((No Ron/Lavender stuff, I don't like that couple…))
Chapter 20: I Was Never Gone
It had been weeks sense Sakura and Haruka had left Hogwarts, and things seemed to be coming and going, just like always. Twice a week the group would receive letters from the two girls (both of which were not enjoying themselves), which they replied to quickly. Fred and George had left for a few days because their joke shop was in need of a few new items –some of which James and Sirius had helped to create.
Harry had changed and he knew it. It was…different, his father, godfather, Remus all here, together, happy. He had never thought this would happen, that he would meet his father and see Sirius again, yet now it had become so normal, natural like it had always been. Harry knew that one day they would have to return to the past, where they belonged, but the selfish part of him said that he should never let them leave, that he had ever right to keep his family.
Then there was Voldemort, the dream from such a long time ago kept coming up in his mind, Voldemort knew about them, why hadn't he attacked? Or had he already and Harry hadn't noticed? So many things had happened sense they had came, more bad then not, yet Harry didn't want them to leave. Dumbledore was always gone these days, the teachers were all on high alert with every little thing, and in the eyes of most this was only a few months they had lived in terrier of Voldemort. Out of the school, many people had left just because of him; people were being pushed to their wits end just because they knew he was out there.
James, Sirius, and Remus had said it would only get worse, they said they knew from experience. Before they had said that, Harry had never thought that Voldemort first rose to power while his father was at school, and they had already gone through this.
"Pass the butter, would-ya Harry?" Harry blinked and handed the butter to Sirius. It was dinner, a week before Christmas vacation. Many of their teachers had given them big tests before break, and Hermione and Remus were in the library studying. Harry didn't think they would be seen again outside of classes until Christmas break started. Hermione had dragged Ron along with them as well, so it was just Harry, Sirius, and James for dinner.
Hermione and Ron had been acting different, just around each other. They hardly ever fought now, and they always sat next to each other in class and in the Great Hall. Every one knew that the two liked each other, but they had always denied being more then friends. If they started to go out, then what would become of Harry? While the Marauders were still here he would have someone to hangout with while his two best friends snogged, but what about when they were gone? He didn't want things to change, but could he stop it at the expense of Ron and Hermione? Harry didn't have to think with that one, he knew he could never do that.
"Hey Harry, Simon, James" Harry looked up at the sound of the voice, it was Ginny. Her red hair was up in a pony tail, her brown eyes shining.
"Hello Ginny," Harry responded. "Do you want to sit down?" She smiled and sat down next to him.
"Where's Hermione?" She asked. Harry couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness; she only wanted to see Hermione. Over time Harry had learned that he had feels for the young Weasley, not older brother like he had first thought, but a true crush.
"In the Library with Tommy and Ron," He said evenly. "Our teachers have given us loads of tests and homework before break, so they're working hard."
Ginny laughed. "My brother studying, are you sure?"
Harry laughed too. "Yeah, I hardly believe it myself." It felt good laughing with Ginny, it felt right.
"So why didn't she drag you up with them? Usually Hermione always tries to get the both of you to come with her."
"Yeah, well…" Harry rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably; he didn't want to say anything to Ginny if nothing was going to happen between Ron and Hermione.
"Oh, I see." Ginny said gently. "Well, I need some help with school work, so I'll see you later." Harry nodded and said goodbye to her before she left to find Hermione under a large pile of books.
"Just ask her out already!" Sirius said loudly behind him. Harry jumped; he had forgotten that Sirius and James had been sitting there the whole time, listening to him and Ginny talk. He glared at Sirius, who only laughed. "Come-on mate, she likes you, and you like her; that's better then Jamise over here." He pointed his fork at James.
"Hey!" His father responded defiantly. "At least I haven't dated three girls already sense we've been here." Sirius only grinned. Harry hadn't known that, he was with them a lot, but they had never mentioned it. He wanted to question Sirius about it, but then he would feel stupid for asking.
"The ladies love me, what can I say. Anyway, come on James, we have detention with Minnie soon, we should get going."
James grinned as they stood up, grabbing their books. "Minnie always said she'd give us a month's worth of detentions if we called her that." He added thoughtfully.
"That was the time before last, and besides, I doubt she'll still remember." Sirius said as James nodded in agreement.
"See ya Harry." James smiled at him.
Sirius grinned. "Ask Ginny out while we're gone!" He said loudly. Harry's face grew red with embarrassment, his father and godfather laughing at him. They ran away joyfully as Harry screamed 'Simon!' as loudly as he could.
…
"Hermione, I'm glad I found you!" Ginny said in a hushed voice, glancing to see if Madam Prince the old librarian was watching. She hadn't heard Ginny, so the red-head sat down with her brother, Tommy, and Hermione. "I need some help with Charms; I just can't seem to get it right…"
Hermione looked up from her book and smiled sweetly. "Sure Ginny, I'd be glad to help, I'm working on Charms myself; we have a test coming up."
Next to Hermione Ron looked up from the book he was starting at –Ginny had a feeling that not much reading was going on- and scowled. "It's just a test, I really don't get what the big deal with it is, Harry and me-"
"Harry and I, Ronald." Hermione interrupted, she never missed a chance to correct Ron's English.
"Yeah Hermione," Ron said distractedly before continuing. "But Harry and I always pass the test and we don't really study-"
"You two barely passed the last test, and that's only because I made you study during lunch!" Hermione said a bit too loudly, earning a loud 'shh'.
"See, we study right before and we'll pass." Ron grinned.
"You should just study now and get it over with." The calm voice of Tommy said suddenly. Ginny saw that he was looking a lot better these days, he had gotten sick not to long ago, and he had look horrible, Ginny was glad he was better.
"I agree with him, go back to your studying and let Hermione help me." Ginny said pointedly, putting her Charms book on the crowded table. She opened the book and flipped through the pages until she found the page. Ron listened to her for once and returned to his book –a look from Hermione helped as well.
"So what charm are you having trouble with?" Hermione asked, scrutinizing the page.
"Oh, it's that anti-depressant spell, you know-" Ginny began, glad for the help.
…
Harry woke up to find his dorm empty, and he soon found out that the common room was empty was well. Harry found this strange; even though he did sleep in until nine o'clock the common room was never empty. A growl from his stomach told him to head down to the Great Hall, where food was still being served.
On his way down he passed Lavender and Parvati, giggling and talking in hushed tones as usual. Harry offered them a small smile, and the girls smiled back at him then started giggling non-stop as they walked by. He kept walking, wondering if some prank had been played on him that would cause them to laugh at him. He could hear Parvati whispering 'who was that, is he in Gryffindor?'
He didn't know what to say, but it didn't matter much, he never understood those girls. He made it down to the hall, not many students were in the hall, but the ones that were where talking in hushed whispers. He looked up at the staff table, Dumbledore wasn't there, and neither was McGonagall. Most of the teachers were there, but there was also a professor that Harry had never seen before sitting in Professor Sprout's seat. Harry knew something was wrong, but he didn't know what.
He soon spotted Ron and Hermione, sitting with…MALFOY? He went over, James, Sirius and Remus were sitting there was well, they didn't appear to mind that Malfoy was sitting with them at all. The odd thing was that they were sitting a few seats down from Ron and Hermione, not conversing with them at all.
As he got closer he hear what they were saying, he even paused to listen to them before they saw he was there.
"It's getting worse everyday, isn't it?" Hermione was saying. "I hope Dumbledore comes back soon, you-know-who is bound to show up again if he doesn't." Again? The last time Voldemort had been at Hogwarts was in their second year.
"When he comes back I'm gonna-I'm gonna kill him!" Ron said, under the table his fists were turning white from pressure.
"Ron, you know he's to powerful-" Hermione started.
"He has every right to be mad, if I lost three brothers and my dad I'm be mad too. Well, scratch that, I'd be happy if my dad died."
"You really shouldn't talk that way Draco." Hermione said softly. "I'm sure that-"
"Hermione," Malfoy said in a tone that said he didn't want to continue the conversation.
"What are you guys doing?" Harry suddenly voiced from behind them. All three jumped and swung their heads around.
"Oh, Hello James." Hermione said, relaxing a bit.
Harry frowned. "I'm not James, it's me Hermione." Harry said, giving the brunette a pleading look. Why had she called him James?
She frowned. "Really, James, you know better then to play one of your stupid pranks on us."
"Hermione, it's me, its Harry!" She didn't seem to understand. "Bloody Hell, Hermione, you're sitting with Malfoy!" Suddenly it dawned on him. "You, you filth, what did you do to Ron and Hermione?" He yelled, pulling Malfoy up by his shirt.
Malfoy looked scared for a second, than his eyes flashed with anger. "I'm not a Malfoy!" He yelled, trying to punch Harry.
"James, Draco, stop!" Hermione screamed at them, taking out her wand. Most of the hall was watching them now, but Harry didn't care. He wanted to know what was going on, he wanted Hermione to stop calling him James. He wanted Malfoy to go back where he belonged.
A bright flash stopped his fight with Malfoy as they were both knocked away from each other, landing on their butts a few feet apart. He tried to get up, ready to lunge at the blonde again. Tight hands held him back, they were wrapped around his arms, as much as he tried Harry couldn't let go. Much the same was happening with Malfoy. Sirius was holding Malfoy back, even though he was struggling.
"Who are you?" A crisp voice asked. Harry turned his head, glaring at the person. He stopped moving, his gaze softened as green met hazel.
"James." His said in a slow tone. "It's me; don't tell me you don't recognize me either."
James gave him a perplexed look. "I don't know you, but it looks like you're trying to impersonate me, you could be my twin." His eyes hardened. "Are you a death eater?"
"James, I don't think he is." Remus. Remus would help him, Remus was sensible; he would know what was going on. As he said this, the arms around Harry loosened and slowly disappeared. Sirius had let go of Malfoy as well, and they were both standing next to James; Malfoy was glaring at him.
"Remus, what else would he be?"
When James said this all sense of reality and thought left Harry. His own father thought he was a death eater, no one knew who he was, what happened?
"I'm your son, I'm Harry James Potter, The boy-who-lived, the savior-of-the-wizarding-world!" His green eyes flashed with anger and pain. He gazed darkly at James for a second before stalking out of the hall. He was going to Dumbledore's office, Dumbledore wouldn't do anything to him; he might even remember who Harry was!
"Ah, I was expecting to see you storming into my office at any moment, Harry."
Harry glared at the man sitting at the headmaster's desk. While on his way here Harry had been stopped numerous times by many students and congratulating him for his 'glorious prank' from yesterday. Harry had sneered, glared, growled, hissed, and done just about anything else to get them to go away, one girl had called him a Slytherin (she had gotten the most evil glare he could produce, she started to cry). When he had finally reached the stone gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office he had spent quite some time trying to guess the password. After guessing every single muggle and wizarding candy he knew Harry moved onto things he knew about Dumbledore. In a strange moment Harry recalled one of the first things he had ever heard Dumbledore say and had cried out: "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" and it opened.
It figures Dumbledore would have a password like that.
But he was glad, it wouldn't even surprise him if Dumbledore had chosen it because it was something Harry could guess, that not many people would know he said it. But there was no time to dwell on thoughts; Harry had more import things to worry about.
Like why no one knew who he was.
He hadn't cared if anyone was with Dumbledore at the moment, and had stormed into the office. No one except the professor with twinkling blue eyes was there.
"Cut the crap, Dumbledore." Harry said harshly, walking farther into the room. "I want to know what's going on, and I want to know right now."
"You have every reason to be angry; Harry, but you shouldn't take it out on the younger students." Harry frowned at him, he knew what Dumbledore was talking about, but he also knew the old man was avoiding the subject. "But you also don't want to hear an old man's whim, I'm sure." Harry nodded sourly. "Please Harry, take a seat and we will talk." He took a seat as fast as he could. "First, I want to know everything's that happened sense you woke up this morning, then I will explain what's going on."
And so Harry told him.