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Rating: PG-13 for now, although that may change later. Will be slash later in the story. HP/?, JP/LP
Spoilers: All books
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot. All Harry Potter™ characters and settings are the sole intellectual property of JK Rowling, Warner Bros. and various others who all aren't connected to me in any way. No money is being made with this fanfiction and no copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 9: Confession
Harry rubbed with forehead in the vain hope that he would alleviate the headache he had recently developed. 'How did it come to this?' he asked himself, glancing at the unconscious Pettigrew who lay on the hospital bed. 'I never expected him to thank me but at the very least I didn't expect him to ambush me. He really is a first class bastard' Harry continued, his internal voice sounding more bitter as he continued. 'If only I didn't know what I do know … it would be so much easier to just hate him with a clear conscious'
Harry nodded absently while Pomfrey fussed over him before once more checking on the smaller boy. He stared into the distance, not noticing when Pomfrey disappeared into her office. Several minutes passed by before Harry heard what seemed like several people running towards the room he stood in. He cocked his head, wondering what had happened to warrant a trip to the Hospital Wing, when the door burst open. Much to Harry's shock and surprise, it was James, Sirius, and Remus who had come through the wooden doors.
James ran into the long room before skidding to a stop. His alert hazel eyes immediately zoomed in on Peter, whose pale face was highlighted by the while linen. "What happened?" he asked between pants.
Harry looked at James, wondering how he knew that they were in the Hospital Wing. 'Gossip', he wryly thought to himself. 'Faster than the proverbial grapevine'. He felt a small pang in his chest as he realised how close the four boys were to one another, yet how one could break such a friendship apart. One dead, one wrongly imprisoned before disappearing behind the Veil and one an outcast from society. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Harry started to explain the events that had happened the previous half-hour that had resulted in one of the Marauders being hospitalised.
"I was on my way to the Library like I mentioned to you earlier" Harry began. "One of the staircases changed on me so I had to take a longer route and apparently Peter was also on his way there so he decided to accompany me. Anyway, I was walking along one of the corridors when Snape and a couple of the Slytherin thugs who were with him came across us. Rosier was there, Wilkes too. Anyway, Snape saw me and started to taunt us…"
**********
"Look at what we've got here" a silky voice came out of the darkness. "It's the Mudblood and the Squib"
"Piss off Snape" Harry snapped back. Although he had defended the greasy haired wizard, he still did not like the younger version of Snape. 'Not that I have much sympathy for the older one either!'
"The Mudblood has some backbone it seems" Snape sneered, his black eyes glittering with malice. "Pity about Pettigrew, look at him shaking with fright. Going to piss in your trousers because there's no Potter or Black to save you?" he asked.
From the corner of his eye, Harry could see that Snape was awfully close to the mark. Peter's watery blue eyes were looking in several /different directions, trying to find a way out of a confrontation. Seeing none, Peter started to slowly move so to use Harry as a human shield. One part of him wanted to see Peter hurt, but the other part knew he had to look after the shorter boy. He knew what the right thing was … as much as it galled him, he had to protect Pettigrew - the traitor. 'Pity Snape doesn't know … there is a Potter here to defend the rat's sorry little arse'
Harry's hand slid into his pocket and found his wand. "Move along and take those goons with you" Harry demanded. The weeks spent in 1976 had ensured that he was no longer intimidated by the memories of the older Snape or by the presence of the younger version.
"Who the hell are you to tell me what to do Mudblood!" another voice snapped back, who Harry guessed to be Rosier.
"I am no Mudblood!" Harry hissed back, drawing his wand out in response to the other three Slytherins. Harry knew that he was outnumbered, especially since he believed that Peter would not be of much use if the Slytherins started cursing. "Why don't you take your bigoted, ignorant, slimy arses back to your dungeons!" Harry said, his senses on high alert.
"You Gryffindors are all too bloody moralistic and stubborn-minded, except that excuse for a pureblood there" Snape sneered in reply, making no moves to return to the Slytherin common room. "I think we should teach you some manners on how to properly respect those who are your superiors"
Harry rolled his eyes as Rosier and Wilkes grunted their agreement. 'No wonder Snape allowed Malfoy to get away with murder! If he didn't, the greasy git would have had to admit that he himself was an arrogant, narrow-minded bastard. If he did that then he couldn't look down on the rest of us!'
"I don't see anyone here who is above you or me. I suggest that you leave us alone" Harry continued to say. "You wouldn't want to get into trouble, now would you?"
In reply, the three Slytherins drew their wands. Harry had his out in front of his, aiming it at Snape. Peter also had his short pale-coloured wand held out in front of him, but his hand trembled so much that Harry hoped that he would not be hit by a badly aimed spell from his fellow Gryffindor. Harry and Snape eyed each other warily waiting for the first movement, which eventually came from the Slytherins.
"Stupefy" shouted Wilkes, aiming for Harry. Harry, anticipating this, fell to the ground and rolled over while the red jet of light flew harmlessly over his head. "Peter, get down!" he shouted, hoping the shorter boy did not get hit by the spell.
From his current position, Harry sent a spell at Wilkes' legs. "Tarantallegra" he cried before getting to his feet. He glanced at the Slytherin with grim satisfaction in his eyes as Wilkes started to dance uncontrollably, dropping his wand in the process.
Harry quickly scanned the corridor for Peter to see how he was faring. Unfortunately, for both Harry and Peter, he was lying on the stone floor, unconscious. There was a nasty gash on his forehead, which was slowly oozing blood. From Harry's perspective, Peter had looked to have been hit with an unknown curse before falling into a statue and hitting his head.
While Harry was distracted, uncharacteristically worrying about the boy who would betray his parents and friends in a few years' time, Rosier had managed to creep up behind him. Rather than relying upon magic, the larger Slytherin grabbed Harry's arms and yanked them behind his back. Suddenly Harry's hair was grabbed and pulled, causing his head to tilt to face the ceiling, exposing his throat. Harry cursed himself for allowing himself to get distracted by Peter's injuries and thus finding himself in such a vulnerable position.
Snape pointed his wand at Wilkes, ending the spell that Harry had managed to send at him. Snape then told the other Slytherin to keep an eye out for any wandering students or Professors. Harry's green eyes watched warily as a smirking Snape slowly approached him. Harry's mouth dried as Snape held the business end of his wand against the hollow at the base of his throat.
"You know Mudblood" Snape started to say in a silky tone. "For a new student, you've made a small name for yourself, hanging around with Potter, Black, and their merry group of bootlickers. Word is that you were responsible for some of the pranks on the moronic Hufflepuffs and there are rumours that these tongue things come from you as well"
Harry recalled the amusing scenes that had occurred when the Slytherins encountered Fred and George's Ton-Tongue Twisters and successfully kept the smile off his face. Instead, Harry strained against Rosier, unsuccessfully trying to break free. Nor could he defend himself or his father since he could not talk due to the wand jabbing into his windpipe. "Then you had the nerve to protect me from your idiotic Gryffindor housemates. I don't need protection, especially not from a Mudblood like you!" he spat out.
'No' Harry thought fiercely to himself. 'You need two other people to attack me. Very honourable … like the snake that you are'
Snape nodded at Rosier, who tightened his hold on Harry, before transferring his wand to his other hand. He moved in close to Harry, close enough for Harry to see the thin capillaries in his eyes. To Harry's disgust and distress, Snape ran his long fingers down his throat, before encircling his neck, his palm laying over the necklace that Harry always wore. "Forgetting all that … you bear a remarkable resemblance to Potter" he whispered. "Extremely unusual for a Mudblood. Oh, but I did hear you. You claim not to be one but I assure you that Granger is not a pure-blood family name"
'No, it's the name of one of the brightest witches who will attend Hogwarts you bastard' Harry thought viciously, struggling once more to break free of Rosiers' grip.
"I know about you being adopted … so who were your real parents?" Snape asked, releasing the pressure around his throat slightly. "If they were from a pure-blooded family, maybe you should consider the error of your ways? Associating with muggle-lovers and blood-traitors will do nothing for your reputation and standing within certain communities"
"Fuck you!" Harry retorted, emerald eyes flashing with anger.
"Language Granger. Wouldn't want certain people hear you use language like that. You never know where you might end up"
Harry grunted as the pressure around his throat was increased once more.
"Or perhaps Potter Senior isn't the upstanding member of society he is proclaimed to be. Perhaps your mother whored herself out and you're the bastard son of that union?" Snape taunted in his silky sneer.
Harry saw red. A rage that he had only experienced once or twice in his life flowed through his veins. 'How dare that bastard speak of my parents in this way!' pounded in his mind. His body vibrated with anger, tension flowing between the Slytherins and himself. In his anger, Harry did not notice that the dragons' tooth had been steadily growing warmer where it lay upon his skin. He gritted his teeth and tensed his limb in preparation to lash out at Snape.
What Harry had not realised was that although the dragons' tooth only felt warm against his skin, it was burning into Snape's palm. Before Harry could act, a bright emerald coloured glow surrounded him, Snape, and Rosier, as well as Wilkes who had been standing a few feet away.
Snape screamed in pain, wrenching his hand away from Harry's throat. At the same time, Rosier released him from his tight grasp. A warm soothing feeling flowed through Harry and the tense feeling in his wrists and neck melted away. Meanwhile, the three Slytherins had fallen to their knees, gritting their teeth in pain.
Harry instantly moved to stand in front of the unconscious Peter, hiding the teenager from view, and aimed his wand at the three kneeling Slytherins. Wilkes was the first to recover. He looked up at Harry, confusion evident in his expression. Rosier and finally Snape got to their feet a moment later. Looking closer, Harry could see that all three had a faint glazed look in their eyes … reminding him of the farmer during the Quidditch World Cup. Somehow, the three Slytherins' memories had been altered, thought not by any of Harry's conscious actions.
"Get out of here" Harry harshly demanded of the three shaky teenagers, successfully hiding his own confusion at the events that had just occurred. Fortunately for Harry, the three confused Slytherins heeded his words and quickly moved away from Harry.
Harry glared after the three departing Slytherins until they disappeared from view. He moved his gaze to the unconscious boy who lay on the stone floor. He nudged Peter will his right toe, frowning at him. 'I suppose you didn't move fast enough, rat! I can't say I'm sad to see you like this. Merlin only knows how I would have loved to see you like this back in my own time. Then perhaps Sirius would have been free to show himself in public and he wouldn't have died…' Harry faltered for a moment as he blinked back a few tears that threatened to fall. 'Still, I'm a better human being than you could ever hope to be. Maybe it's because my father once believed in you … whatever it is, I tried to save you from Snape and his goons. Pity you're too pathetic to have taken advantage of the chance'
With a sigh, Harry flicked his wand and muttered "Mobilicorpus". The limp body rose into the air as if dangling from invisible strings and Harry slowly made his way to the Hospital Wing so that Pomfrey could deal with Pettigrew.
**********
"Bloody Hell" Remus swore under his breath drawing an amused look from Harry. "What? I'm allowed to swear!"
Sirius interrupted any reply Harry could have made to Remus' declaration. "I am going to punch that greasy git!"
Harry's anxiety grew as James nodded in agreement. "No!" he exclaimed loudly in the quiet room. Looking around the room sheepishly, Harry continued to speak in a lower voice. "No. For starters, you'll only end up getting yourself into more trouble. Secondly, I very much doubt that those three even remember what happened. I think they were obliviated"
"What do you mean obliviated? Who did that?" James questioned.
Harry unconsciously covered the necklace that he always wore, which had returned to its normal temperature. "I think … I think that it might have been me" he said.
"How did you do that? We won't learn that spell until later in the course" Remus asked.
"I don't think I did it" Harry replied. "At least not consciously"
"I still say we give Snivellus a good piece of our mind" Sirius persisted. There was a gleam in his blue eyes, more than anger, but not quite jealousy.
Harry sent a scolding look towards the angry teenager and laid a hand on his arm. "Sirius, don't. There's no reason to get a detention for hexing Snape over this. Peter will be okay in a couple of days, which will give you and the rest of us plenty of time to come up with some sort of subtle revenge. Punching him, as satisfying as that sounds, is more than likely going to reflect badly on you"
Sirius calmed down slightly as Harry talked to him, but he would not forget. Harry knew that at some later time, Snape and the others would be getting some payback, Sirius style, and he could not muster the effort to feel sorry for the Slytherins. Remus sent a small approving nod at Harry while James' hazel eyes sparkled with suppressed mirth.
Unfortunately, Harry's day was about to take a turn for the worst.
James turned to face Harry, his earlier amusement forgotten. "Harry? We know who you are" he stated in a quiet tone.
"I'm sorry?" Harry replied, frown lines forming on his forehead. He feigned ignorance but internally alarm bells were ringing.
"We know you who you are" James repeated.
"We know your name isn't Harry Granger" Remus clarified.
The blood drained from Harry's face, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the other three boys. Harry looked at James, whose thin face reflected his confusion and curiosity. On the other hand, Harry could not discern what Sirius was thinking or feeling. The aristocratic tanned face was an impressive mask of impassiveness. For a brief moment, Harry had the distinct impression that he may have hurt the blue eyed wizard, but the final member of the Marauders caught his attention. Remus had shifted from one foot to the other and in doing so, brought the Marauders' Map into Harry's line of sight.
If it was at all possible, Harry became paler. "The Map!" he exclaimed softly. "I'd forgotten about that. I guess that's how you found out." Harry slowly lifted his eyes to meet that of the brown-haired wizard, but it was not Remus who answered.
"You know about the Map?" James questioned, his eyebrows raised in shock. "How the hell can you know about that. Only Peter and the three of us know about the Map. Have you been looking through our stuff? Who the hell are you? Are you a cousin or something?" James finished, his voice raised to a shout at the end.
"James!" Remus chastised. "We don't need to attract any unwanted attention. Quiet down, Harry will explain in due time, that is, if you give him the chance"
James quelled under the stern look from the Gryffindor Prefect. Remus took the opportunity to continue to speak. "Apparently, there was a masking spell on your trunk and these two were practising the revealing charm"
"I just thought we'd accidentally charmed your trunk so I didn't think twice about using the spell on the trunk" Sirius continued.
"It said 'Harry Potter'. Now I don't profess to know everything about my family, but we're not a very large one and I've never heard of a Harry Potter and especially one who's the same age as me. Who are you and why did you hide your real name. Why pretend your surname is Granger and the story about being adopted by muggles?" James finished.
Harry stared at the three Gryffindors. 'Oh my god! I am in so much deep shit!' he swore. 'How can they have found out so soon. How did they break that charm Dumbledore put on my trunk? More importantly, what the hell am I supposed to tell them? I don't really want to ask Dumbledore for advice … perhaps McGonagall would be a better option? But then I doubt these three would believe me or trust me again. What would Hermione and Ron do? Scratch that, those two won't help. What about Remus and Tonks … Tonks would probably say act first, question later. Remus … well Remus told them about his being a werewolf after they confronted him with their suspicions. He trusted them enough to tell them the truth and they stuck with him. However, this isn't quite the same. I can't forget the fact that I'm not supposed to change time and if I answer their questions, they'll only have more later. Besides, I can't tell them about Pettigrew, or have them tell Pettigrew about me. Damn!'
"Harry?" Remus asked.
Harry realised that he had been silent for a few minutes, drawing worried and concerned looks from the other three boys. With an uncertain smile, Harry finally spoke. "Not here. Follow me" he said before hurrying out of the Hospital Wing.
**********
Harry settled himself into the couch that he had created. He saw the curious looks the three Marauders had shared as they entered the Room of Requirement. Harry had wished for a comfortable room, similar to the Gryffindor common room, for the conversation that lay ahead.
"This room. I've been here before, but it didn't look like this before. What was it … a broom cupboard?" Sirius asked out loud.
"You're right. Filch chased us down this corridor in Third Year and we hid out here. What is this room?"
Taking the opportunity to delay the upcoming conversation and confession, Harry answered the question. "It's called the Room of Requirement. A special magical room that will become anything you want it to be. You have to walk outside of the door three times, thinking about what you want and it'll be in there when you walk in"
"Wow!" Sirius whispered. "Can you imagine what we could do with that. Anything you want…"
"That's very interesting. Really it is, but we have much more important things to discuss" James said from his seat next to Remus.
Harry bit his lower lip in apprehension. "Firstly, I need to say something. I'll try to answer your questions, but I can't answer all of them. I promise not to lie but if I say I can't tell you, you'll have to trust me on that. The truth affects more than just me."
"Agreed" James finally replied after staring thoughtfully at Harry for several tense moments. "Are you really Harry Potter?"
"The Map isn't lying. I really am Harry Potter"
"I don't know of a Harry Potter though. What relation to me are you?" James continued.
"Long lost identical forgotten-from-the-face-of-the-Earth twin brother?" Sirius suggested.
James rolled his eyes while Harry shook his head.
"Cousin?" Sirius asked.
"No"
Sirius looked lost for a moment before suddenly suggesting "Son?"
Harry blushed. Strangely enough, he could not meet the eyes of the three Gryffindors for a long moment. 'So much for the vaunted Gryffindor courage. Bloody brilliant time for it to abandon me' he thought to himself.
Slowly Harry raised his emerald eyes. James had paled upon hearing the news while Sirius and Remus stared between the two Potters. Harry thought he could detect a small spark of realisation in Remus' eyes, but Sirius seemed dumbstruck yet also worried about the news.
"M-my son?" James questioned.
"Yes" Harry replied, somewhat nervously.
James' mouth flapped like a fish for several seconds before he finally spoke again. "I can see the resemblance," he said slowly. "It-Its kind of very obvious actually, come to think about it. I don't know why I never saw it before. I mean, people have asked whether we were brothers, but … my son! Who's the mother?"
"Do you really want to know?"
James thought about what the answer would mean for a moment before finally answering. "You know, I really don't"
"If you are James' son, obviously you must have come from the future" Remus theorised. "If so, when?" Remus asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Uh … I'm not really sure I should say" Harry replied.
"You may as well" Remus responded reasonably. "We already know you're from the future and we can probably guess a fair amount of whatever you tell us … or won't for that matter"
Harry still looked uncertain but he trusted Remus' implicitly, especially considering the previous summers' events. "I guess" Harry finally admitted. "I can't see how it can affect anything really. It was September 1996 when I left"
Sirius looked thoughtful for a moment. "You're what … sixteen then? That would mean that you were born in 1980?"
"I'm going to be a dad in four years time?" James shouted, jumping up from his seat. "I don't even have a girlfriend yet!"
"Well you've got the living proof in front of you there James" Remus replied dryly. "Why don't you sit down. What will happen will happen, there's no point worry over it"
Harry suppressed a smile at Remus' gentle reprimand, remembering with fondness his third year at Hogwarts. That drew his thoughts back to Sirius, whom he had met for the first time that year. In such a short amount of time, Sirius had become a very important figure in his life. It was hard for Harry to accept that he would have to return to a time without Sirius, especially since he had been so protective over his godfather, even to the extent of hurting him for his own safety. 'And look where that got me' he thought bitterly.
Harry let his gaze settle on the sapphire-eyed wizard, who seemed to be mulling over the recent revelations about Harry's identity. 'He should never have gone to Azkaban. In a perfect world, James and Lily would still be alive, but nothing is ever perfect around me. In a fair world, Sirius would have been free, perhaps with a careers as a successful Auror … with a wife or a lover and maybe even children. He should have been happy, not wrongly imprisoned and hated' Harry mused.
For a moment, Harry allowed himself to imagine the kind of life Sirius could have had, who Sirius would have loved. There was a whole host of people at Hogwarts, girls and boys alike, who had their eyes on Sirius. Despite his family's dark reputation and his own maverick behaviour, Sirius' handsome looks and popularity had ensured that he was a highly sought after wizard with a long list of willing dates.
**********
"Oh I'm stuffed" Harry exclaimed as he fell onto the plush red sofa in the corner of Gryffindor Tower by the roaring fireplace.
"I agree" Remus replied. "The House Elves are absolutely wonderful!"
"It's a good thing I don't have to go to Quidditch practice. If I had to fly tonight, I might have thrown up"
"Never a good thing"
"Nope. Never know who it might hit"
"Depends" Remus replied with a wicked glint in his amber eyes. "Could be worth it to se the expression on certain people's faces!"
"Remus!" Harry cried. "I didn't think you had it in you to be that malicious!"
"I'm not really," he admitted. "More than likely I'd feel terribly guilty afterwards unlike those other two"
"Are they really that bad?"
"I suppose it depends on where you're coming from" Remus said thoughtfully. "The Professor's are torn between exasperation and amusement. Those two do like to put on an act, even though they're likely to get into some kind of trouble"
"Sort of a way to lighten the tension" Harry suggested.
"Exactly. Sometimes the atmosphere's so suffocating, especially in the mornings. It's like a black cloud hanging over everyone for the remainder of the day … well most of the students" Remus explained, the 'except most of the Slytherins' remaining unvoiced.
Harry shook his head in confusion. He looked over his glasses, the ones that the older Remus had suggested he buy, and raised a dark eyebrow in question.
Remus looked confused for a moment before realisation graced his face. "Mornings … when the post usually arrives. Especially the Daily Prophet"
Harry wrinkled his nose as he remembered the articles the Daily Prophet had printed about him the previous year. Taking a calming breath, Harry started to speak. "News about…"
"You-Know-Who and his henchmen"
"Ah" Harry exclaimed softly. 'And I was just beginning to forget about him'
"There are rumours about who's allied with the Dark Lord" Remus continued. "They've been named Death Eaters … what a truly disgusting name!"
Harry felt slightly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation yet could not think of another subject that would not arouse any suspicion in the observant werewolf. "But it is just a name" Harry said reasonably. He examined Remus for a few seconds as he wondered whether to continue along the same thread of conversation. Finally, he decided to trust the boy who would one day support him. "Just like You-Know-Who is really Voldemort," he said slowly. Harry waited for Remus' reaction to his statement.
To his credit, Remus gave no outwardly reaction except for the slight widening of his eyes. "Aren't you afraid to say the Dark Lord's name?"
"No" Harry replied. "It's just a name. A wise man once told me that fear of a name increases the fear of the thing itself. No … the name Voldemort doesn't scare me anymore," he said trailing off into silence.
Harry could feel Remus' eyes on him yet he felt strangely embarrassed and could not meet his eyes. In an attempt to distract his friend, Harry started to speak again. "Any ideas on who these so called Death Eaters are?"
Remus leaned back until he was sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Harry. "I have no idea about how many there are but I know several of Sirius' relatives are likely to be members" Remus replied.
Harry grimaced. "Don't let Sirius hear you say that." Remus winced in reply and looked around the common room for the tall, handsome wizard as Harry chuckled quietly next to him.
Harry thoughts strayed to two of the three Blacks currently attending Hogwarts. Harry had NEWT level Potions, DADA, and Charms with Sirius' cousin, Narcissa … the future Mrs Malfoy. Luckily for Harry, Sirius, and the others, Narcissa seemed inclined to ignore Sirius, a gesture that Sirius reciprocated rather than actively antagonise him. That was not to say that they didn't insult one another when the opportunity arose. Narcissa's favourite remarks would include referring to Sirius' mother, something that would almost be guaranteed to put Sirius into a bad mood for the remainder of the lesson.
Regulus Black, on the other hand, was a fourth year Slytherin. Harry had only seen him across the Great Hall during meals and in the corridors as they walked from lesson to lesson. Remus had pointed the younger boy out one morning and Harry had been struck by the resemblance to his older brother, yet how different they looked at the same time. Regulus had also inherited the glossy black hair and tanned complexion and could have been considered almost as good-looking as his older brother.
However, Regulus did not have the confidence that his older brother exuded with every step. Harry supposed that Regulus allowed his mother's thoughts and opinions to influence him in a way that Sirius had openly rejected. Maybe it was just because Harry knew the ultimate decisions and fate of Sirius' younger brother or maybe it was because he was closer to Sirius, but Harry felt that Regulus was just a pale and perhaps even, unworthy imitation of Sirius.
Harry considered it advantageous for his mental well being that Bellatrix Black was no longer attending Hogwarts. It appeared that Andromoda and Bellatrix were several years out of school. In fact, Sirius' favourite cousin had already married Ted Tonks, a muggleborn, and they had a little girl. Harry had suppressed a snort of amusement as he imagined the five year old Nymphadora Tonks. He imagined that it was a full-time job keeping Tonks out of trouble, considering her clumsy behaviour. That and the likelihood that both Andromoda and her husband were rather proficient at repairing and cleaning charms.
Bellatrix on the other hand, had apparently married Rodolphus Lestrange. Harry suspected that if she had been at Hogwarts in this year, he would have been hard pressed not to have hexed her stupid, considering all the lives that she had ruined. Harry pushed away the memories of casting the Cruciatus curse on Bellatrix Lestrange. It had taken many conversations for Harry to come to terms with the hatred he felt towards her and the extent to which he would and could express it. If not for the understanding support of the wizard sitting next to him and empathy of his Big Sis, Harry could have fallen into a deeper state of depression.
Remus, who had decided to break the comfortable silence that had fallen over them, brought Harry out of his wandering thoughts. "Looks like one of Sirius' many admirers may try his luck today"
Harry nodded absently. Suddenly he whipped his head around to stare at the smiling werewolf as the meaning of his words sunk in. "His luck?"
"Yes" Remus replied, frowning faintly. "Do you have a problem with it?"
Harry shook his head violently. "No, never really thought about it much to be honest. My … adoptive father" Harry said, somehow successfully suppressing the disgust in his tone at having to refer to Uncle Vernon as a father figure. "Didn't like those kind of people … homosexuals, gays. I'm of the opinion that whatever he didn't like can't have been all that bad"
"What about Sirius?"
"I have to say, it didn't occur to me that he was, you know … gay" Harry replied slowly. "But then I never thought to look at it like that or to ask him. It doesn't bother me though." With a soft smile Harry continued, "He's still the same old Sirius"
"Bisexual"
"Huh?"
"Sirius. He's got over half of the witches and a sizeable amount of wizards vying for his attentions" Remus answered.
"So who has he gone out with?" Harry asked.
Remus scratched his head. "Umm … honestly? I can't really remember them all. A couple of Ravenclaw girls and one guy, several Hufflepuffs, and a fair few of the Gryffindors too. They've never lasted long though." Remus shrugged. "No more than two or three weeks at the most. Personally, I think he's looking for something and it's been missing in everyone he's gone out with. I've no idea if he'll find it though or what it is that he's looking for"
'He really deserves it, more than most' Harry mused. 'I wonder what it is that Sirius is searching for. Mind you, I always did picture him as a womaniser of sorts … I suppose it is true in a sense.' Harry cocked an eyebrow at the amber-eyed wizard sitting next to him. "What about you Remus? Anyone interesting you?"
"I doubt it" Remus replied with a sad smile. "I wouldn't want anyone to have to put up with me"
Harry was appalled at Remus' low opinion of himself. "Why the hell not?" Harry demanded. "You're a great person … intelligent, considerate and many other nice things. You'd be a great catch!"
Harry saw the pain in those strange amber eyes before it was masked and he realised that it was the wolf within that caused Remus to deny himself love. "We'll see" Remus replied, looking at Sirius instead of meeting Harry's eyes.
Harry followed Remus' gaze. Sirius had stood up and was leaning against the wall, next to a large portrait, listening to the blonde haired boy. His face was open and friendly but his blue eyes remained unreadable. Harry eyed the teenager talking to Sirius. "Remus? Remind me … who is that talking to Sirius?" Harry asked.
Remus started to straighten his robes. "That's Charles Tanner, seventh year"
"The same one who tried out for the Beater position?"
"Yes. James decided to go with Holmes since he's in the fourth year. More time to mature and he'll still be in the team next year. I'm just going to get that book on Enchantments, be right back" Remus replied before getting up and walking towards the staircase leading to the boys' dorms.
Harry smiled at Remus before turning his attention back to Sirius. Tanner was still smiling and laughing, but he had not noticed that Sirius had started to look slightly uncomfortable. Harry cocked his head as Sirius looked over Tanner's head, right at him. Harry, feeling very relaxed as he relaxed into his seat, smiled and arched his eyebrow in question. 'I wonder if Tanner is actually asking him out? More interestingly, will Sirius accept?' Harry mused as he maintained his eye contact with the blue eyed wizard. 'Strange though … I would have expected Sirius to be going out with someone by now but he's still single. The things you learn'
Harry allowed the chatter of the Gryffindor students to become a soothing hum in the background as he watched the interaction between Sirius and the Seventh year. Tanner lay his hand on Sirius' arm in an attempt to regain his wandering attention, startling the Gryffindor Beater and causing Harry to chuckle under his breath. Sirius started to talk to Tanner, his arms gesticulating as he spoke. Harry watched with a great deal of curiosity as the expression on Tanner's face changed. There was hopefulness to confusion to disappointment, from which Harry surmised that Sirius had gently refused the older student's offer.
Harry was impressed by the manner in which Sirius had handled the entire conversation. 'That would have been useful to know last year' Harry thought. 'Perhaps the whole thing with Cho wouldn't have been quite so awkward. Thank Merlin I got over her … it was just strange and pretty much doomed from the start!' Harry snorted softly. 'Should have guessed that from the beginning though … I am the bloody Boy-Who-Lived. If all the people interested in me romantically don't want me for my fame - or infamy as the case may have been - or money … then I'm a bloody Skrewt!'
Harry was brought out of his increasingly depressing thoughts by a shout. "Sirius!" James yelled as he approached his best friend. Harry quickly scanned the common room and noticed that Charles Tanner had sat down at one of the study tables. As James and Sirius started to walk towards where he was sitting, Harry noticed several eyes following them. His emerald eyes widened in surprise as he realised that several girls were looking at Tanner with smirks playing around their mouths before turning to stare at Sirius with a predatory look in their eyes. An involuntary shiver ran down Harry's spine. 'Merlin help anyone who ends up going out with Sirius if they've got to put up with that!'
"Harry!" James shouted. "Coming up?" he asked, nodding towards the staircase. Harry noted that Remus had not yet returned and so stood up to join James and Sirius, intending on carrying on his conversation with the werewolf in the sixth year dorms.
**********
Harry looked at the three teenagers who seemed to be struggling to understand the information that had been revealed. A small part of Harry thought that Dumbledore would probably not have approved of his decisions and actions, but Harry felt that his first loyalty lay with those who had and would give their lives for him, not someone who manipulated people and situations to serve the greater good.
Sirius seemed to be having a mental argument judging by the expressions that flew across his face. Finally, his eyes focussed upon Harry. "So how much of your story about being adopted is true?"
Harry winced. He had hoped that they would not ask him about this. He had no intention whatsoever of mentioning the Dursleys or his childhood, besides which, saying so would infer that James and Lily had died and would further cause more unwanted and unanswerable questions. "I can tell you that it was not the complete truth nor is it a total fabrication, but I can't answer your question. It'll cause you to ask questions that I can't answer. You just have to trust me" Harry pleaded. He looked into Sirius' eyes and hoped the other boy would understand the sincerity of his words. Luckily, whatever Sirius saw in his eyes seemed to satisfy the teenager enough not to question Harry further and Harry let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Why are you here?" Remus asked. "Or rather, how did you get to here?" he clarified.
"I arrived in this time by some sort of a freak accident involving a portkey and I can't go back quite yet. The Headmaster and some of the Professors know about my situation and they're trying to find a way for me to get back into my proper time. Unfortunately, between school, the war, and whatever else they're doing, there's little time left to deal with my problem. They obviously haven't come up with anything yet so I'm afraid you're stuck with me for a while. I'm to stay here at Hogwarts and carry on with my NEWTs until I can return back to my own time"
Harry took a deep breath. "Look. I know this must be a huge shock to you. It certainly was for me when I first arrived, but one thing you have to remember is that you cannot tell anyone about me and when I'm from and you can't talk about it where other people can hear you. Something I'm sure you can manage given the Map" Harry said. "I think I should give you three some time to absorb what I've just told you. Think about it. I'm going to take a walk and I'll meet you back in the Tower afterwards" Harry said before standing up and walking towards the door.
Inside, Harry was a mass of nerves. Worry, pain, hope, and anticipation swirled within him. He could not begin to put words to the many questions and worries that plagued him. He turned back to look at James, Sirius, and Remus one last time before walking out of the Room of Requirement, a destination already in mind. A single thought remained in Harry's mind. 'What do they think of me now? Can they accept me? Will they believe me?'
Harry's feet had unconsciously taken him to his destination and before he knew it, he was standing in front of the wooden door, wondering why of all people he had decided to come here. He shrugged. 'No matter worrying about it now' he thought. Instead, Harry raised his fist and knocked twice.
A moment later, a distinct "Come in" was heard through the thick door and Harry entered the room.
**********
Author Notes:
Firstly, I would like to announce that I have a just got a Livejournal. It can be found at or accessed from my Profile page. Please have a look. I have started posting entries from Harry Potter's Diary and will (hopefully) be updated incredibly often. At least once every few days if not more often. It's won't be up on ffnet for a while though. I would really love some feedback on how it is so far and should I continue.
In addition, I will also be posting Missing Scenes from Turn Back Time on my Livejournal. The first one should be up and all future notes about my progress in my stories and missing scenes and other bits and pieces will be there first. Please read and leave comments/reviews. All will be appreciated and taken into consideration when edited for ffnet. The Missing Scenes entries will probably work into a larger piece of Turn Back Time at some later unspecified time. If there are enough people visiting my Livejournal, I may post some spoilers or even small bits of the upcoming chapters of Turn Back Time and Happily Ever After?
Secondly, a huge thanks to all those who took the time out to read and review the last chapter/story. Hello to all those who are new to Turn Back Time and I hope you are enjoying it so far. I asked for reviews and got an incredible 44!
So, if I may be so presumptuous … can I ask if you wonderful, fantastic readers will review. I would love to get another 35 reviews by the next time I update. That would hit me at about 375 reviews. Don't forget to check my Livejournal for updates as to how I'm progressing.
Warning: The following review responses contain hints and spoilers for future plot points and chapters! HUGE thanks to everyone who took time out to read and review the last chapter of this story, you have my gratitude! These include Lady Pyra, Musicstarlover, scarletstargirl. Lady of Hogwarts, gaul1, an, lilypotter, Alynna Lis Eachann, Jazzylady, Jedi Sapphire, CutieCherry, Mikito, Dirty Munchkin, Lady Phoenix Slytherin, liveandletlive, Phoenix, Marauders-Lover, Slytherin Princess, penny, bailyy, Luna Potter/Took and, LadyCandlelight.
pameruh qui aime malfoy - There was a kiss at the end of chapter Eight. Honest ... it's right at the end. You've got the ship right. I have been in more of a writing mode (two applications and several diary entries, a chapter and a missing scene!) Wonder how long it will last? Gal you found the story and are enjoying it.
Necromant - You were only a few off. I am inclined to tell you since you've been a fantastic reviewer and have been pondering about it for ages. Have a couple of Diary entries to do first but will possibly email you re: spoilers after. Peter's pretty much going to go as expected, but I'm thinking of a missing scene to try and explain him a bit more. Will have to see. The quote ... it's my being sarcastic and Remus being ironic without realising. PS. I love long reviews!
Locolisa - Answers to your first question is in this chapter. As regarding your worry, who knows what Harry's presence will do? Maybe it changes ... but maybe it stays the same. You'll have to wait and see but it'll become obvious come spring.
walkin' - I just had to say that your review made me laugh. Short, sweet, and to the point!
SPASH Panther - I wanted something more original than looking in the Map. Will Peter find out ... would you want him to know the truth?
zorro x - Thanks. I love to hate Peter too.
Calen - Sorry you feel that way but it will be slash. One of my aims is to show this ship can be done tastefully and hopefully to open people's minds.
Darcy - The Egg has not been forgotten. It's still incubating.
Redmeadow - Glad you decided to give it a go. Harry and Remus have an interesting relationship, one I have found that I love to write. I doubt Harry would touch Snape voluntarily after this chapter, don't you?
Romm - Too right!
A-Brighter-Dawn - It's one of the two! Don't you hate me right now? LOL
FireFaerie23 - Does the above chapter answer your question? Sorry but I hope you like where this one will go. Besides, we've not seen the last of Snape by any means.
Jaded Angel8 - *blush* Thanks. I do read them all and reply to all questions and emails (I hope!) I find that feedback helps me improve and think of things I've missed. I'm glad you like the story although it's not your ship, you're a wonderfully open-minded reviewer.
Sirius-Hotness - Glad that you liked it and you think that the story is great. Hope you keep on enjoying it!
Richan MMIII - Whoppee! Seriously, I really like Gifts and AGFT. I understand ... glad you like it though. Excuses? Sounds like a reasonable explanation *coughcough*
Serpent of Light - I am inclining there since he pretty much is reformed anyway, but unfortunately Snape will get a whole lot worse before he improves! I love Remus too but he had his suspicions. Very observant is our resident werewolf.
xMadgirlx - Hope you enjoyed the rest of the story as well.
Larissa - Harry can't stay and ive through (Quantum physics rules apply) but he won't be leaving alone. Make of that what you will but it's not a predictable ending (I hope) and the surprise at Christmas will be involved as well. Snape's reaction is in the above chapter. Is all happening now.
Dadairo - Firstly, thank you so much for the wonderfully long review. Kudos! Quidditch is a few chapters away, there are some other things to come first. James, Remus, and Sirius will find out bits and bobs in drips and drabs, but at some point, they'll discover everything, but not for an extremely long time. I haven't set those ideas in stone and can't easily change as I write. Everyone hates Peter, including me, but as I write more and more of him, I start feeling incredibly sorry for him. Still hate him though.
Will Harry become an Animagus - more than likely I guess. I decided on the animal a long while ago. Lily and James are often portrayed as hating one another and James and Sirius are stereotyped incredibly badly, especially post-OotP but I have my own opinions that will develop as the story progresses. You'll probably see more Lily/James in my Missing Scenes on my Livejournal.
I won't talk about lessons here but it'll keep on cropping up in the plot. Harry is also quite gifted in Charms if you read the books carefully, so it's just not only flying and DADA. I believe that Harry doesn't fulfil his true potential partly due to the influence/behaviour of Hermione and Ron and the expectations of the Wizarding world as their saviour, partly die to Voldemort worries/ thinking he could end up like him and partly due to his childhood with the Dursleys. You can only be told so many time that you are worthless before you start believing it, even unconsciously. In 1976, Harry doesn't have many of those constraints and with MPP, Lily and Snape (as much as Harry would hate to admit it) who are some of the cleverest wizards/witches to attend Hogwarts in recent times, he can only flourish and achieve what I think is his true potential. Besides, after learning the nuances of magic, power will be a huge factor, something that Harry has more of than most others. I liked writing the James/Sirius talk, hopefully will be one of these types of things. Will Sirius say anything ... in a little while. They saw his real name on the trunk that Moody gave to Harry. Moody engraved Harry's name on it. Thanks for the comments!
LadyLilyPotter - Yes it is that ship. Don't get all depressed just yet. Lots of twists and turns to come.
Mrs Sniffy - They have now.
Alunarae - I haven't decided yet, I want to delve into it more in greater depth and I may do that in the Missing Scenes which will be on my Livejournal.
I apologise in advance for any mistakes, spelling, grammatical or otherwise. It is all my fault since this is unbeta'd. Please review and send any helpful comments, all will be appreciated. Any flames, however, will be, in all honesty, disregarded. Thank you for reading!
SStar