A Second Chance

By S.L

Chapter Three: Mr. Hendrick Lucille

James had awoken to a cold bed that morning. The fire had gone out in the grate, there was the cold winter's morning chill in the air and Lily was gone. Their trunks were still lined up at the door, and all of Lily's things were where they should be, so he did not immediately worry.

A quick minutes search found her note pinned on the door, explaining her absence, another late night with Dumbledore. Rather than concerning himself any longer, James decided to start relaxing right then. He started with a quick shower, and then casually he dressed, made himself a cup of tea and made his way up to the Hospital Wing to find his wife.

Then his world had shattered.

Three hours later and James' brain still hadn't managed to catch up.

"He's handsome isn't he, James?" Lily was saying; James was sure it was nearly the tenth time she had commented on his looks, but he wasn't going to say anything.

Instead he managed to nod his head. He hadn't been able to attempt anything more complex than that yet.

"When do you think he'll wake up?" She asked, still staring almost longingly at the man on the bed.

James responded with another one of his shrugs. Mostly he was just drowning his wife out.

Lily seemed to be catching on however; she reached over and clasped one of his hands in her smaller one. "I know James, it's hard to believe, but Dumbledore accepted it. He knew of the spell, in fact he's doing some more back research right now."

Unable to face what was going on, James dropped Lily's hand and ran his fingers through his hair instead. "Its not just hard Lily, hard is an understatement, I mean," he gestured to the man on the bed. "I'm supposed to believe that this is my son? If this really is Harry and he really is our son, even if that's true, what are we supposed to do? Why did he come here? Why now? What does he want?" He shook his head and stood up, trying to distance himself from the sleeping man on the bed. He just had so many questions, and it was infuriating how accepting Lily was, she didn't seem to be unnerved in the least.

Lily was silent for a few moments. She reached for one of Harry's hands instead, but she looked over her shoulder to watch James pace. "James, it doesn't matter how hard it is, none of that matters. We have a second chance James. A second chance with him, a second chance at out son, our first son, this is a good thing James you have to remember that. Our son was taken from us and we've been given another opportunity to be together."

James shook his head; things like this didn't just happen. You weren't supposed to have second chances. "It's been twenty years Lily. The Harry we lost was a baby; I could hold him in one hand Lily! This," he gestured to the full grown man stretched out on the bed. "This is a man Lily, not my baby boy. Its not the same thing and you know it. I accepted the death of our son, I've managed to live with it."

He stopped for a minute until the silence became too unbearable. "How do we even know this is the same person? How do we know this is the man our son would have grown up as? It's just not right Lily. How can you cross-worlds? How can you have a second chance? Why him? Why is he the one to come here?"

Lily released Harry's hand and relaxed back in her chair. "James I don't have all the answers. I don't even know if he has the answers. All I know is that this is my son and I don't care how long its been, or what has happened, I'm going to take this opportunity, because James, sometimes you just have to take a chance on things."

"Well spoken Lily," Dumbledore said, slowly entering the room. His eyes met James' and he nodded. "James," he greeted in acknowledgement before he turned back to Lily. "You're absolutely right. Sometimes it is not about what we know; it's not always about the facts. There are times when it's about trust, and about belief and about what is in our hearts." He closed the distance between the door and Harry's bed in a few more steps and then slammed an old dusty book down on the bed and looked expectantly up at the Potters. "Then again," he went on. "In this case, it is about the facts." He looked back down and flipped the book open.

"When I was in my younger days, before settling down at Hogwarts I spent a good deal of my time traveling," Dumbeldore explained as he fixed his spectacles firmly on the end of his nose and brought the book up to a level he would be able to read comfortably. "I was investigating the inventor of the time turner, one Mr. Hendrick Lucille, after a number of his old records were left in my possession. Now, as you know the reason Mr. Lucille even began his investigation into time was due to the death of his young wife. He wanted to find a way to reverse time in order to change the course of events to bring his wife back to life. Of course it is known that when Mr. Lucille did finally discover how to turn back time, he also discovered that you could not dramatically change past events. If his wife had never died, he would never have invented the time turner, thus saving her from her untimely death.

"What is not common knowledge, is that Mr. Lucille discovered something else in his quest as well. When trying to rip the fabric of time during an experiment one day he accidentally ripped the fabric of space." Dumbledore motioned to the book in his hands. "As I said I was investigating Mr. Lucille very thoroughly when I came across this, a most valuable treasure. It is his journal that he used when keeping track of his experiments. In this book are the exact conditions that Mr. Lucille employed during the experiment that took him to another world and what he found there."

Here Dumbledore paused and motioned for James to have a seat and pulled up a chair for himself. "The process involved many things, a potion had to be made, the timing had to be just right and the spell involved two words; damnari voti." He paused to clear his throat before continuing. "Mr. Lucille is the only known wizard in existence to ever successfully cross worlds. Though others have sought after a process to bridge the gap, none have been successful.

"In this journal Mr. Lucille writes that he found the second world he entered into to be very much like the one he left. When he used the spell he said it left him very weak and feverish for days, and it took him weeks even to reclaim all of his former magic levels so it gave him ample time to explore his new surroundings. He noticed few differences and believed it to almost be better than the world he left. Though he had originally been afraid of meeting his counterpart he found that he had been brought to a world where he himself had died many years previously. Through this he deduced that the spell that brought him to another world was only able to bring him to one where he himself did not exist in order to maintain balance. Further he writes that he would have stayed in that world, rather than return to this one if it had not been that the wife he was searching for had died in that world as well. The journal does not give us an approximate time of how long Mr. Lucille spent in the polar world, but I guessed that he probably spent about one year there before he recreated the process to use the damnari voti spell again to return here.

"After he returns we know he worked on his time turner for another ten years before becoming successful and after realizing that the time turner was not able to bring his wife back he turned his work over to a trusted friend and told him in confidence that he could not stay in this world any longer. Days later he was reported missing. Now it is my suspicion that after realizing that he was not able to bring his wife back in this world through manipulations in time, he decided to go in search of another world where he would be able to once again reunite with his lost wife."

Dumbledore removed his spectacles and looked at the two Potters. "Obviously this book goes into much more detail than I summarized, but I thought that you two should at least have an overview. Through our questioning of Harry here I suspect that he lived in a parallel world to our own where he befriended my counterpart who led him to this ancient journal. My counterpart taught Harry about this spell and gave him the idea to cross worlds." He gestured to the man on the bed. "This Harry Potter used the damnari voti spell and it brought him to a world where he himself did not exist, here, where he had instead died as a young baby."

James swallowed and took Lily's arm and held it close to him. "So you really believe that he used this spell."

"I must admit I thought about it myself when I first came across the spell, but it runs a great many risks and I believed it to be highly dangerous," he looked down at the bed again. "However I am inclined to believe that this is Harry Potter and that for whatever reason he is the second person in recorded, but little known history to ever cross the boundaries of the worlds."

At this James stood up again and started pacing, removed his glasses and started rubbing his eyes. "I don't know Dumbledore, this is too much to handle."

Lily didn't say anything, she was staring at Harry, and James couldn't even guess at what she was thinking.

"I'm sorry Lily, I've got to go think about this," James told her finally. "I'm sorry Albus, I'll be back later." Not able to even look at either one of them James retreated to the door and out into the Hogwarts corridors.

From there he wandered for some time, he was having a hard time dealing with this, how was he expected to accept his long lost son popping back into existence after living a life in a parallel world? There was a lot more to this than just having a second chance with his son again, despite what Lily said. It couldn't just be that easy.

The halls were empty and cool; most of the students would have left that morning on the Hogwarts Express for the holidays. The few that had remained at school were more than likely out playing in the crisp snow or up in their warm common rooms. It wasn't likely that James would meet anyone wandering down the cold dusty halls.

It wasn't that he hadn't wished for Harry to be alive every day since his death, it was just that when he wished for a second chance with his son, he hadn't been thinking about a grown man. What would Harry act like when he woke up? Would he have already built a relationship with another James out there somewhere? Was James' counterpart someone completely different? Had he raised Harry the same way he himself had raised Bran and Mare?

James tried to search for answers to his questions somewhere in his mind, but he found himself drawing up blanks each time he thought of something new. It was all just too much to absorb so quickly. Willing himself to think harder, James stopped his wandering and found a window to lean against where he could see the lake.

He had barely settled down when he heard someone knock over a suit of armor and start skidding down the hall. Ready to snap at a student for interrupting his thoughts James turned around and was confronted by the sight of his son Bran sliding down the hall, looking anxiously over his shoulder. "Whatever anyone says- especially Snape- I didn't do anything!" He gave his dad a frantic look and ducked into the nearest classroom.

It was just in time too, because the next moment Snape himself came dashing around the corner. "Potter," he hissed, his greasy hair falling over his pale face. "Where is that blasted son of your? This time he's taken it too far!"

James adapted a relaxed expression and leaned casually against the window. "What are you talking about Snape?" he said with a twisted sort of grin. "My son has been with me all morning," but his expression faltered for a moment as he realized that in a strange sort of way this was true. "We were just packing for the holidays, you know Christmas and all that?"

Snape's eyes narrowed and he glanced around the empty hall. "He's here I know it Potter. You know you can cover up for him all you like, but I will be taking this one up with the headmaster."

Smiling, James shrugged his indifference. "I'm sure you will Snape, but do you think you could excuse me? I've got a couple more things to take care of before we get out of here."

Snape turned to leave, but not before shooting James one more hateful sneer, then he was sulking off down the hall again. The second he was around the corner again James turned to face his son with an angry scowl. This was not what he needed right then. "How many times do I have to tell you to be careful around that idiot!" He yelled, running a hand through his hair and flattening it against his forehead. "That man knows when he's been messed with, believe me, we tricked him often enough back in the day."

Bran stepped out of the classroom and rolled his eyes at his dad. "Oh come on dad, where is the fun in life without the adventure?"

Shaking his head James stopped mid thought and eyed his son warily. "I recognize that… that's one of Sirius lines." James looked around the hall, looking for something out of place.

Meanwhile Bran giggled childishly. "I know, I really wasn't lying, I really didn't trick Snape."

"Alright Padfoot where are you?" James called out. If his friend was around here, they maybe he would be able to help him sort through a few things.

"Thank you, thank you," said the man in question as he came sauntering down the hall from his own hiding place, grinning like an idiot child. His robes were disheveled, but his face was a mask of happiness. "It was quite a good effort there Bran boy, but we need to work on your escape route."

James watched as his son and best friend exchanged a handshake and smiled at one another, then he sighed. Though Bran Potter was identical to his dad in looks, his wild streak was pure Sirius Black.

The pair had far too much in common than what was probably safe for Hogwarts. Together the school really was no match for them, especially if when they managed to persuade any of the other Marauders to join them. Briefly James wondered if Harry had taken after the Marauders as well and if he was anything like Bran.

"Hey Padfoot old friend," James said, giving him a welcoming embrace, then he turned back to his son. "Hey Bran, why don't you and Mare head down to Hogsmeade and meet Remus, your mum and I have a few things to take care of with the Headmaster, and Sirius I'd like you to join us if you could."

"Oh come on dad," Bran begged. "Sirius just got here." James shot him a look that clearly told him not to push it and Bran relented. "Fine," he quipped, then with sagging shoulders he sulked off, leaving James and Sirius standing in the corridor alone.

"So what's this about Prongs?" Sirius said as he walked over to James in his odd little canter. He stopped moving, paused and gave James a thoughtful look. "This doesn't have anything to do with You-Know-Who does it?"

Sighing James shook his head, but he ran a hand over his face in an attempt to help him organize his thoughts. He didn't even know where to begin. "No Sirius it doesn't," when James dropped his hand his eyes were watering and he looked at his oldest and dearest friend in complete confusion. "Sirius I don't know what to do."

Smile fading Sirius gave James a heavy look and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Tell me, James," he said.

James looked up at the man who had been like a brother to him and told him everything.

Hours later, and James, though a bit better off for speaking with Sirius, was still unnerved. Sirius, however, after being told the strange circumstances surrounding the sudden appearance of Harry Potter, didn't looked effected at all.

Rather, Sirius was flipping through the journal of Hendrick Lucille, muttering to himself as he reread passages, occasionally shaking his head in wonder and shooting disbelieving glances at Dumbledore and the unconscious Harry.

Jealous of his old friend's instant ability of acceptance, James was lying back with Lily on one of the beds opposite Harry. Of to the side Dumbledore was engaged in a low, whispered conversation with Madam Pomfrey

Things had calmed down a great deal after James had the opportunity to talk with Sirius. His old friend hadn't been able to answer any of his questions of course, but he had done a great deal to calm him down and get him to a more accepting state. To his credit, Sirius had taken it all in his usual stride, not questioning a thing, and just talking James to a point where he could start dealing with what was going on.

Everything was just starting to settle down to a point where James was ready to announce that they all head down to Hogsmeade before it got dark when an owl started attacking the closed window. It was frantic, scratching against the glass and hooting loudly, Dumbledore noticed it first and walked over to it himself to unlatch the window. The owl ignored him and zoomed past onto Sirius' outstretched arm where it them promptly held out his leg.

"That's a Ministry owl," Lily pointed out, sitting up in bed and swinging her legs over the side, all business once more.

Though James was interested to see what the owl was about he figured it was probably something that wouldn't have much to do with him anyways. Sirius was one of the head Auror's for the Ministry of Magic, and owls were unfortunately frequent in sending him reports. Instead James settled back in bed and resumed his blank stare across the room at Harry. He still hadn't gained consciousness, and hadn't moved at all, but as James watched him it almost seemed as if he was tossing back and forth a little bit.

"What does it say?" Lily was asking, hoping out of bed and walking over to where Sirius was unraveling his letter.

"Lily," James said, he wasn't paying attention to Sirius, instead he was sliding out of bed to walk across the room to get a better look at Harry. The closer he seemed to get the more Harry seemed to be moving.

Lily crossed the room faster than he did however, and before he had even made it to the foot of Harry's bed she was already leaning over his face, clutching his cheek in her hand. "He's burning up."

"Its You-Know-Who," Sirius said, crumpling up the note in his palm, and looking over at the both of them. "Apparently there's a troupe of dementors attacking in Cornwall, Moody's team is taking care of it."

James ignored him and leaned over Harry with Lily, not only was he burning up, but his face forehead was covered in blood. Carefully James stuck out a finger to trace the long jagged scar on his forehead, that, though it looked very old, was bleeding as if it was fresh. James straightened up and showed his bloodied fingers to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore and Sirius were standing together at the foot of the bed, both still reeling over the shock of another attack, but they exchanged a look at the blood on James' finger.

Suddenly Harry began moving more violently, tossing back and forth, it was enough to make James jump back away from the bed, but Lily stepped closer and placed her hand firmly in Harry's.

"I think he's having a nightmare," Lily said, giving James a worried look.

"That or a seizure," James heard Sirius say under his breath, but he had the decency to look apologetic when he shot his friend a look.

Then as quickly as he had started shaking Harry froze and lay solidly on the bed. James took another step forward and paused.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry had shot up out of bed in a sitting position, his wand suddenly produced from his sleeve, pointed towards the open window. Dumbeldore and Sirius backed up in alarm as the bright white flash exploded out of the end of Harry's wand and grew into a giant silver stag that galloped down the hall of the hospital wing and leapt out of the window.

Then it was all over, and Harry fell heavily to the bed, groaning loudly and blinking his eyes. A cross between horrified and fascinated, James exchanged a look with Sirius and took another step forward. He leaned over the bed and got his first look at Harry's eyes, they were a bright emerald green, and he looked up and met the same eyes on Lily.

After catching his gaze his wife swallowed and looked down at their son who was lying between them. "Harry?" She said in a hushed voice.

He turned his head, blinking furiously and seemed to meet Lily's eyes, "Mum?" he said, but it was all that he managed before his head fell back down on the pillow and his hands fell back against the bed, unconscious again. The wand fell from his hand and the soft tap it made when it hit the floor echoed through the hospital wing.

For a moment no one dared speak, then slowly, Dumbledore bent down and picked up the wand from his feet and twisted it through his fingers. There was a thoughtful expression on his face.

Another minute or so passed and then a second owl came shooting through the window. James watched as Sirius hesitantly unraveled the new note.

"The attack is over, a patronus cleared all of them out before the Auror's made it." Sirius passed the note to Dumbledore to read. The Headmaster finished and then his gaze turned on James.

James licked his lips, he had somehow found himself the center of attention both Lily and Sirius were staring at him intently.

Finally Sirius broke the silence. "James," he said hesitantly. "I think that was you. I think that was Prongs."