I have found a solution to the issue we were discussing earlier." Remus nodded. "I will listen to what you have to say Dumbledore and then you will listen to me."
Dumbledore nodded. "Of course." Remus nodded again. "I'll just leave a note and I'll be right there." "Excellent." Dumbledore said and withdrew from the fire.
Remus wrote a note in fast and scribbled handwriting and then stepped into the flames.
He felt himself come to a stop. He stepped out the fireplace and unfurled his robes dusting them for dust.
Then he looked up and said to Dumbledore "Now Dumbledore what have you…"
It was then he realised there was someone else in the room with Dumbledore and he bristled. How could Dumbledore have someone else there when they were talking about Harry's welfare?
His eyes fell on the person stood beside Dumbledore and he stopped dead. The words died in his mouth and he felt his jaw drop.
It couldn't be….
James automatically regretted the fast movements of sitting up. Every muscle in his body screamed in pain.
James groaned. He hadn't felt anything like physical pain for fifteen years and to have to feel it again was like going through hell.
He had forgotten how much a person could ache. And then he wasn't sure he could even stand up. But he knew he couldn't stay here. Harry needed him.
Harry.
Thoughts of his son propelled him forwards. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet. He nearly stumbled but fought off a wave of dizziness and managed to stay upright.
He looked around and flinched. He was back at Godric's Hollow. This had been his home. The one place he would have been safe had it not been for Peter. White-hot anger laced his thoughts when he thought of that night so many years ago.
His best friend had torn his family apart and left Harry with no one. Because of him James and Lily had died and Sirius had been sent to Azkaban. He sighed again.
No matter how angry he got at the situation it was past and nothing he could do would ever change the past.
No matter how much he wanted it too. But he was back now and nothing would get in his way of helping Harry. He had to focus on helping Harry and let Lily focus on helping Sirius. Now he had to help those that were left.
Harry being the priority.
James knew he had to get to Hogwarts. Dumbledore would know what to do. In the Afterlife James had become a powerful spirit because he knew it was one of the ways he could remain close to Harry.
He had conquered breaking through the various layers of the spirit plane until he was so close to Harry he could stand within an inch of him.
James had been shocked when he had first broken through. He had thought he had broken through into a time loop because the boy he saw walking along Hogwarts corridor looked exactly like himself.
But then he realised after scrutiny that this carbon copy of himself had green eyes. Dark emerald green eyes. Exactly like Lily's. He was looking at his son.
He had broken through when Harry was 11. It had taken him ten years to do it. There were more layers to the world than people realised and besides the Fates had slowed his progress. It was against the rules. But then that had never put James off.
Eventually like everything else he had succeeded. He had broken through. But then he had to watch all the trials his son had had to endure since becoming aware of the wizarding world.
It broke James' heart that as his father he had not been there to help. But now he was going to change all of that. He was here for one purpose and one purpose only…
To help his son.
James wondered what to do. He knew staying here wouldn't help Harry but he suddenly felt lost. He didn't know what would be best to do first. He looked around Godric's Hollow.
This place made him feel uneasy. It had a natural power base. It intensified the power of any witch or wizard there. Which meant that the Fidelus charm had been extra powerful.
Peter… He needed to let go of the hate but until he was seen Harry he wasn't sure he could. Even then he wasn't sure he could ever forgive his former friend.
He shook his head. He needed to leave. He whipped round as he heard what sounded like a swish of a cloak. He wished he had a wand. He dropped into a defensive stance and readied himself for an attack.
It had been fifteen years since he had been an active Auror but old habits died hard. He faced the threat and relaxed when he saw who the uninvited guest was.
Albus Dumbledore stood about ten feet off in the ruins of the house that had never really been moved. James smiled. "Some things never change."
"Hello James." Dumbledore said, "Do you know where you are?" He asked regarding James over his half moon spectacles.
He held his arm out and Fawkes came to rest on Dumbledore's shoulder. "I know perfectly well Albus." James bowed his head.
"Then perhaps we should go to Hogwarts. It is never same to remain here for too long." James nodded making one final sweep of the place that had been both his home and his resting place.
"Can you apperate?" Dumbledore asked. James nodded. "I still know how but I'm not sure of my magic. I'm not sure if it will be willing to listen to me." Dumbledore nodded. "No need to push the boundaries yet. Fawkes will take us both."
James nodded and smiled at the Phoenix who was now looking at James with the same intense expression as her master. She spread her wings and fanned out her tail James grabbed it and felt the sense of floating flow through him.
Dumbledore held on and then said ready, "One, two, three." Flames engulfed his vision and he thought himself to be moving.
When his vision cleared and he had regained his equilibrium he found himself in the headmasters office at Hogwarts.
This place was all too familiar.
He had many hours in here in his time at Hogwarts having been sent by various members of staff and then afterward he spent many hours in here as part of the Order.
James looked around. It was virtually the same even after all this time. Dumbledore still had an infinite number of trinkets. All the portraits still stood on the wall opposite the desk.
Dumbledore dusted the ash off his robes and then sat in a chair. He motioned for James to do the same. It was then James realised how emotional Dumbledore was.
"James." He said. His voice said it all. "I know Dumbledore I know everything." James said simply. "And I have been granted the chance to help my son." "I have made some mistakes James. Harry is in serious need of a father right now. I was not open with him and now he blames himself for Sirius' death."
"I know." James nodded. "I need to know how you came back." Dumbledore said. "I cannot tell you everything." James said trying to be as truthful as possible. "That would mean I was giving away secrets of the afterlife. But I will tell you what I can."
"Of course." Dumbledore nodded. Now seemingly back in control. He clasped his fingers together and looked at James. A signal for him to continue his story. James smiled.
"I wasn't exactly a rule abiding spirit in the after life Albus." Dumbledore just smiled the twinkle in his eyes were back again.
"I did some things that were…how shall I put it? Unappreciated." "Of course. Because James Potter always found a way to bend or break laws he thought were stupid."
James grinned. "I always obayed laws that were set down for safety." Dumbledore smiled. "Indeed. Indeed. However rules you always saw fit to break." "The afterlife was no exception." James acknowledged.
"Any way over the years I decided I hadn't done enough for Harry when I was alive so I wanted to be closer to him. I started breaking the wards on the layers of the worlds." Dumbledore's eyes went wide. "It can be done?" "If you know how." James said nodding.
"Anyway I started breaking through. There are many other worlds between the afterlife and ours but when Harry was ten I broke through to the one parallel to yours. In other words I could stand within an inch of you but never be seen by you."
"So you know the trials Harry has faced since he was introduced to the wizarding world?" Dumbledore said leaning forward. "Yes I have. I did my best to influence things but the afterlife wasn't very happy." James made a face.
"Then you also know about Sirius?" Dumbledore asked real sadness creeping into his face." "I do." James said real anger and pain welling up at the image of his best friend falling through the veil.
"That's why I'm here Dumbledore. You don't understand. Something upset the balance that day. Something upset the veil in the Death Room. Sirius wasn't meant to die last month."
Dumbledore's eyes went round and huge. "James what are you saying?" "What I am saying is that Tom Riddle has upset the balance between life and death. There is a huge rip in the worlds Dumbledore I have seen it. It is upsetting the balance. The Afterlife is suffering. They are angry and want Tom Riddle destroyed. They say is reign is over. That is why I am here. To help Harry do this."
"There is only Harry who can put this right. You know this. But now it's even more important. The fate of the worlds lie in the balance."
Dumbledore sat motionless. It seemed he was getting more and more shocks in a matter of hours. Perhaps even a man as old as Dumbledore could still be shocked.
There had been only one person who had managed to shock him into speechlessness. He could still be surprised, but one person always managed to go one step further than that.
Now there were two.
And they just happened to be father and son.
"I have been sent back because Harry asked for me. A star has fallen." "I believed that to be the case." Dumbledore said nodding. "But also I am here to fill the gap I was meant to as Harry's father."
James stopped for a moment composing himself. He still felt so guilty at not being there for his son that it had gnawed a hole in his heart.
"Sirius will return. He has too. The F-" James shut his mouth quickly. He couldn't give too much away. He glanced at Dumbledore. But Dumbledore as usual made no indication that he had heard the slip or that in fact he was interested.
James often wondered if Dumbledore did not know already. He amended his statement. "The Afterlife will make sure Sirius returned they have decreed it and Lily will send him back when she finds him."
Dumbledore smiled. "Ahh. So Lily is still happy and well." James smiled and got the far off look he always got when talking about his wife. "She is. She is well. She will come at times and tell me what is going on back there." Dumbledore nodded.
"Then perhaps we should inform someone of your return." "Can I see Harry?" James said almost before Dumbledore had finished the sentence.
"You can, I believe it will be the only way to get your son to return to Grimmuald Place." James flinched. Even he was not looking forward to that. The place would be empty without Sirius to liven it up.
"But I believe seeing someone else first is in order." "Dumbledore I will see everyone after I have seen Harry." James said angrily. "He needs me." "Yes and so does someone else. Besides he can help you see Harry."
Dumbledore took a handful of Floo Powder and through it on the fire. "12 Grimmuald Place." He said clearly. "Remus!" He called into the fire.
James felt his stomach jump. Moony! He was going to see Moony! He couldn't help but get excited at the prospect of seeing his best friend. He had missed Remus so much.
He turned his attention to the fireplace and heard Dumbledore say, "…Found a solution to the issue we were discussing earlier. I need your presence here at the school now."
Remus' face was visible through the green flames he was nodding "I'll just leave a message and I'll be there." "Excellent." Dumbledore said and withdrew from the fire.
He turned and smiled. "Be prepared for fireworks James." He warned. Remus has been worrying none stop this summer about your son." He stopped and added so quietly that James was sure he'd heard wrong. "What he doesn't seem to realise is he is not the only one."
At that moment the fireplace turned green and Remus Lupin was stepping out the fireplace.
He dusted down his robes and then said, "Now Dumbledore what have you…" He trailed off when he saw who was beside the Phoenix Leader.
He stopped dead. His eyes went huge and his jaw dropped to the ground.
Remus seemed to stare for what seemed like an eternity. And then in a croaky voice he said, "It can't be. Its not possible."
"Not pleased to see me Moony?" James said smiling and pulling his hand through his hair. A gesture he always made when he was nervous and if he was truthful with himself he had never been more nervous than he was now facing his best friend.
Remus seemed unable to speak. His mouth opened and closed and then he cleared his voice and said, "James…Oh my god." He took a step forward and then stopped.
His eyes narrowed. "How in hell do I know its you?" James laughed. "You were always suspicious weren't you Moony?" He smiled and muttered the incantation and transformed into his animagus form he lifted his head looked at Moony bowed his head in greeting and then changed back.
"I believe I was called Prongs for that reason." He smiled. Remus cocked his head and James rolled his eyes and said, "And the reason we learned, we being Sirius, Peter and I was because we found out you were a werewolf. We then created the Marauders Map which I believe is now in the hands of my son."
"HA!" Remus said getting out his wand. "How could you know that if you were James?"
James rolled his eyes. This was stupid. And he told Remus so. Which earned him a scowl.
"Look would I be here if Dumbledore didn't trust me?" Remus thought for a minute and then said, "That's true. But Barty Crouch managed to fool us all as Alastor Moody in Harry's fourth year. I don't want to in danger him again. I won't."
He stared at James who returned the glare with one of his own
"Where in hell would I get the substance of myself? You need something of the person youare coping for Polyjuice Potion. Where would i get it? The ground? Honestly Moony for a smart person you can be dense at times."
"You sure sound and act like James." Remus muttered. "James was the only one that ever talked to me like that." "You needed it at times." James shot back. "Sirius wouldn't he might have acted like a jerk but he cared too much." Then having realised what he said he paled.
He watched Remus and the colour drained from his face. He decided it was time to change the subject.
"But I know why you do it. I'm pleased your thinking of Harry. He needs that. He's been through so much already." Then he remembered he hadn't actually answered his friend's original question.
"But to answer your original question of how I knew Harry had the map its because I watched you give it to Harry in his third year. When you were forced to resign." Seeing Remus' confused expression James smiled.
"The Afterlife is a little more complicated than anyone is really aware Moony and I broke some of the rules."
Remus' face broke into a smile. The first smile he had graced anyone with all summer. "Marauder even after death huh?" James felt intense relief at those words.
"Yes. You finally believe me then?" "Of course I do. Do you blame me?" "Of course not Moony." They embraced like long lost brothers.
"James there is something you have to know about Sirius…" "I know Remus." James said gently. "You don't need to repeat it." Remus smiled sadly. "I miss him."
"He'll be back." James said quietly. "James that's impossible he's dead." "So was I. That hasn't stopped me returning. But then that was Harry's doing. Sirius will be back Remus. I know because his death was different. Sirius wasn't meant to die Remus. You have to understand. He fell through a rip in the worlds that shouldn't have been there. He IS coming back."
Remus looked like he was about to collapse. "I know it's a lot to take in Remus." Dumbledore said at last having watched the exchange between the friends without making a comment.
"Damned straight it is." Remus said looking between James and Dumbledore. "I came here ready to fight for Harry and then I found out one of my best friends is alive after being dead for fifteen years and the my other best friend wasn't meant to die in the first place. How is that NOT a lot to take in?"
James missed the rant totally. He had homed in on one sentence and ignored the rest. The rest wasn't important.
"What do you mean fight for Harry?" He demanded. "Is he ok?" He stopped and then shook his head "No anyway forget that question I know the answer." "Then you know more than us." Remus said.
"It would seem Harry feels extremely guilty and has shut himself away to stop any of us coming to any harm. He won't let us help him." Dumbledore said gently.
"He does feel guilty. He blames it on what Herminone called his hero complex. He thinks that if he had not gone charging after Sirius instead of listening to Ron and Herminone Sirius would still be alive."
James shook his head. "This is total rubbish of course. Because Sirius should never have died in the first place. And the only reason he did is because Bellatirx Lestrange pushed him through a tear in the world that should have never been there in the first place."
James pushed back a wave of tears that threatened to engulf him at the thought of his son in so much pain. "It breaks my heart. He is so guilty. He has no need to be. But I'm here now and I am going to help my son."
"He is going to defeat Voldemort and he is going to be a great wizard and I am going to help him."
"Then we shall help you to help your son." Dumbledore said. "Harry might as well be my son. I love him as one. We will get him through this." Remus said clasping his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Dumbledore when can I see him." "Tomorrow James. Today I am going to re introduce you to the Order and you need a wand." James nodded but then went still.
Remus watched as his friend got a glazed look in his hazel eyes and he went so still it would have been thought that he had been made out of stone. Remus began to worry for his friend when he suddenly snapped out of it.
He came to his senses to violently that he fell forward and when Remus met his gaze his eyes were wild with a conflict of emotions Remus couldn't begin to decipher.
All but one.
Fear.
James realised he had zoned out on Remus and Dumbledore and he tried to return to the conversation but he couldn't draw his attentions back to the room they were pulling him away.
James had always trusted his instincts. When he was alive his training as an Auror had simply intensified his instincts. They were great. The only mistake he had ever made was making Peter his Secret Keeper.
He would never forgive himself for that over sight but he had to let the past go. He sighed and let his instincts take over.
He started to see flashes of colour and slowly as the images began to slow he began to see solid figures.
The first thing he saw was a muggle children's playground. He frowned. It had a set of swings, a seesaw, a slide and a climbing frame. It didn't look familiar at all. Yet something told him he had seen this playground somewhere before.
He frowned again and concentrated on the images.
The ground was sandy and there was a path running away from the playground along a street and into houses. Why did all this seem so familiar?
He watched and as he watched the shadows seemed to lengthen and then they became solid and James could hear the distinct sound of voices in the shadows. All at once the shadows became figures, figures in black cloaks…
James jerked back realising what it must mean….
Jets of red and green light began to move around the playground and James began to yell.
He blinked and he fell forward back into Dumbledore's office. His breath was shallow and his heart was thundering in his ears.
All he could feel was fear.
Fear for his son.
"That wand will have to wait. I'll have to steal one. Harry is in trouble. Death Eaters have descended on Magnolia Crescent. They've trapped Harry in the playground. We have to go."
James had already stepped into the fire. He prayed Dumbledore were following. He was not stopping. He did not come back from the after life just to loose his son now.
Hold on Harry. James thought frantically
Just hold on… I'm coming….