Thanks a lot to Emerald-prongs-fan and AnzDiabloKiller for your last reviews. Sorry I couldn't reply.

Own nothing.

CHAPTER SIX:

Lily and James escorted Harry to the Great Hall even though he insisted that he knew the way. Once there, however, they were refused entry by a younger Dumbledore, who told them to wait on the stairs, and then shut the doors before they could ask questions.

Over the next ten minutes or so various members of the group arrived, some accompanied by students who too were sent to wait at the staircase without access to the hall. They gathered around the staff table where both older and younger Dumbledore sat.

"We have" older Dumbledore explained, "arrived safely in our desired era, and all as one group without injury. However it appears that our timing is slightly off. We have arrived three days before the event, rather than three days afterwards, making us six days too early. My younger self has arranged it so that we will merely blend in with the population of Hogwarts without bringing attention to ourselves by use of a spell."

They nodded slowly and older Dumbledore stood and raised his wand, casting the same spell over each of them. When he was done they turned to his younger self who handed them sheets with timetables and instructions, and they all left for bed.

Harry, Ron, Neville, Ginny, Rosie and Hermonine all went to Griffindor Tower but because he had not yet been sorted, Dudley went to separate rooms for the duration of the trip. At the staircase they split up and Ron, Harry and Neville continued to the seventh year boys' dorm room. Inside they found nine beds, three of which had their own trunks at the bottom. Five of the other six beds were occupied by three of the infamous four Marauders, Arthur Weasley and Frank Longbottom. All five were asleep.

Harry wondered briefly why Arthur never mentioned his dad if they were room-mates at school, but he decided he could ask later and the three of them changed for bed in silence. They climbed into the beds but all three lay awake for ages it seemed, until Harry finally heard snores from Ron's, and then Neville's, beds.

It was a good two hours later that Harry began drifting off, and as he did he heard the dorm room open and he realised that his own father was now coming to bed. It occurred to Harry that he had not seen him in the common room. James quickly changed and cast a silencing charm around his bed, before diving. In the split second before the curtains closed and the spell took effect, Harry was certain he heard a sob.

If James had indeed been crying it was not possible to tell the next morning except that he looked rather pale and tired. Sirius, Remus and the rest of his room-mates looked at him with the same surprise they would a dead man.

"You slept here?" Remus asked in surprise. "Why didn't you sleep in the head dorms with Lily?"

James shook his head. Sirius moved across and put an arm around his friend. "James, did something happen with Lily?"

James hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, but it wasn't her fault. She said something nice – if you can believe that – but I felt bad and wanted to sleep near you guys."

Harry watched in surprise at how carefully and patiently Remus and Sirius handled this seemingly fragile James. They both nodded and the boys all began dressing. It was only when Ron moved to open his trunk that they were noticed.

"Hello?" said Arthur quietly, "Who are you?"

Harry stepped forward. "I'm Harry, this is Ron and this is Neville," he said, pointing to the other two boys. "We're transfer students."

The six boys watched them carefully for a few moments, but seemed to relax and continued dressing. Ron and Neville grinned at Harry and the three of them followed their new roommates down to breakfast.

That was when they saw them. The Slytherins and the Griffindor girls were standing at the top of the staircase, arguing, and the boys quickly rushed over.

"Let her go - " a blonde Griffindor girl was yelling, and Harry was shocked to see another girl lying on the floor, clearly in some pain, covered in scratches and bruises which continued to appear as a Slytherin boy pointed his wand at her.

Harry expected a fight but he did not expect the way that Sirius and Remus leapt forward and attacked the Slytherin. He stumbled back, and the girl was released from the spell. More spells were fired on both sides, and soon all-out war had erupted. James, however, stepped back and didn't join out. He instead raised his wand and fired a few warning spells in the fray.

"Stop!" he called. "Step back! Five points from all houses involved, and detention if this doesn't stop now!"

Most the students stopped and stared at James in shock. Harry suspected he rarely used his power as head boy for the positive. They slowly disbursed and headed towards the Great Hall and the hospital wing. Soon only Remus, Sirius, James, Harry, Ron and Neville remained.

"Points from houses? Detention?" Sirius sputtered. "Honestly, James! It sounds like Evans has really gotten to you! Next you'll be telling us you love her!"

James didn't answer and Sirius froze. "Jamesie..." he pleaded.

"Go to breakfast" James said. "Forget about revenge, or Lily. It's time to grow up."

With that James turned and walked away. No-one followed. Instead the five of them walked slowly down to breakfast and entered the crowded hall. There Harry saw the people from his own time mixing with the people from this time.

Hermonine beckoned him over. "Harry, this is Lily Evans." She smiled excitedly at him.

Harry nodded. "We met last night. Hello again."

Lily smiled. "Hi, Harry. Sorry to rush but I don't suppose you've seen James? We have to do a presentation for Dumbledore."

Harry hesitated. "I honestly don't know. He broke up a fight, then argued with Sirius and took off."

Lily frowned for a second. "It's ok. I know where to find him then. See you later, Harry."

Harry nodded and watched her leave. He had never met his mother but several things caught him at once – she was beautiful, she was kind, she was pleasant, she worked hard, and though she may claim to hate James Potter she clearly cared for him in some way. But most of all? She was innocent. Harry could see innocence, it radiated like a charm. Lily Evans was an innocent.

And Harry knew that in less than a week that would be forever gone.