Chapter 3

Going Home

Harry awoke the next morning to a dimly lit room. Looking around, he noticed he had been moved from his original place of slumber. Harry was now lying on a rather uncomfortable bed inside what seemed like a rather large home. As he stood up, Harry found out that indeed he was not alone in his room. Remus was sprawled across the floor with a pillow in hand and a blanket that was down by his feet. Sirius was sitting in a nearby chair with an interesting object in between his arm. As Harry moved closer, he saw that it was a black puppy that looked identical to Snuffles. He chuckled and turned to see his parents were lying in the bed across the room sleeping in each others arms. They looked peaceful and Harry decided not to disturb the group of sleeping people. Before he left the room, Sirius began mumbling some words under his breathe. Harry moved closer and when he heard what his godfather was saying, he almost burst out laughing.

"James. James if you don't get Harry down from the damn tree Lily is going to kill you. And Remus if you don't stop trying to kiss me I'm going to have to smack you," he mumbled before turning over and snoring a loud snore.

Harry keeled over holding his breathe trying not to laugh. He let out a snort when Sirius said something about Dumbledore sitting on his lap and asking for building blocks.

"Interesting, isn't it?" someone said quietly from behind Harry.

Harry jumped and turned around to see James standing with his arms crossed and a smile on his face.

"Definitely," Harry replied laughing slightly as Sirius snorted again.

"You know when we were in school you could find out Sirius' deepest secrets from when he was asleep. One time Remus and me sat up half the night listening to Sirius. He told us quite a lot of information including what he had done with one of his girlfriends and how he thought that Lily wanted to 'shag' him," James said laughing, "Don't tell your mother that I told you that. She would say how shag is a very inappropriate word for your young ears to hear."

Harry nodded in response.

After a moment of silence, James excitedly asked if Harry wanted breakfast and when he agreed he exuberantly ran down the stairs and began cooking the only thing he seemed to know how: toast and orange juice.

Once the food was ready, James joined Harry at the table. They sat there for a moment just eating until Harry noticed his father watching him. He gave him a questioning look and James gave him a sad smile.

"I'm sorry Harry," he said softly toying with the hole in his plaid pajama pants.

Harry put down the toast and waited. When James didn't say anymore Harry asked, "About what?"

"How your life has been. You should be a normal, 15 year old boy enjoying his summer right now. Not sitting in the kitchen of a house that's beyond the death veil with your dead father, mother, and their dead friends. You should be hanging out with your friends. Now that you know the prophecy and all it's like life just won't get any easier for you from now on and I hate to think that me and your mother can't really do much about it. We always wanted the perfect life for you Harry but it's now far from it," James said trailing off.

"Dad, sometimes my life really is bad. Sometimes it's worse than you could ever know but I have great friends and I still do have people who love me. I even have people who love me in two different worlds. You did your best to give me a great life and I am thankful for that; for you and mum," Harry told his father. He looked up and was happy to see James smile down at his son. He took a bite out of his toast and smiled wider.

"You know when you were a baby, your mother used to get really, really pissed off at Sirius, Remus, and me. When we were in hiding, Remus and Sirius decided to stay with us for a weekend. Peter was 'on business' as he would say. Little rat," James grumbled angrily before changing back to his story, "So, Lily was going completely mad. We took you to our own Room of Requirement which we built into the house when we found out that me and Lily couldn't even leave.

"We made it into a lab where we made this potion for your mum. The next morning we got you to give it to her in the morning when I decided to make her breakfast in bed. Well, she thought it was simply adorable so she obviously took it instantly and took a sip. She told me it tasted something like corn flakes and ale mixed together. Once she drank it, it almost immediately turned her hair hot pink and her pajamas said 'James is the sexiest man alive, Sirius has the hottest body, and Remus' hair is simply magical'. It took the rest of the weekend for her to change her hair back to its normal color and to get those pajamas off her. It was hilarious," James chided.

"Of course, she chased us around the house for almost an hour until we sent you with a sorry note and she couldn't resist because you did the cutest puppy-dog lip thing that you just happened to inherit from me. I even remember her exact words: 'James Harold Potter! You send our son to make peace with me! Oh! Harry, sweetie, don't cry! Mommy forgives daddy even if he is the ugliest and stupidest man mommy has ever seen'."

Harry burst out laughing at the image of his mother in her pink hair and Marauders pajamas. James joined in and ended up choking on his toast.

When the laughing subsided, the two boys got up and went to the couch.

"You do any interesting pranks, Harry?" he asked.

Harry thought for a moment before a light bulb went off in his head and he began his story.

"Well, during Christmas Break, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and me were really, really bored because we weren't allowed out of the house. So, one night we made this weird potion. We sort of just threw in random items that we had lying around the house. I think one of them may have been like rat droppings or something. It was pretty gross.

"Anyway, we got up early to put it in all the drinks that everyone drank. Once everyone got downstairs we had already eaten and were sitting on the couch. Remus was the first to come down and Tonks followed him. Remus got his coffee and Tonks got a glass of milk. They didn't drink it for quite a bit. Once the rest of the house was awake everyone began drinking their drinks and such," Harry stopped for a moment and took a breath.

"All of a sudden everyone started yelling. Mrs. Weasley turned bright red and she had something like 'Ron is my favorite' all over her face. Mr. Weasley had 'Ginny is my favorite' all over his clothes. Remus and Tonks had 'I love Tonks' and 'I love Remus' on their faces and clothes while Sirius had 'I think Harry is way hotter than I am' all over him. Moody and Kingsley practically peed in their pants from laughter. Everyone turned to us and sprinted to grab us. We all ran straight for the stairs and locked ourselves in me and Ron's room for almost two days. When we wanted to eat, we had to use my invisibilty cloak and run downstairs, get the food, and get back to the room before Mrs. Weasley got to tackle us. Best thing we ever did," Harry said reminiscing the moment.

He looked at his father who was nearly lying on the floor laughing, probably imagining everyone's faces and expressions. When he finally composed himself, James leaned back in his chair.

"I see you got my pranking jeans, aye young one?" James asked happily nibbling his toast.

"I think so, old one," Harry joked.

"I am most certainly not old!" James said angrily.

"If your not old than I'm a monkey's uncle," Sirius said sitting at the table next to James.

"Oh shut up Padfoot. You're just as old as I am."

"Most certainly am. I just age more gracefully than you and Remus," Sirius said swishing his hair back.

"Ha! Since I've been here I haven't aged a day! I look way better than you. And plus idiot, Remus is a werewolf. The only reason he looks older is because of that," James said knowingly.

"I think I look stunningly handsome for my age. Don't you think so Harry?" Remus said as he plopped down next to Harry.

"Well, I'm sort of a guy and if I say that I might lose some of my masculinity. But if it is any consolation Remus, Hermione and Ginny both had a crush on you in third year," Harry said handing Remus his piece of half eaten toast.

"HA! They never had a crush on you Padfoot," Remus said pointing his finger at Sirius.

"That's because when I last saw them I was extremely thin with random tattoos on my chest and I hadn't bathed in months. Also, my hair was quite ratty and I needed some clean clothes," he pointed out.

Remus and James rolled their eyes and Harry laughed.

Just then Lily strode down the stairs with her robe on and looked interestingly at her son and the older men.

"What have you been telling him?" she patronized.

"Nothing, darling! I made him some toast though," James said walking over to his wife and kissing her on the cheek.

She smiled and sat down at the table.

After a moment of silence, Sirius turned to his best friend. He looked at the large clock in the corner and ran a hand through his hair.

"Prongs, I think it's time," he said quietly.

James turned to his friend and sighed. He fumbled with his pajamas but did not look up. Harry could feel the feeling of sadness radiate off of his father.

"Time for what?" Harry asked.

"Maybe you can go another time," James replied casting a look at Harry. He looked longingly at his son. The last thing he wanted to do was lose him again.

"I'm sorry James, you know that I don't wan this to happen but now that he knows," Sirius trailed off. Lily moved near the table and Harry could see tears beginning to flood her eyes.

"What?" Harry questioned again, "What are you talking about?"

Lily turned to her son and a single tear fell down her face.

"Harry, sweetheart, now that you know the prophecy you need to go back to the real world. I know that everyone misses you dearly and although we will too, you must go back. You need to fight him," she said as she let the tears fall.

James walked over to his wife and pulled her into a tight embrace. He whispered something in her ear and she nodded.

Harry got up from his seat but did not say anything. Anxiety was taking over and he couldn't believe it. They were sending him back. They were taking his parents away... again.

"Please don't make me leave. Please, I don't want to go back," he pleaded.

Remus put a hand on Harry's shoulder and shook his head.

"I know it's hard Harry but we need to leave. You have something you need to do Harry and that can't be denied. Plus, it's not like we won't see them again, right?" Remus asked softly.

Harry sniffed and nodded, looking around the home he had always wished and hoped for.

"When will we need to leave?" Sirius asked so quiet he was barely heard.

"Right now. This is one of the only times you can go this week," James said trying to keep himself calm.

The three of them nodded.

"Hold on, you guys should change before you go," Lily said, her tears now falling silently down her pale and freckled face.

With a snap of their fingers, The Potter's, Sirius, and Remus were changed into their original clothes. The group walked out of the house solemnly. James and Lily were talking quietly to Harry who seemed to be most affected and Remus and Sirius trailed behind.

"They're really good parents, aren't they Moony?" Sirius asked looking at his two best friends and his god son.

"Yeah, even though they never met him they love him so much. It's just like they never missed a day in his life," Remus replied to his friend with a smile.

Sirius looked at Remus and smiled. He looked healthier than before they had come. His grayish - blonde hair had changed to his original color; brownish-blonde which suited him well. He was more muscular now and looked truly happy. Sirius saw that he also had a new sense of confidence. He was happy for his friend.

Remus turned his head to Sirius who was looking at Lily, James, and Harry. Sirius had changed dramatically from when he had come out of Azkaban. His stringy hair was now shiny and it gracefully fell on his tawny shoulders. He looked as he did in his school days. He had gained some weight and looked much healthier. His eyes which were still hollow from his twelve years in prison showed a glint of mischief. He was his old self again. He was once again the cocky Sirius Black.

"Thank god," Remus thought.

The group finally reached the opening from the veil. Remus, Sirius, and Harry walked close to the veil before turning around.

James and Lily were standing hand-in-hand looking tearfully at the people standing in front of them. They went one by one giving each of them a big bear hug. When they reached Harry, the two parents could feel more tears pouring out of their green and hazel eyes.

"I love you Harry. You're an amazing young man," Lily whispered hugging her son as tight as possible.

James joined in saying the same thing. Once they finally pulled away from Harry, the three visitors turned around to look at the veil.

Little did Sirius know that right behind him was James.

"Okay, on three," Remus nodded to his companions, "One," it was silent, "Two," they got ready to jump, "THREE!" Remus yelled before flying through the veil with Harry and Sirius in tow.

Just as Sirius jumped out, James whispered something in his ear.

"We'll meet you guys out there soon, Paddy."

Before Sirius had time to react, he felt himself fall onto the cold, stone floors of the Department of Mysteries.