Potter

Disclaimer: I don't own this except for my sarcastic comments. I've been out of writing HP for a while, so I am somewhat rusty… excuse me for that. Also, in the last chapter, I wanted to skip it a bit to make it easier for me to wrap it up, since it's not really that interesting for me to write about. Also, James doesn't think the bullying of Snape was bad, chiefly because Snape fights like a lawyer.

Welcome Feasts and grave announcements

There was some commotion as he entered the train, his eyes focused on the walkway, there being students chatting with each other, his trunk being in his hand, and he wondered where he would need to sit. Ron and Hermione had gone ahead, saying that they'd be getting him a seat too, but since he did have to go to the loo, he didn't have a clue where exactly they had gone to. The look that he got from one of the Slytherin prefects actually reminded him of one of the prefects in his own school days, one Theremy Jenias, a pureblooded student from East Europe, never much of a cheerful person, but still a stickler for the rules.

The sole reason why he did act like before was not to throw people in disarray. It really was some ingenious plotting on his part, which almost made him ashamed to be in Gryffindor, though his heart really belonged here, since this was the house that he had picked before, Slytherin being a virtual death trap for him, due to the potter family's sentiments with the Light, though he supposed that the statement Voldemort had made in his second first year was correct. There were no light or darkness, there was only power, with those too weak to seek it being cast aside. Voldemort was a man who evoked feelings of heated rage within his chest, a dark look going over his face, as someone tapped him onto the shoulder, him turning around moments later to look at Hermione, whose face showed some slight amusement at having him caught brooding. "Come on, we've found us a suitable compartment." He followed her slowly, dragging his trunk with him out of principle, a small smile playing on his lips as he looked at her departing back, watching for anyone about to trip him, the behavior ingrained into him because of the years of bullying he had experienced before.

"So, mate, what did you think of the match?" James sighed deeply, as Hermione mimicked the behavior. "Seriously Ron, haven't you discussed it enough with Harry yet?" James raised an eyebrow at that statement. He liked Quidditch, really liked it, but still, going on and on about one match which had been asked of him nearly a thousand times was enough to make even one with patience such as his exasperated. "Well, I did like the actions of Lynch, but I can't say for real if it would be better that Ireland won. After all, it's just a game, right?"

"But it's more than a game, it was the game of the century!" James rubbed his brow for a moment, sighing deeply. He hadn't been too fanatic about Quidditch, despite being head Chaser for Gryffindor in his time. He wondered about Quidditch as it now stood, knowing that he was a pretty good Chaser, but played the Seeker spot, which should be a possibility for expansion, really. He had been playing as a Chaser for most of his school career, a trophy for him as a Seeker still standing in that dingy hall of trophies, the one time he had actively been a Seeker had already netted him some fame, due to the Wronski feint he had pulled off at last notice, letting the Slytherin Seeker crash into the ground without broken parts, though seriously knocked up.

As they arrived at the school, James took the time to dress himself, taking note of his skinny body and vowing to train himself up a little bit, since in this world, appearance was pretty much everything to the Purebloods, of which he was one, technically. Of course, he'd still be seen as Harry Potter, because of the blood that ran through his veins, that was a mix of Lily's and his, but in the end, it did not bother him as much as he thought it would.

Snape, on the other hand, would bother him quite a bit. Going about it in Marauder flair would immediately point to him, and he was sure that he never really did too much harm to the man. Dislike of him or not, he knew that the man still held a soft spot for Lily, so if he managed to play it right, along with treating Slytherin students a bit better, maybe even interacting with them on a nicer level would make the man a bit less bitter.

And so, with all those good thoughts in his mind, he donned his robe, hoping that this year would be the year for him. He stepped out of the train, watching most other students do so, coming face to face with a beard. "Ello Harry, how are ya?'

"Fine, Hagrid." He muttered to the half-giant, glad to see his hairy face once more. "It's good to be back at Hogwarts. I've missed this place." He really did. The Dursleys had made it a bore, and it felt good to be back at the wizarding place he had grown to like during his school days. He watched the spires with a fascination he never had showed before, and seated himself in a carriage without really checking who the occupants were, to his minor irritance, a pair of Slytherin females, who cast him deplorable looks. "Oh, it's Potter. Come Daphne, let's find another carriage, it'd be unsoiled of the great lion's presence."

"How snarky. Even Snape would be better at such a comment. He'd probably go like 'Potter, how dare you defile this carriage with your unholy taint and soil MY students. You're just like James, an irritating little spoiled brat.' " James was actually a bit creeped out by his own words, to see that he had managed to capture the snarkiness of the dark bat of potions was something quite unusual for James Potter, prankster extraordinaire.

If he had looked at the Slytherin girls at the moment, he would've seen looks of awe and fear pass over their face at the near perfect rendition of their Head of House's voice, along with the palpable aura of snarkiness that just oozed off James at that moment, a faint outline of the bat-potion-man's face overlaid over James's face being enough to scare the creeps out of them. There was a silence as the two girls froze, James looking up to see that they had literally locked into place, while staring at him with their eyes wide open in fear, a flush around their cheeks. He blinked dumbly for a moment. "Are you okay?"

"Scary…" was all that one of the girls could utter, her companion still in a daze at the nearly perfect Snape rendition. James didn't get it, why had they frozen up? He wondered to himself that it might just be the Snape-speech that he had used, the man always doing the same back when they were still in the same year, so it was kind of easy to do, since he'd had to listen to it for almost 10 years.

"What's scary?" he asked, looking to see that the other girl had regained her wits. "How did you do that?" she asked, making him scratch the back of his head slightly. "What? Talk like Snivelly?" another freezing up occurred, the two Slytherin girls looking at him with open-mouthed awe, amazed that he would dare to mock the immortal bat of potion-making.

"You just insulted Professor Snape." Daphne said, looking at Potter with a new look. If he could insult the potions master without being fearful of his response, especially since there were students of his house in the same carriage. James did not seem to mind it in the least, giving her a somewhat mellow stare, like he were high on something. "And?" came the answer from James, who saw a challenge within those words, although it was not intended as one.

"You've got balls Potter, I'll give you that." The as of yet unnamed compatriot of the girl named Daphne spoke up and James cocked his head to the side. "Well, I am a man after all." He stated, just for the record, but it had the effect of making the girls giggle, Daphne adding her own comment to it "Well, not much to see there. You're scrawny and bony, and we don't like that in our boys."

"Oh, why don't you just piss off and cry over your Malfoy shrine, you little snake-girl." He muttered, fixing his attention upon the window, where the view of Hogsmeade was currently displayed. He completely missed the slightly stunned reaction of the girl, and the jab in the side that her companion gave her. "Hey, you've got no right to say that Potter. You're the one with fan clubs in your own house, so why don't you go and see their Harry Potter shrine? It'd be a good spending of your time." James did not deign a reply to the girl, so he just kept on staring out of the window. "Potter, didn't you hear me, I said-" "I heard you, I just didn't reply." Came the answer from James, who turned to face the girls, looking at them with a semi-bored look. "So, I have fanclubs in my own house… who cares about some prepubescent girls trying to collect private things from me? I'm just a normal person, so who'd ever want to collect my underwear or something. In seventh year, they'll have cooled off a little and of course, there'll be die-hard fans, but I don't let it all go to my head."

"Potter, who are you and what have you done to the real Potter?" James sent her a glare as he got the message, this behavior was a bit out of character for him, but he neither cared enough for it. "What I mean is that I won't be swallowed by fame, little girl. I don't give a flying hippogriff about rules, but know this. If you cross me, you'll pay, I swear it." With the patented glare of the Potter family, he looked to the window again, seeing the gates of Hogwarts come by, feeling a bit angry at himself for that outburst against the Slytherins, albeit he felt that it was somehow justified. He should have mood swings as a 14 year old, right?

"Potter." He looked at the girl, Daphne her name apparently was, and inclined his head. "Yes?" the girl seemed to fix him in place with a glare. "You seem to be different this year, and I want to make you an offer you shouldn't refuse." "And that is?" he said, being awfully reminded of that gangster film called the Godfather. "Be friendly to us Slytherins and we won't bother you. I'll even spread the word not to bother you, but the Maloy-supporters will still harass you." He frowned. Malfoy supporters? Since when did the Slytherin house split into Death Eaters and non-Death Eaters? Oh well, I guess it'd be alright to be at least somewhat cordial to the Slytherins, no matter that they've tried to harass me at every moment. "Well, for the time being, I'll accept. But excuse me if I act like I dislike you, because it would be rather… improper, for a lion like me, to like Slytherins."

The agreement was enough, and Daphne extended her hand, his hand taking hers. "My name is Daphne Greengrass, and the fine young lady next to me is Tracy Davis." "Harry James Potter, my ladies." The small bow he did while seated made both girls giggle, and he knew that he still got his boyish charm. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

As they exited the carriage, he spotted Ron and Hermione exiting the carriage behind them, a small smile making its way to his face, as he helped the girls out of the carriage. "I must depart now, to see my friends again. I wish you both a good evening."

Hermione was the first to spot him. "Harry! Where have you been? We've looked all over, but we couldn't find you." He sighed slightly. "Hermione, I've just been in another carriage, alright? I've been with 2 Slytherins, and actually had a decent conversation with them." She stared at him with her mouth falling open only slightly and he wondered whether she'd be cross with him, but that didn't matter much to him at the present time, since it would be an acceptable loss of this conversation. "With Slytherins? Did they hurt you?" he shook his head, looking her over once and then giving Ron the once-over. "You've been in a fight with someone?" she shook her head, giving Ron an angry look which made him cringe slightly. "Mister Quidditch over there accidentally fell on top of me."

"It was an accident!" the one named Mr. Quidditch said, James giving a sigh as his only physical reaction, while being internally mortified at the behavior of his 'friends'. Of course, he could claim that he was older than them on the mental aspect, and that argument held up, of course, but still. "Come on, let's just go inside." The words tumbled from his lips, as they were normal for him, who resolved some conflicts between the other two members of the Golden Trio. They both looked at him with a worried look in their eyes, which was not something he'd ever really noticed before and without a word, followed him inside.

The jabs of a certain blonde didn't even phase him at this moment, as he had been subject to curses the moment he entered, from having a venomous tentacula placed into his bed, which had made his back become swollen with purplish wounds for a few weeks. Of course, the retribution had been swift…

As he seated himself, he kept an eye on the Slytherin table, watching Daphne talk to one of the younger girls from that house, who relayed something to the person sitting besides her, who glanced up at him, seeing him looking at them, looking down at the plate immediately. He knew that this must be what they've talked about, letting the other members of their 'faction' know that he might be considered an ally of sorts.

Funnily, in his own years at Hogwarts, James had never noticed this factionalism, only seeing them as a whole. Maybe this new perspective on things would finally make him see it from a different side, that not all Slytherins were Death-Eater Wannabee's. there were some things that he didn't really want to know right now, but all was in favor of food at the moment.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts, students. A few announcements before we'll all off to have our bellies filled and our hearts warmed by eachother's presence. First of all, there will be no Quidditch this year, due to circumstances I will go ab-" "WHAT!" the Weasley twins spoke up before Dumbledore could continue, James's mouth going slack as he looked at the old man, who had said that this year was going to be a Quidditch-less year. He had some slick moves to show off now, and now he wouldn't be allowed to show them. Dumbledore better offer a good alternative, or else he'd be facing a prank war the likes that hadn't been seen for 18 years.

"The reason for that, Misters Weasley, is that this school will be hosting the Tri-Wizard tournament this year, under supervision of the department of magical sport and recreation." The astonished cries of students could be heard, James feeling slightly numb, as he had heard about this tournament, which had been banned a few ages ago.

"Awesome." He thought one of the Weasley twins said, looking at the Headmaster with reverence, sadly it making James feel sick to his stomach, even as the food appeared. The tournament had some lethal accidents, which was why he had the sinking feeling that it was all a set-up for him to be subjected to. Of course, there'd be some difficulty with the fact that he apparently was too young to enter, but the supporters of Voldemort lurked everywhere, so it would only be a matter of time before they bewitched the item that was supposed to give the names of the Champions of the schools that contended. The feeling of dread that came over him made him eat sparsely, watching the Weasley twins speak about joining that tournament to get some cash.

"People died in the tournament, Fred, George." Came the words from the bookworm of Gryffindor, James belatedly realizing that she would've read about it in Hogwarts: a History. Still, he wondered how this would all factor in with his year, and if he should take precautions against 'accidents'.

Maybe Moody's lessons about being careful were well-founded in this instance, he wondered as he ate slowly, the door banging open to show an old grizzled man, James's eyes widening noticeably as he saw the scarred visage of the man who had been in the Order with them. Of course, it might merely be someone else, but the thunk of the wooden leg made it noticeable that it was Moody, the same Alastor Moody who had been with them for the time they had spent with the Order.

"Dumbledore, nice to see you." The same tone of paranoia was present with the voice of the man, making him remember the voice of the man clearly now, the tone being the exact same as before missions, that constant hint of anxiety, to expect danger around every corner without fail. That paranoia had helped them out tremendously, with Moody being one of the most careful members of the order, always giving the Death Eaters back 20 times the things they had done, often leading to death or worse, an existence of pain. Needless to say, Dumbledore didn't often agree with the methods that Moody used, still it was something of note.

Paranoia was now definitively needed, since Moody had come to teach. "Damn, with Moody as our teacher, how the hell are we going to learn anything else then defense?" he said to Ron, who merely looked at him with an uncomprehending look, not understanding the sentence, though James meant to say that Moody would probably make them all do a very hard course of Defense, the ex-Auror being very strict, even to Auror trainees.

He winced as he remembered a training session, the bruises not going away after some medicinal cream from the resident Healer, the feeling of irritance as he walked being enough to drive him almost mad. Of course, the old man commented upon him being a weakling, the feeling of pain that lanced through his body at times being unbearable to a normal, healthy young father, Harry having been born three weeks before that session, Moody impressing the importance of dueling upon the two of them…

Still, he let his eyes wander through the room, coming to rest upon the females of Hogwarts, and liking what he saw. Of course, he had already done so, but why stop when there were more people that might just have been overlooked before? Still, he was looking for girls around the 16-17 bracket, since they'd have the maturity to see him for what he was, and not being blinded by his fame, like the rest of his age seemed to be, sans Slytherins of course.

James wouldn't know it yet, but with a sense of paranoia, he'd have been much better off then looking at the girls that might just be available to him, not even going over the fact that he was still a bit too young-looking for the girls to take notice of him. It'd just take time…

Alrighty boys and femmes, I just want to state that I'll be going for a mature approach, and have him interact with people in a bit of a mix between adolescent and 21-year old prankster. Of course, there'll still be the suave and cool young man that you all should know as Sirius Black to think about, but that'll be solved with an appearance in a later chapter… next thing up… Potions… Snape VS Potter, who'll win...