Previously
"I have some of your old stuff at my cottage James, if you want I could get bring it here for you." Remus said.
"Why don't you go with him James? It'll give you guys a chance to talk."
"Self-harm? What do you mean self-harm? I don't hurt myself."
"Mutilating your hand with a quill Mister Potter is something that I believe falls under self-harm." Umbridge said.
"Alright. Do you want me to come to night?" Harry asked.
"If you want, and by that I mean if you're not swamped with homework, have tests tomorrow and want to." James said smiling. Harry smiled too.
"You know, I do believe that the only thing that has changed, is the number of bloody books you have." James said, looking around Remus small cottage home.
It was a very comfortable cottage, though not really made for more then one, two at the most, people. There was a tiny kitchen and eating area, and an area that seemed to be a combination of a living room and a study with two doors leading out of it, leading to a bathroom and a bedroom. There was a small television, a chair and a couch, and a small writing desk, all surrounded by bookshelves that stood about six feet tall.
"That's the same thing Sirius said." Remus said with a chuckle as he came back from the kitchen with a mug of hot tea. He handed it to James and said,
"Stuff from your house is kind of scattered, sorry about that, but look on the bookshelves. I'll check the basement." Remus said, waving a hand around the room before setting off to the door that led to the basement.
"Right," James said to himself after taking a sip of his tea then placing it on the desk before walking over to the bookshelf closest to him. Along with all the books, there were also a lot of little knickknacks here and there.
The first object that James found that belonged to him was his Auror Certification certificate. James smiled as he picked the picture frame that held his certificate up and looked at it. Receiving this was rated pretty high on James' 'best moments' list. Tucking his certificate under his arm, James continued his search, which didn't go on long before he found another thing, this something that belonged to Lily.
It was her Healer Certification certificate. Smiling, but this time sadly, James picked up the picture frame that held his wife's certificate and tucked it under his arm as well. After searching only two full bookshelves, James had found things varying from pictures, to the old snitch that Lily had bought for him during their first Christmas as boyfriend and girlfriend. Moving to the middle bookshelf, James stopped as he looked at the seven pictures that were at his eye level. James stared from one picture to the other, being hit by wave after wave of memories.
The seven pictures that James was staring at were the pictures that James' mother insisted on taking at the end of every year at Hogwarts. Going from left to right were the pictures of the Marauders growing up, from their first year, the year that started it all, to their seventh year. As he looked at the pictures, James realized that without even trying (because they were boys, why would they try something like this) every year they had posed for the picture in pretty much the same order, only varying in one or two.
James and Sirius stood in the center, whether James was on the left or Sirius was on the right changed in the pictures, but they still stood together; Peter and Remus stood at the ends, like James and Sirius, they swapped sides in the different pictures. It was the changes in pose and looks that stuck James the most however.
In the first ever picture, they all stood side-by-side, smiling and waving. Occasionally there would be a little pushing and shoving between them, but other then that, they just stood. The second year picture, Sirius had an arm swung over Remus' shoulders (it was not long before the picture that they confronted Remus about his disappearances) and James had his swung over Peters' (James mother had said that it would look cute). They were all smiling happily, if not a little annoyed at having to pose.
Third year, James was resting his elbow on Sirius' shoulder as Sirius rested his elbow on Peter's head. Remus stood leaning against James with arms his crossed over his chest; Again, all were smiling and laughing, mostly at their pose; which all started because Sirius just noticed that, while he had hit his growth spurt, Peter had yet to, thus making Sirius able to rest his elbow on Peter's head with ease.
Fourth year James was leaning against a wall with Remus, both with arms crossed over their chests smiling as they watched Sirius talk to some girl that was out of view, Peter stood to the other side of Sirius, watching him with an awed expression. It was only after picture James lean forward and hit picture Sirius in the back of the head did Sirius lean against the wall with James and Remus to pose for the picture, Peter quickly following suit.
In the picture for their fifth year, they were all sitting on the ground, surrounded by their trunks and other luggage, all of them looking dead tired, but all of them managing a smile for the picture. James watched as Sirius once again put an arm around Remus shoulders and give him an affectionate shake, and watched as his fourteen-year-old self reached over and ruffed Remus hair. Remus smiled weakly at his best friends. He remembered why they were all so tired; the night before had been a transformation for Remus, and Sirius, James and Peter had joined him for it. It wasn't the first time they had joined him, but it was the first year that they had, marking it as a milestone in their friendship.
The sixth year picture made James chuckle. Remus, Peter and himself were sitting on their trunks and Sirius was laying across them all propping his head and smiling lopsidedly for the picture. This pose didn't last long because all at once, James, Remus and Peter stood up, causing Sirius to fall making all of them laugh very hard. The last picture brought a sad smile to James' face. They were all standing in this picture, all with arms slung over the person next to them shoulders. Peter had his around James'; James had his around Peters' and Sirius'; Sirius, around James and Remus; and Remus around Sirius. All four of them were smiling once again, but they looked so grown-up when compared to the pictures before. And James knew why; just before this picture had been taken, Peter had asked if things were going to change, and no one could really answer him. The only thing that Sirius was able to say was that 'we'll always have those damn photos Prongs' mum makes us take once we get onto the platform,' which at the time caused all of them to laugh, but when the picture came, it made them all realize it was the last one they would be taking before they became part of the real world.
"Looks like you found most of it." Remus said, breaking through James' thoughts as he came up from the basement causing James to tear his eyes away from the pictures. "There wasn't that much that I took, and most of it was down here." He went on holding a worn, old looking box. James nodded and looked back at the row of pictures.
"Did my copy of these make it?" James asked, knowing Remus would understand what he meant.
"Yes actually. Two of them are yours. I lost mine of our first and seventh year, those two are yours." Remus said, setting down the box and walking over to James.
"After… after everything happened I could look at these pictures for a long time." Remus said quietly, staring at them like James. "I still kept them up, but I turned them face down. But then one day when Dumbledore came to speak with me for one reason or another he noticed them and asked me why they were face down. So I told him, and he said to me that the traitor wasn't in those pictures. Only my best friends. The traitor came later. After that, I could look at them again." Remus said, not really sure why he was telling James this; he hadn't told Sirius after all.
"And do you still believe that?" James asked, knowing that the traitor Dumbledore had spoken of, and the one that James was speaking of, were two different people.
"Yes." Remus answered firmly. "Wormtail… He changed after Hogwarts. Once he got into the real world." There was silence between them as they looked at the old photos.
"Do you remember that time, in our fourth year," James began, smiling softly as his picked up the fourth picture and brought it off the shelf. "When Wormtail convinced me and Sirius that it would be the best prank if we made all of the Slytherin's toothpaste turn their teeth pink?" James asked. Remus chuckled while he looked at the picture James held in his hands.
"How could I forget? We all had to hid in one bloody shower while one of them came in and crapped like there was no tomorrow." Remus said, shuddering at the memory. "And for us, there almost wasn't a tomorrow."
"Augh," James said, coving his mouth with a hand. "Just thinking about it still makes me want to vomit. God, I don't think I've ever tried harder not to vomit and laugh before. Merlin, I don't remember ever seeing Sirius' face like that before in my life."
"Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen him that green or sickly looking either." Remus agreed.
"Well yeah, beside the fact of the smell and the noise, he was sick over the fact that we couldn't twist this some how to our advantage because no matter what, it would mean we were in there with him, like we were." James said, knowing just how Sirius felt at the time.
"That had to be one of the few times we all willingly decided to abort a prank." Remus said smiling fondly at his fourteen-year-old self and friends.
"Yep. And, that was also the time that me and Sirius swore that we would never let Wormtail talk us into something ever again." James said softly. Both Remus and James were silent for a few moments, both having a feeling of what was coming next.
"We didn't do too good of a job though," James said, placing the picture back on the shelf and stuffing his hands in his pockets. Remus said nothing. "But, he didn't totally convince though." James went on, turning and facing Remus. "He, he just put a little doubt."
"James, I've had this talk with Sirius and I understand," Remus started to say, trying to give James an out to this conversation, which James didn't seem to want.
"Believe or not, Sirius and myself aren't one person. What he was thinking, could be different to what I was thinking." James said, speaking seriously. "I'm sure Sirius told you about all the little things that Wormtail did and said to place that doubt." He went on, waiting for the nod from Remus before going on. "All the little, 'have you seen Remus lately? I saw walking into Knockturn Ally the other day. What do you think he was doing in there?' and things like that."
Again, Remus nodded. It was true that Sirius had told him everything that Wormtail had used and said to make James and Sirius believe he was the spy; Remus really didn't see why James felt the need to continue, why he couldn't just save them both pain this conversation could bring them, or Remus more over. With Sirius, it was different, both were guilty of thinking the other was the spy; it was easier to forgive and move on. But James, all Remus did was worry about James and his family's safety.
"Well, like I said before, it only put doubt in me. Notice how I said in me, Lily wouldn't have any of it." James said, smiling slightly as he remembered how Lily wouldn't let James think things like that about Remus.
"She kept saying that I was being ridiculous, and got that doubt out of me. We never thought you were the spy, Remus." James said, and Remus raised an eyebrow at him. Sirius had said that was the reason they thought of using Peter, and did, was because Remus was believed to be the spy.
"We, Lily and me, didn't want you to be Secret Keeper because we were afraid of what they might do to you if they ever found out it was you." James said softly.
"What?" Remus asked, completely thrown, this was very different from what Sirius had always said and what he himself had believed.
"What if they captured you, Remus? We didn't want to put you in the type of situation were they might use your condition to their advantage." James said, recalling the conversations he had had with Lily over this matter. "You remember all the attacks that were happening on villages that were caused by Werewolves. We were scared that they would keep you captive until the full moon, and then bring you to a village."
"I would never have told even," Remus began to say, deeply troubled by the fact that Lily and James would think that of him, even if he was put into that situation, which just thinking about made him cringe.
"I know you wouldn't have." James said, quickly hoping to reassure Remus there wasn't any doubt. "And we also knew that they would just keep using you to cause harm to other people; which we knew would kill you."
There was silence after James was done speaking, because both were unsure of what to say. Ever since Remus learned the truth about what really happened, Remus had, understood but still hurt because of the distrust his friends had felt toward him. But now, hearing from James that he didn't think Remus was the spy, felt almost as good as hearing that Sirius wasn't the spy.
"Thank you James." Remus said softly, truly meaning it.
"Nah, thank Lily." James said, even softer the Remus, feeling a slight pull at his heart. Coughing to try and rid himself of the ache that was starting to seep into his heart, James said "Come on, lets get this stuff back to Hogwarts."
"Hello? Anybody here?" Harry called, cautiously walking into the living room type area of where his father would be staying. Just has Harry begun wondering if he should call out 'James' a large black dog appeared coming down the stairs. Once the dog saw it was Harry it transformed into Sirius Black.
"Thought it was you, but can never be to sure." Sirius said with a smile descending the rest of the stairs on two feet rather then four. Harry returned the smile but looked around again.
"You the only one here?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, James and Remus are still out. Anything I can help you with?" Sirius asked, making his way over to his godson.
"No, I'm alright, I was just…I was just gonna ask if… he wanted to come and, I donno watch my Quidditch practice." Harry said, hesitating a little, not meeting Sirius' smiling eyes.
"He would love that. In fact, I think that even if you didn't ask, and he heard that's where you were, he'd sneak and watch you anyway." Sirius said, hoping to reassure Harry that in no way, was the question he wanted to ask James stupid or childish.
"I asked the caption too, and she said it would be alright if he came." Harry said nodding, still not meeting Sirius' eye. "So, do you think you could tell him? Cause I have to get going." He went on, finally looking up at Sirius.
"Sure kid. As soon as he gets back."
"Thanks Sirius." Harry said, before turning to leave.
"Harry," Sirius called, Harry turned and looked at him. "This will mean the world to him you know." Harry smiled a little, almost embarrassedly and then continued his way out of the room.
After watching Harry walked out Sirius, smiling and humming tunelessly, went back up to the study. He was only in the study for about ten minutes before he heard James and Remus return.
"What are you so happy about?" James asked Sirius as he walked into the study with a box in his arms. Sirius knew that if James had to ask, and also came back to the living quarters that he must have just missed Harry in the hallways.
"Oh just my godson." Sirius said, looking at some of contents of the box that James had just placed on the desk.
"What about Harry?" James asked, slapping Sirius' hand off of the old snitch.
"He came in here about ten minutes ago looking for you. He wanted to know if you would be interested in coming to watch his quidditch practice." Sirius said, still smiling.
"Did he really?" James asked, staring at Sirius, feeling happiness start to swell inside of him.
"Sure did. So, if you want," Sirius began saying, but stopped as James ran out the room saying,
"I'll be back later."
Going back to his smiling and humming, Sirius continued looking through the box that James had brought in.
Walking as fast as he could without breaking into a full-blown run, James made his way down to the quidditch pitch. Ever since Sirius had begun telling James what an amazing flyer Harry was, James had been dying to see him at it. And the fact that Harry wanted him to come, to watch him, made the smile set of James' face almost impossible to fade. It was only 'almost' though, because as he walked, he was hit with a memory of Lily and himself paying a visit to the castle, which made his smile falter.
"James, where do you think you're going with Harry?" Lily asked, hands on her hips as she watched James make his way down the hallway."I'm gonna take him to the quidditch pitch of course. He has to see where some of his happiest times at Hogwarts are going to be had." James said turning to face Lily with a look on his face that showed how much he thought this answer was the most obvious in the world.
"One, you are not taking my 10 month-old baby on a broomstick," Lily began, hands still on her hips.
"I wasn't going to take him up," James interrupted him, trying to keep his voice innocent.
"And two, you're speaking as though it's a sure thing he'll make the team." Lily finished.
" 'Course he'll make the team Lily. He's gonna learn from the best after all." James said, clearly affronted that Lily had doubts in her mind about Harry being a quidditch player. "Aren't you Harry?" James asked, holding his son up and level to his face.
Harry giggled.
"That's right, Daddy's gonna teach who how to fly and with that kind of teacher, there is no way you wont make the team." James stated to his son.
The memory hurt James for two reasons. One of the reasons being, of course, him missing Lily. And the other reason was that Harry made the team without any help from his father, because James hadn't been there to give it. These thoughts, while not driven from James' mind, were merely pushed back as the quidditch pitch came into his view.As Harry went about the drills that Angelina had told him to do, Harry keep searching the stands with his eyes, looking to see one lone figure. He was looking for a lone figure, because there was already a group of people in the stands. The Slytherins had come to watch the practice again. So, needless to say, Ron was not having a very good practice session. But then, right after he released the snitch and was giving it a head start, he saw someone taking a seat in the stands farthest from the Slytherins. Even from the distance, and being unable to see who it was, Harry knew that it was James, he just knew. Feeling something in this stomach, possible a mix of happiness and nervous, Harry started looking for the snitch again; hoping that he would catch it quickly to show James how good he was.
This hope that he felt almost made him stop his broom in mid-air. Why did he want to show James how good he was? But before he could even begin thinking of reasons, he saw a glint of gold and took off after it.
James watched as Harry went after the snitch. Sirius and Remus had not been telling tall-tales. In fact, James thought as he watched Harry make a very sharp turn to keep on the snitch's trail, it seemed that Sirius and Remus had down played Harry's ablates (or that's how it seemed to James at the least). Loud jeering, laughter, and yelling caused James to look around and see that he was not the only person watching the practice.
A group of kids were all grouped together, pointing, laughing and jeering at the keeper, who had just dropped the quaffle. Looking at the group of kids, James determined that they had to be Slytherins. They're jeering continued as the keeper let the quaffle pass through his left hoop and the caption (or at least who James thought was the caption) began yelling at him.
When practice was finally over, and the Slytherins were making they're way down the stands to head back to the castle, and the Gryffindors were heading toward the locker room, Harry, a bit hesitantly, flew over to James.
"You are amazing." James said when Harry flew over to him and had dismounted his broom. Harry blushed slightly and looked down.
"Thanks," Harry muttered a bit embarrassedly.
"I feel bad for your keeper though, those Slytherins really threw off his game from the looks of it." James went on after a slight pause in the conversation.
"Tell me about it," Harry said, running a hand through his hair. "The keepers one of my best friends, Ron." Harry explained to James. "And he's pretty good. But once he makes a mistake, he gets all flustered. And the Slytherins don't help at all."
"No, I'd imagine they wouldn't." James said, looking over to the spot where the Slytherins had been sitting. "But no worries, cause when I was caption, I had almost the exact same situation. And, I do believe," James went on, thinking back on the keeper that he had taken on. "Not right after I left, but after my predecessor, he became caption himself."
"Really?" Harry asked, watching his father remember a kid that had been like Ron and risen to become caption. James nodded his head.
"Why don't you go get changed and come back up to, I guess we should come up with a name for it cause it's a pain to say 'living quarters' ever time." James said, voicing his thoughts aloud. "And, then I can tell you what I did to help the keeper stay on his game."
"Okay," Harry said getting back on his broom so he could just fly to the locker room instead of walk all the way.
"Do you want me to wait for you?" James asked, hoping that the question wouldn't make Harry feel that James thought he was a child.
"No it's alright, you go ahead." Said Harry. "Is it alright if I bring my friends Ron and Hermione to meet you?" Harry asked.
"Sure, I'd love to meet your friends." James said, glad that Harry wanted his friends and his father to know each other. They both stood there, Harry on his broom, smiling for about a minute before Harry snapped out of it and said,
"See you later then." And flew off toward the locker room.
A half an hour later
"Harry," Hermione called after him as he practically ran down the hallway. "I'm sure," she said, running with Ron beside her to catch up with their friend. "I'm sure that there is a logical reason behind what he said,"
"Of course there is." Harry snapped, stopping in his tracks and staring at his friends, breathing heavily. "Isn't it clear? Wasn't he clear?"
"But Harry," Hermione tried again, trying to take hold of Harry's arm.
"No." Harry said, pulling the arm that Hermione had tried to grab out of her reach. "My…he…James doesn't want me, fine" Harry said, surprised at how hard it was for him to say those words. "Then I don't want him either." And he turned away from his friends and continued his way along the sixth floor corridor, heading toward the stairs that led to the seventh.
A.N- I apologize over, and over, and over again for how long it has taken me to get this chapter out. The delay was not that I forgot about this story, or anything like that, just that I experienced really bad writers block. When I stopped to study, I got completely thrown from my swing. Whenever I tired to write something I thought it was garbage, deleted it, and started over. I really hope that you guys understand.
Now, there are some things I like about this chapter, other things I don't. And that little cliffhanger there, I couldn't help it. Sorry…but not really. And, also with that cliffhanger, (the part after 'a half an hour later') you're not suppose to get it. It will be explained in the next chapter. Again, you are not suppose to understand it. There will not be another post (I'm almost positive) before HBP comes out, and this is where my question for you guys comes in.
I want to know how you guys feel about me using new elements from HBP (characters, ideas, spells etc…)? I do not want to put spoilers in, but I'm sure there's going to be character's, new spells, and things like that, that I feel, will not "give away" the book. Your feelings about this are deeply wanted so if you could just add them into your reviews, I would love you a whole lot.
So, please, please, please hit that review button and tell me what you think of the chapter (I love know how you guys feel), and about using things from HBP.
Till next time, and an early Happy July 16 to you all.