Chapter Thirteen: Shared Memories and a Fresh Start
Harry and Anakin walked back on board the Marauder two hours after leaving it, to find James, Lily and Ginny sitting somewhat dazed in the common area. They looked up as Master and Padawan entered before looking away again. Harry frowned and sent a quick request to Anakin to start the ship up and get off Tatooine. While Anakin ran to do so, Harry sat down opposite his parents and girlfriend, giving them what Anakin referred to as his "want to talk about it" look. It was a look which said that Harry could and would wait for all eternity until the person he was looking at talked. People rarely lasted more than about 5 minutes against him, Anakin himself could only last about 2 minutes. The only people it didn't work on were the Jedi Council.
After 3 minutes James broke the silence, having become quite unnerved by his son's steady, calm, unblinking stare. "We're certainly grateful that the Jedi Order took you in Harry, you've become a good man, everything that your mother and I could have wished for." As he stopped to order his thoughts, Harry swallowed; it meant a lot to him for his parents to be telling him that they were proud of him. Lily jumped into the silence, her eyes flashing.
"How you managed not to curse my miserable excuse for a sister and her oaf of a husband when you found out your heritage is beyond me Harry, I would have been cursing her and Vernon to hell and back for years."
Harry blinked and then replied quietly, "It would have made the situation worse Mum, besides which, they could easily have snapped my wand and then where would I have been." There were reluctant nods from his small audience before Ginny spoke up. "The wizarding world treated you disgracefully, as did the Dursleys but I think joining the Jedi was the best thing that could have happened to you Harry." Then she got up and hugged him, not caring that she was hugging him in front of his parents.
There was a squeak from Harry as James and Lily joined in the hug, and he was surrounded on all sides by warmth and love. Harry closed his eyes, briefly, before snapping them open as the ship lurched, throwing the whole lot of them to the floor in an undignified heap.
"Anakin what are you doing up there?" he called out, after picking himself up. There was silence from the cockpit and then Anakin called back, "Uh nothing Master. I just knocked the controls a bit. Hang on." The ship soon righted itself and then Anakin called out again.
"The navicomputer's finished the calculations for lightspeed, do you want me to engage the hyperdrive?"
Harry smiled and yelled back, "Sure, and then come back here."
A few seconds later there was another lurch as the Marauder leaped into hyperspace on its way to Coruscant. Seconds after that Anakin appeared in the doorway and flopped onto the seat beside James. Grinning at Harry he asked, "What did you want me here for Master?"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "I believe I promised you a trip into my past did I not?" Catching on to what Harry meant Anakin's eyes lit up. "Now?" he asked, trying to not sound too eager. Seeing his master's smirk he realized that he hadn't been very successful at hiding it.
"Yes now I, yes Dad?" Harry said, looking at James who had coughed softly to gain their attention. James looked slightly uncomfortable but continued, "Harry, there is a spell that will project a person's memories from their minds into the air like a movie projector. It can be set so that the person that is the focus of the spell doesn't relive the memories and also so that they can actually see them as well. Would you allow me to cast it on you?"
Harry looked around the group. Finally he gave a sharp look to James and Lily and said, "OK but no yelling at me over past misadventures. I'm an adult now remember." James and Lily looked at each other and then grinned. "Alright, but then we'd like to show some memories of our own Harry, of our Hogwarts days, and also you as a baby. You were quite entertaining."
Harry groaned playfully but then settled back against the back of the seat, with Anakin on his right side, Ginny on his left, while James and Lily sat behind him. James then cast the spell and Harry's Hogwarts memories started playing.
"Ah the first train ride" Harry commented as they watched. As they watched Harry grow up, there were the obligatory gasps at the right places, and some chuckling from James at the Whomping Willow incident. The Chamber of Secrets had Ginny pressing herself closely against Harry, while the werewolf and timeturner adventure of third year had everyone turning to Harry in shock and amazement.
Fourth year brought a mixture of reactions, admiration from Anakin for Harry's flying skills against the dragon, and shock and sympathy from the others over the third task. James did gently tease Harry over his non existent dating skills though, only to be slapped upside the head by Lily.
Fifth year brought outrage as they watched the battle of wills between Harry and Umbridge, and Anakin gripped Harry's right hand, turning it over to display the words that were still etched in the skin. He'd had questions about that scar and now they had been answered. The prank war against the toad was met with hoots of laughter from James and Lily, and the DA organization was applauded as well. Then came the infamous Ministry incident and Harry stopped the memories at this point.
"Hey why'd you stop Master?" Anakin asked. Harry turned to face him. "Because I want to say something regarding this next set of memories. I went to the Ministry mistakenly believing that I was saving Sirius, when it was a trap designed by Voldemort. You'll see one of the worst moments of my life at that point, Anakin, one of the moments that I'm not at all proud of and I just want you to know that I'm not like that any more."
Anakin looked confused. "I don't understand Master, I mean; it's not as if you used an Unforgiveable." He didn't receive an answer as Harry restarted the spell, showing the battle in all its ugliness, including Sirius' duel with Bellatrix, his death and Harry's reaction to it. Anakin gasped in shock and turned to Harry when the memory version of his master cast the Cruciatus curse on Bellatrix. The Padawan watched as the curse worked briefly before failing, and then watched Voldemort possess Harry.The duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort was next before the last memory of the Prophecy revelation, and Harry's destruction of Dumbledore's office. As the memory faded and the spell stopped, Harry turned to Anakin to find out his reaction to the memories.
"I, well, this doesn't change my opinion of you Master, all it does is show me that you were like me when you were my age."
"Like what Padawan?" Harry enquired. Anakin looked at Harry with a spark of mischief present before replying innocently, "Moody and temperamental Master."
Harry smirked and reached for Anakin's braid, only for his apprentice to dance away out of reach. Harry smirked and then transformed into Farsight and headed for Anakin's shoulder. Once settled on his shoulder, the falcon calmly nibbled and tugged on Anakin's braid for a good few minutes before taking flight again and transforming back into Harry. This had the effect of loosening up the tension that had been present at the end of the memories as James, Lily and Ginny were rolling on the floor in laughter at Harry's antics which was precisely what the Knight had wanted. While his family was occupied Harry slipped off to the kitchen to start dinner.
After dinner came the part that Harry was more interested in seeing, this being his parent's schooldays and then his baby memories.
The first memory was of the Sorting and the introduction of James Potter and Lily Evans to Gryffindor House. Harry, Ginny and Anakin watched, enthralled at the start of the Marauders, the pranks, and the eventual animagus transformations. Harry also winced every time the memory versions of his parents came in contact with each other.
"It's like watching Ron and Hermione" he said when asked about it. James and Lily grinned at him and merely continued the memories. As the memory versions of them grew older, Harry started to see the love growing between them and smiled happily when the memories turned to the wedding.
The next set of memories were embarrassing for Harry. The baby memories, which started in the maternity ward at St Mungo's hospital.
Memory sequence: "James will you calm down, Lily will be fine" Remus snapped as James paced round outside a room in the ward. After what seemed like eternity, the door opened and then mediwitch poked her head out.
"You can come in now Mr Potter" she said with a smile. James, Sirius and Remus rushed in to see Lily on the bed holding a blue-wrapped bundle. James gasped quietly and almost cried as he gently took Harry from his mother and looked down at him.
"Hello Harry" he said softly.
There were tears in Ginny's and Anakin's eyes at this point, while Harry was struggling to keep composure. James and Lily looked at each other and then the scene changed.
Four month old Harry shrieked with delight as he sat comfortably stuffed in a Christmas stocking hanging from the mantelpiece. Lily who was wandering through the living room said "Hello Harry" absently before stopping and turning round. "Harry!" she said before getting him out of the stocking and placing him in his playpen. She then yelled, "James Potter, our son is NOT a Christmas ornament!"
James looked shocked. "But dear I thought he made a wonderful stocking filler" he replied, before dodging several hexes from his irate wife. Kneeling next to Harry he scooped him up and held him in front of him like a shield. "First lesson Bambi, never annoy your mother, it's hazardous for your health" he whispered. Harry giggled, not understanding the words but enjoying being held by his father.
Now it was Harry who was struggling not to cry while Anakin and Ginny enjoyed the memories. Harry leant back against his parents, wanting contact with them. He was reassured a few minutes later when two sets of arms came round him.
"Next memory" Lily said.
"Harry you don't touch my wand" James exclaimed as he retrieved his wand from the fingers of the now 11 month old Harry Potter. Harry pouted as the wand was taken away but happily accepted the stuffed stag instead. A few days later Lily came into the room to find James staring unhappily into the mirror while Harry was bawling in the lounge.
"James what's wrong?" she asked. James turned round. "Never let him near your wand Lils, he turned my hair green. GREEN for Merlin's sake. I could have lived with red or even gold but GREEN!"
Lily shook her head but went to calm Harry down while James figured out how to fix his hair. They had an Order meeting that night and he didn't want to go to it with green hair!
Harry was now laughing himself sick, as were Ginny and Anakin. Lily was laughing as well, and there was a fresh bout of the giggles when Harry waved his hand and James' hair transformed into green with silver stripes. To make things more interesting, Harry didn't change it back until just before they reached Coruscant.
The next few memories were mostly mundane things, such as Harry's accidental magic getting stronger and stronger and his first birthday party, which was where he and Neville Longbottom met for the first time. All in all it was a lovely way to spend the trip to Coruscant and Harry thoroughly enjoyed himself, as did Anakin and Ginny.
A couple of weeks later the Marauder came out of hyperspace and Harry sat back in his chair. "Take over the controls Anakin, guide us in" he said. While his stunned apprentice guided the ship towards the Jedi Temple, Harry quietly stood with James, Lily and Ginny and pointed out areas of interest, important landmarks and other such things. When Anakin had successfully landed the ship on the Temple landing platform Harry turned to the group and said quietly, "Welcome home."
The landing ramp opened and Harry walked down, followed by Anakin, and then James, Lily and Ginny in a tight knot. They were met by Mace and Obi-Wan, who promptly took charge, herding them towards their respective rooms, Harry and Anakin split from the group to go to their own apartment, and promised to visit once James, Lily and Ginny were settled in their own guest apartment, which would be exchanged for their own permanent quarters once they officially became part of the Jedi Order.
Harry and Anakin swiftly showered and dressed in clean uniforms before walking along to the guest apartment that Ginny, Lily and James were sharing, to find the three walking up to them.
"Hello, can you direct us to the Council Chamber?" James said with a grin. Harry nodded and said, "Follow us, Anakin and I were heading that way for debriefing right now in fact."
As they walked they got curious looks as it wasn't every day that new faces were seen round the Temple. The curiosity was quickly satisfied when James, Lily and Ginny were introduced as new security and Healers. They made it to the Council chamber without incident and Harry stopped outside.
"Now remember, just be yourselves in there, and don't let them intimidate you too much" he said, directing his words at James, Lily and Ginny, all of whom nodded their acknowledgement of the instructions before they entered to find the ring of Council members waiting for them, along with Hikari, Sora, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Syra. The debriefing was fairly long but after an intense though short questioning session, the Jedi Council swiftly declared James, Lily and Ginny part of the Jedi Order. Lily and Ginny were whisked off to the Healers where they were assigned mentors to teach them Force healing over the next few months. James was taken to the Healers for routine inoculations, and then taken off to view the security system. He was assigned to Tahl, who taught him about the system and how to use it effectively. Harry smiled as his family seemed to be accepted into the Order relatively easily. He was sure that there would be a few adjustment issues, but he felt certain that things would go relatively smoothly.
He was right, thanks to the knowledge transfer spell, his family had no trouble fitting in, and James and Harry even teamed up to pull a few pranks which mostly involved them switching eye colours and heading off in various directions to cause havoc. Master Yoda was heard to mutter, "Survive the Temple will not, one prank pulling Potter, bad that was, now two of them there are." The rest of the Jedi took it in good spirits and Obi-Wan even gave ideas and helped out a few times, as did Anakin and Syra. Life settled into a comfortable routine and soon it seemed that James, Lily and Ginny had always been part of the Order which was what Harry had been hoping for when they had come with him. All in all, life at the present moment was pretty good.
Author Note
Right guys here is the last of the starter stuff. Next chapter jumps ahead to the beginning of AOTC which is why this chapter is bit short. I have ideas for the next chapter and it is being written right now, so no complaining about the shortness of this one OK. Apart from that may the Force be with you.
