Author's Note:
Idon't think it's any secret that I've grown extremely displeased with this story. Being my first fanfiction, it's not at all up to the standards I'd like to have for it. Saying that, if anyone would like to take over writing this story, send me:
Your name, pennameand age; names of previous works; sample of writing (preferably Marauder characterization, but not necessarily required); whether you would like to rewrite all chapters or pick up where the story leaves off.
There's no age requirement and the writing sample doesn't have to beperfect,so please don't worry about that.
My new story is called A Cruce Salus, for anyone who's interested. Hope to hear from any prospective writers soon!
Chapters 7-9
Chapter 7
Harry had thought they were having fun before...but look at them now!
He never thought it would be better, more fulfilling somehow, to be with Sirius in his own identity. He had never been so happy to be, not James Potter, but Harry James Potter.
Since the..."talk", they had completed the Slytherin prank (basically just vandalizing the entire common room while under the invisibility cloak—the looks on the Slytherins' faces had been priceless!), convinced a first year girl to use Myrtle's bathroom, and levitated their lunch into Sean Finnigan's bag.
Harry laughed so much that he thought he was going to suffocate more often than not. Now was one of those times.
Sean turned around and slung his bag over his shoulder. Suddenly, he slapped his neck, and when he brought his hand back, it was covered in an unrecognizable substance that Harry and Sirius knew to be the perfect mixture of everything on the table.
Sean gave a high-pitched, girlish yelp—one that rather reminded Harry of Ron in their second-year "incident" with the Acromantula. Opening his filth-riddden bag, he discovered that the "substance" was all over his things. He swirled around as if to find the culprit, or in this case, culprits, but the persons responsible were already making their way out, clutching their sides and almost falling over.
"That—was—bloody—brilliant!" managed Sirius through endless gales of laughter.
"B-better go," replied Harry with enormous strain, "he-he'll be out h-here...s-soon."
"Com-Common Room?" suggested Sirius as a couple of third-years passed by, looking quite terrified at what appeared to be two laughing maniacs blocking the entrance.
"No," he said, wiping a tear from his eye, "he'll be going there. It's about t-time we took a-a trip to Hogs-Hogsmeade, don't you th-think?"
"Definitely."
And so, laughing uncontrollably like the maniacs they were, they made their way to the statue of the hump-backed witch.
Harry almost had his laughter under control now...nope, there it went again.
The witch was just around the left corner, but Sirius turned right and ascended a long staircase. Harry's laughter was now partly confused, making him sound more like someone who's just escaped from the psych ward than ever. After another 15 seconds, he finally got control enough to ask Sirius (who was still laughing),
"Where are we going?"
Sirius's laughter died downed...er, eventually, and he feigned shock.
"Doth mine ears deceive me? James Potter's...son doesn't know the quickest way to Hogsmeade?"
"Yeah, I do, but you're going the wrong way! The hump-backed witch is over there!" said Harry, pointing in the direction they came.
"Wait," Harry continued, as they neared a tapestry. "Fred and George showed me this on the map. This is the entrance to..."
"Zonko's, yeah. Who're Fred and George?"
"But doesn't Filch...?"
"Who's Filch?" asked Sirius as he opened the tapestry to reveal a winding staircase.
"Caretaker—knows about this place, so I never got to use it. Let's go!"
They followed the stairs' circles for a couple of minutes with their wands lit. Eventually, they stopped. Harry thought they were there, but his wand revealed a long tunnel similar to the one that led to Honeydukes. They trudged on through the damp passageway for a long time while conversation ensued to keep them occupied.
"Who's your mother?" asked Sirius for what seemed like the millionth time since Harry had decided he wouldn't tell him.
"Why are you the only one at Hogwarts?"
"You're changing the subject."
"So what if I am?"
"If I answer that, will you tell me?"
"No."
"Fair enough. James invited me to his house, but I got the first ever Christmas break detentions for flooding the library."
"What the—how in Merlin did you do that!"
Sirius looked thoughtful for a moment.
"It was an accident, really," he said.
Harry smiled in the dark at how Sirius was the only person he knew who could flood a library by accident.
Finally, they reached another staircase—going up. When they got to the end and opened a door, they came out into what was unmistakably the Zonko's attic.
Boxes and boxes of items for the perfect practical jokes lined the walls, stacked up in rows that went up to the ceiling. Sirius reached into an open one nearby and pocketed something Harry couldn't make out.
Walking down to the main part of the store, Sirius didn't even bother to hide himself. He seemed to be a regular here, even when he wasn't supposed to be, and the people behind the counter looked like they could've graduated from Hogwarts last year.
Sirius placed two sickles on the counter and showed them what he had taken, which Harry could now see read, "Zonko's Low Risk, Minimal Danger Explosives." They nodded.
Sirius and explosives? Harry wasn't so sure there would be low risk and minimal danger involved.
"Where are we going?' asked Harry as they stepped out into a snow-covered Hogsmeade.
"Honeydukes."
Sirius and explosives and food? How about high risk and minimal fun—for anyone besides them.
Sirius stared half-interestedly at the Honeydukes candy. The current owner of this place was nothing like the last they had encountered. There was a single man, old and seemingly untrusting of students. It was annoying to be constantly surveyed as though you were going to try to run off with his products...although he wasn't wrong to be wary of them.
Suddenly Sirius tripped and knocked over an entire shelf of candy. The man heaved an enormous sigh of irritation and shouted at him,
"At least TRY to be more careful! Every time you come in here you manage to wreak havoc on the entire store!"
"Evanesco," Harry muttered under his breath, pointing at a batch of Sugar Quills.
"The entire store?" countered Sirius. "I only knocked over one section this time and I think you're being particularly harsh." He looked at the shop owner with mock hurt in his eyes.
"Erm...Mr. Whatever-your-name-is?" interrupted Harry before he started screaming again. "You're out of Sugar Quills."
Angry shop-owner guy looked at Harry as though he would like nothing more than to hex the robes off him, but thought better of it. He went to the back, looking very disgruntled and muttering about good-for-nothing kids.
"Now," whispered Harry.
Sirius took the explosive out of his pocket and threw it into the middle of the room.
"RUN!" Sirius bellowed at him.
They sprinted out of Honeydukes just as it went off, covering the place from ceiling to floor in unlikely combinations of Honeydukes sweets. They stayed for one look at the shop, then ran like bloody murder until they were out of sight. They collapsed, laughing, next to some rubbish bins outside of the Three Broomsticks.
The door opened and Lily Evans came out.
Harry's laughter died away. His mother put her hands on her hips.
"What was it this time?" she asked coldly. "Whatever it is, I'll have you for it."
Harry couldn't even manage to open his mouth, let alone form words.
Something inside Sirius clicked. He was looking back and forth at Harry and Lily. Slipping back into reality, he said,
"What are you doing here, Evans?"
"Staying here over Christmas break."
"Well, then...I daresay you'll find out soon enough. Let's go, James."
Harry didn't want to leave his mother, whom he had only met in dreams, memories, and ghostly interactions, but he had no choice but to trail behind Sirius.
When they rounded the corner, Sirius, unable to contain his excitement any longer, said,
"It's her! Your mother is Lily Evans! Dear GOD, she HATES James, how did this HAPPEN?"
Sirius looked overjoyed that his friend had succeeded. Harry was smiling as well—he was glad Sirius had figured it out.
"How'd you guess?"
"I just noticed your eyes are different...and they look exactly like hers! And the way you reacted...Merlin, Lily Evans is your mother!"
"You're insane."
But it wasn't Harry's voice that spoke these words—or even Sirius's.
Harry turned his head to see Lily staring at them.
Chapter 8
"You're insane," Lily declared.
"How're we insane?" demanded Sirius.
"You've—you two have—stooped as low as saying—saying I'm his MOTHER!" she spluttered out frustratedly.
"And?"
Harry went pale.
"AND—saying rubbish like that is NOT going to get me to go out with him!"
Harry let out a sigh of relief. She thought this was a ploy to get them together!
"You two will do ANYTHING to...to...argh!"
She stormed off, leaving Harry and Sirius where they were.
"Got quite a temper, that one, doesn't she?" remarked Sirius rather conversationally.
"You okay, mate?" he continued when Harry didn't say anything.
"Yeah," said Harry slowly. "I just—it's—I don't know, it's just—weird, you know?"
"Nope," said Sirius cheerfully, "hey—why don't you spend time with her, too? I mean, she i>is /i> your mother and all."
"No," said Harry abruptly.
"Why not? I mean—"
"NO! I'm sorry, but I barely knew her. She died when I was a baby. It's almost as if she didn't exist. It would be too weird—we'd have nothing to talk about, and she hates who I'm supposed to be!"
"But when Dumbledore let you use his Pensieve, I'm sure—"
"Just drop it, okay! I've had enough," said Harry, quite shaken, and turned to leave.
"Whatever," mumbled Sirius, trailing behind him this time and knowing enough not to push the subject.
Lily's POV
Lily ducked into the shadows as Sirius and James passed her...if that was even who they were. She'd thought they were rotten liars at first, but listening to their conversation made her think twice. For one thing, she'd checked, and he i>did /i> have green eyes. i>Her /i> green eyes.
Snap out of it, Lily she told herself. They can't be yours.
But James had looked and sounded so solemn, so...unlike James. And he was so defensive...they both really seemed to believe what they were saying.
Stop it.
But why did he say 'who I'm supposed to be'? That didn't make any sense. And what else had he said? Dumbledore's Pensieve? That didn't make any sense either, unless...
Unless nothing! You're being completely irrational
...unless the Pensieve was charmed...and she really couldn't put anything past Dumbledore...
Yes, you can.
But Lily had made up her mind. She was going to speak to the headmaster. She was too confused to make a decision for herself, and while she couldn't trust those two's words, she was positive she could trust Dumbledore's.
Lily's parents were Muggles, so she had been staying at Hogsmeade by herself—she'd wanted to be able to practice magic, but she also wanted to see her parents, so she'd compromised by coming to Hogsmeade on Boxing Day. She would've gone to Hogwarts if it hadn't been for that arrogant jerk Sirius, but apparently, she couldn't even get the long break from his idiotic antics she needed here. Anyway, what it came down to was that she could leave Hogsmeade without consulting anyone, so she did.
Suddenly, she stopped walking and realized what Sirius had meant when he'd said, "I daresay you'll find out soon enough—the Honeydukes owner was sitting in his shop, in the middle of an atrocious mess, with his head in his hands.
There was no need to wonder who the culprits were.
Lily quickened her pace and reached the Hogwarts gates within minutes. She strode across the grounds, almost running in anticipation.
Eventually, she reached the castle and Dumbledore's office. Unfortunately, she'd forgotten about needing the password. Lily had never, in all of her six years at Hogwarts, had reason to be sent here, so she had absolutely no inkling of what the password might be. The gargoyles guarding the office stared at her unblinkingly.
"Erm...Gryffindor?" she tried. "Hogwarts? Transfiguration? O.W.L.s? N.E.W.T.s? O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s? Prefects? Interhouse Unity? Er...Quidditch? Chudley Cannons? Bludgers? Quaffle? Snitch? Chaser? Keeper? Beater? Seeker? Aargh!
"Order of Merlin? Supreme Mugwump? Wizengamot? Ministry of Magic? Chocolate Frog Cards?"
At this, both gargoyles stopped snickering at her frustration and, looking quite put out, stepped aside and let her through.
Astonished at her good luck, Lily stepped inside and saw the door shut behind her. Seeing a long, winding staircase, she approached the first step and started ascending it, but on the second one, it began to move by itself.
Lily's arms flailed as she temporarily lost her balance, and she would have tumbled off had her swinging limb not caught on to a railing. Once she was safely back in place, she waited until the spiraling staircase reached an end and stepped off, somewhat relieved.
Lily knocked on the door and was answered with a,
"Come in."
Walking into the headmaster's office, she found she had no idea what to say. Everything that came to mind seemed foolish, if not downright intruding.
So she began with the obvious.
"Hello, Professor Dumbledore."
"Lily! Well, I must say, I never thought I'd be seeing youin here," he said with that ever-present twinkle in his eyes.
"Oh no! It's nothing like that! I just wanted to ask..."
What did she want to ask him? Whether James was really James, or if there was some kind of imposter here? If it was possible to converse with people on a Pensieve, or if you could go back years and years on a Time-Turner?
WHETHER SHE AND JAMES WOULD REALLY GET TOGETHER!
"Yes?" prompted Dumbledore. She had to say something.
"Erm...well...you see, the thing is..."
"Yes?"
"Is James Potter staying at Hogwarts?" she blurted out quickly.
"I can assure you, whatever your reasons are for wanting to know, that Mr. Potter is spending Christmas break away from Hogwarts, with his family."
"Are you sure, I mean absolutely positive that there is no way he could have come back early?"
"Ms. Evans, I have my ways of knowing where my students are at all times. I could summon him for you, if you wish, but—"
"Oh NO! That's not what I meant—not at all! I'm sorry to waste your time, but I really have to go!" she said in one breath, and rushed back out. Lily didn't stop running until she was all the way back to her rented room above the Three Broomsticks. When she got there, she sank onto her bed and groaned.
How was this happening? What did this mean? If James Potter was at home, who had she seen? She had been so surprised to hear Dumbledore tell her that that she'd even forgot to mention James and Sirius's little prank.
She just couldn't be her rational self right now—there were too many things working against her! Hearing Potter and Black say something off was one thing, but Dumbledore..
What was going on?
Staying up here wasn't doing her any good. All she could do was brood on an unsolved mystery—something she hated--but a butterbeer over some of her unfinished homework might be refreshing. So she gathered up her half-finished Charms essay and headed down to the bar.
Sirius's POV
Sirius had sensed how completely adamant Harry was about not talking to Lily, but he couldn't see why. Sure, he would rather never step foot in Zonko's again than willingly engage in conversation with hismum, but somehow, Evans didn't seem like the overbearing mother type.
So instead, he'd suggested a butterbeer—or firewhiskey, if they could manage it—at The Three Broomsticks. At first, it looked like nothing would revive Harry's sullen mood, but even after failing their attempt at scoring a firewhiskey, he brightened up considerably. In a warm and cheerfully decorated atmosphere, with butterbeer in your stomach, (and Madam Rosmerta to look at) it's hard not to.
That is, until they saw Evans rush past them.
Sirius thought Harry would ignore it, and he was ready to follow suit, until Harry said,
"Well, I guess this is where she's staying."
He had gotten all tense, and the silence that followed these words was awkward.
"I guess so," remarked Sirius lamely.
Conversation was somewhat forced until a couple minutes later, when Lily came back down. Then there was no conversation at all.
She spotted them immediately, and did something strange. She didn't fume or avoid them, like she usually did—she walked straight over to them!
When she reached their table, Sirius noticed an oddly hesitant look on her face—she seemed to be deciding what to do.
Finally, she blurted it out.
"Who are you!" she said to Harry.
Chapter 8
Things had not been going well for Harry lately. For the second time in two days, he'd been asked the question he feared the most—who are you?
The first time, it had been Sirius—and thank Merlin he had been so understanding! Sirius was a very trusting person, but now--Lily..
Her cheeks were turning red—it was obvious that she had been acting a little out of character by blurting out a potentially embarrassing question on both ends, and she knew it.
Before he had a chance to say anything, Sirius interrupted.
"You got us," he said sadly, "James has a twin."
"Don't give me that—that—who is he, really?" said Lily, now more annoyed than embarrassed.
"Who do you think he is?"
Harry silently thanked him—this was a perfect way of figuring out how much she knew without revealing anything to her that she didn't.
Lily looked quite flustered.
"Well, honestly, I...I don't know!"
"James Potter, perhaps?"
"No!"
"Ah, that is because this is Jane Potter, his gender-confused twin."
"You are a piece of work! Tell me the truth!"
"You don't believe me?"
"No!"
Lily bit her lip. Harry stayed silent, but he was extremely grateful that Sirius was trying to avert the conversation, despite what he'd said earlier about Harry spending time with Lily.
"And why not?"
"It...it doesn't matter! And anyway, I wasn't talking to you!"
"Well, we need to establish who you think you're talking to before you talk to said person."
She threw him a very annoyed look, and turned to Harry, all dignity forgotten in frustration of dealing with Sirius.
"Who are you?" she asked Harry again. When he didn't answer, she said, "Look, just tell me—are you or are you not James Potter!"
Harry and Sirius exchanged a look of defeat before noticing the looks they were getting from other people.
Finally, Harry spoke.
"Do we have to do this here?" he asked quietly.
Lily looked startled at suddenly making progress.
"Oh! Of course not! We could go to the room I rented upstairs, if you'd like."
"Of course he'd—wait, no he wouldn't," cut in Sirius. Harry gave him the annoyed look this time, but Lily just looked confused.
"Let's just go," said Harry.
"How do I know you're not lying?" asked Lily with her head in her hands.
Harry had just told her more or less what he'd told Sirius.
"Well...I don't know as much about you because Aunt Petunia never talks about you, but I have your green eyes...are you okay?" he asked when she didn't look up.
"It's a little upsetting; do you expect me to take this cheerfully!"
"I did," cut in Sirius...well, cheerfully.
"Well, I never did understand how your mind worked!"
"Think of it this way—moping about something you can't change is a waste of time. Now, if Harry had come here via Time Turner and could change things, i>then /i> I would be interested in doing something about it. Unfortunately, that would take more turning then possible, and it's not like we have to live with this knowledge forever. And are you upset about the fact that your kid will be orphaned, or that you'll have your kid with James?"
"I just need time to...mull this over. I guess I'll see you later...maybe." she said, ignoring Sirius's last question.
That was Harry's cue to leave, but he couldn't stand to see her hurting.
"So, are you just going to stay up here and mope around? Because, believe me, it's not going to do you any good at all. I spent my entire semester doing exactly that, and it only made me even more depressed and screwed up than I already was. Don't do that. Learn from my mistakes—someone should," said Harry on impulse.
Lily looked up at this. A mix of emotions played across her face—shock, pity, confusion, realization, and finally, acceptance...at least, he hoped.
"So, what do you want me to do? Walk around like nothing's going to happen?"
"It's better than this," he said, motioning to her place on the bed. "You don't have to do anything—but you already know what the better choice is. Let me know when you're ready."
And with that, they left Lily to her decision.
"I'll have a tall Chai frappaccino with whipped cream," ordered Sirius at Madam Puddifoot's.
Harry wasn't even bothering to contain his laughter.
"Hey!" said Sirius, "I have a prank in mind, but we might as well get something while we're here!"
This made Harry laugh even harder.
"I bet you don't even have something planned, you just wanted to come and get your regular at this macho, manly place."
"Not true!" said Sirius as he got his drink and sat down.
"Alright, then, what's this so-called prank?"
Sirius pointed his wand at the sugar bowl.
"Salsus," he muttered.
Nothing happened.
"Ah, yes," said Harry seriously, "I have seen the error of my ways."
"It's salt, now, you git! It's a classic prank."
"Hah! Give it up, you're not fooling anyone!"
"Fine...but I do have something planned for later..."
Lily's POV
Lily lay on her bed, thinking about everything. Her son (she had a son) had just told her not to mope around because it wouldn't do her any good. Her only child was going to have a miserable life, and she wouldn't even be there to see it! How was she supposed to get over that!
But as much as she didn't want to admit it...Sirius had been right. So had Harry. The circumstance was just too different from a normal one to spend it all like this. Nevertheless, she still couldn't process all this information. She had a son—with James Potter, of all people! Her son was the only one who could defeat Voldemort (she was muggle-born, and not afraid of the name). She wouldn't live to see her son's second birthday! How could this happen to her? How could this happen to him?
Lily knew the way her mind worked. She would stay up here for hours, just going over everything in her head until some of it made sense, but the thing was—none of this was ever going to do that!
She shivered. Was it cold in here, or was she just freaked out? A little bit of both, she decided. She could use a hot drink—but she was getting sick of butterbeer. So she hurried over to her favorite place for tea—Madam Puddifoot's.
It was even colder outside. She quickened her pace, but as soon as she stepped inside the shop, she saw Black and...Potter. Terrific.
Ignoring them, she got her tea and sat down. They were watching her. Sighing, she moved to their table.
"I wouldn't do that—" said J...Harry as she reached for the sugar bowl.
"Another ingenious prank, I gather?" Lily replied.
"Nope—I think Sirius is losing his touch."
"I am not!" said Sirius hotly.
"Yeah, I understand. You just prefer this place to The Three Broomsticks or The Hog's Head," said Harry mockingly.
"There's nothing wrong with this place," cut in Lily, "...and what's 'The Hog's Head'?"
"Ah, Lily," sighed Sirius, "You have so much to learn."
Author's Note: Well, there you have it.. Contact me if you're interested.