1Bringing Back the Dead

Hey...sorry it's been so long...marching band...well...takes up ALL your time..literally. And it probably doesn't help that I'm taking all preap classes..in high school. x.x Thanks for reading...if there is anyone who still does...

4

Harry stood, staring open-mouthed at the cottage that towered before him. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen (apart from Hogwarts).

The two-story house was made out of wood which had been painted white and had the slightly weathered and worn look to it...like it had stood for many seasons, and had seen the best and worst of times. The roof shone black as coal in the sunshine, and quaint though it might have been...Harry loved it...wished that he could have actually grown up there, picked apples from the trees lining what looked to be the side yard, looked out of the window and smelled the fresh, crisp winter air, and played in the giant yard in front and back of the house. But wishes of the past couldn't help the future, it just wasn't possible.

Not even noticing that he was cold, Harry stared at the cottage open-mouthed and wide-eyed. Finally snapping out of his daydreaming Harry (after checking to make sure the coast was clear) slipped his invisibility cloak off and used a reducing charm to shrink the cloak so it would fit in his pocket (as he hadn't brought his school bag with him).

He took a step forward, and another, and another. Harry was standing four steps away from the front door, but he couldn't do it. He couldn't face the parents that he had always wanted to meet. He, Harry, couldn't work up the energy...the strength...the courage...to do it. It was just like grabbing a snitch, he just had to step forward and knock on the door.

But, then again...it wasn't that easy. Harry was changing his life, his history...he was changing the childhood that had been hell from the start. He couldn't move.

The tingling sensation moving slowly up his legs and through his body into his arms told him they were cold...but that didn't matter...maybe he should just go back to his present time...and forget this whole thi-

"Can I help you?" the door to the house had just creaked open and James Potter stood in the doorway.

"Uh..uh..n-n-n-n-n-n-...uh...," Harry's voice faded away, and he shook his head to try and pull himself away from his thoughts. "No."

James made as though to close the door, but then, he paused. "Do I know you?"

Harry shivered slightly, and nodded his head, "You know me, but you don't know me." He looked down at the ground so James would be able to this last statement over. "I'm something like an extremely close relative, and also...I suppose I'm something like a stranger on the street. I know you don't understand this. But if I told you the truth...believe me...it's so wild, you wouldn't listen."

When he finally looked back up, James's mouth had fallen open in shock. "I've heard a ton of wild stories you know. Why don't you come inside, and warm up...we can talk in the kit-"

"No. I c-c-c-c-c-ant stay. I'll be in t-t-trouble. C-c-c-ongratulations..a-a-a-...bout...your..son, Harry. I ...have...to..." Harry shivered again, his breathing was becoming uneven, as it had when he'd thought about this. He blinked hard to keep the tears from falling out of his sad emerald green eyes. "Bye." Harry turned and quickly strode off down the street, having absolutely no idea where he was going.

James watched as the teen turned away from him, and strode off down the street. He'd sounded troubled, as if he was in a deep hole he couldn't climb out. After the boy, which James noted looked quite a bit like him, turned the corner, he turned and walked back inside...deciding silently not to tell Lily. She'd been so happy, finally having a son, and there was no need in worrying her with this.

An hour later, Harry stood in a dark alleyway, arms folded across his chest, with a grim expression on his face. He knew exactly what he needed...and so badly wanted to do...but would he be able to?

It had been quite easy to find where Peter had taken refuge. Apparently this so-called home was one of the two he owned. Harry didn't see how he could own it though...it was a sewer. No other rats lived there...Harry noted...but, Peter had plenty of experience with the killing curse...so it probably was no trouble for him to kill off any rats that tried to enter his...well...sewer.

It hadn't really been hard to discover Peter's whereabouts.

Harry drew out his wand. It was only a matter of time before that hair-brained moron came out of his hidey-hole.

Sure enough, Peter scurried out and transformed into his human form. He looked a bit more ragged and worn than Harry remembered. Then again...he was in hiding now. It was kind of hard to remember that Harry was "back" in time. Peter was in hiding...or was about to be. But, anger welled in his chest, and right as Peter was about to hurry off...Harry spoke.

"Hello Peter." Harry made sure that he stood back in the shadows so that Peter couldn't see his face.

"W-w-w-w...who is t-t-t-there?" He whipped around, his ugly face and dark eyes scanning the alleyway.

"Me."

"M-m-aster?"

"You wish."

"S-ss-s-show yours-s-s-s-self."

"With pleasure." Harry stepped out from the shadows. Now he would pay.