Summery: Lily and James are alive and have believed their son, Harry, to be dead. What happens when they learn they've been lied to?
Life Changed Year III
Chapter Three
Questions
Albus Dumbledore sighed as he flipped though the dicument in front of him. It was a boring ministry document that he had to fill out. He looked up startled as the floo activated. 'Who would be visiting me at this hour?' He thought in surprise, though glad for the reprieve from the ministry document. Stepping out was a ruffled looking McGonagall.
"Minerve." Dumbledore said pleasantly. "How are you doing? I thought you still had a few weeks with your sister in America." Dumbledore inquired.
"I did Albus." McGonagall said as she looked up from dusting the soot off her clothes. "But something came up."
"Is everything alright?" Dumbledore asked in concern.
"I believe that depends, Albus." McGonagall stated seriosly. "I have just seen some people I had thought were dead. Or at least I had been told they were dead."
"Who would that be?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"The Potter's." McGonagall breathed.
"That's impossible." Dumbledore said matter of fact. "They died. You know that. They are dead."
"No, Albus." McGonagall inisisted. "I know that is what we have been told, but they are alive. I've seen them myself. They have a two more children, even."
"Minerva, be reasonable. They can not be alive." Dumbledore tried to pacify his professor.
"They are." McGonagall insisted.
"Then why did they not take Harry after the attack." Dumbledore asked. "Why haven't we heard from them?"
"They said they were told Harry had died by Minister Fudge." McGonagall said, staring Dumbledore directly in the eyes. "We haven't heard from them because they are living in Texas, in America. They moved there after they were told Harry ahd died." McGonagall tried to get Dumbledore to believe her.
"What reason would the minister have to tell them that Harry had died in the attack?" Dumbledore questioned. "What reason is there to tell the Wizarding world that Lily and James were dead, if it is not true?"
"I don't know the ministers reasons for this." McGonagall answered her voice weary. "But I do know that the Potter's are alive. I do know that we have all been lied to. Just come with me. Question them, and you'll see."
Dumbledore sighed. He was too old for this. He couldn't find a reason for Minister Fudge to do this, to lie to everyone for no reason. But he also trusted Minerva. She wasn't the kind of person to make up stories like this. "Okay, Minerva, where can we contact them?" He finally said resignedly.
He watched as McGonagall pulled out a piece of paper and she handed it to him. Reading off the address, in Texas, he nodded picked up one of his trinkets to create a portkey. After McGonagall grabbed it they felt a tug behind their navels before they disappeared in a flash, arriving moments later in the yard of a neighborhood. It was dark outside and many house lights were dark save the porch lights. Looking at the house they were directly in front of Dumbledore sighed as he and McGonagall began to walk to the front door.
Ringing the door bell Dumbledore and McGonagall waited for an answer, and a moment later the door opened to reveal a fairly tall man with a messy black mop of hair, round rim glasses and hazel eyes. Dumbledore gasped in surprise. This man did look like James Potter. He looked a little older then the James Dumbledore had known, but that was twelve years ago. Finally getting out of his shock he greeted the man. "James?" He questioned, stunned.
"Hello, Albus." The man answered politely as he opened the door for them to enter.
Entering the house Dumbledore and McGonagall examined their new surroundings. The house was obviously a two story house judging by the stair case leading up from the hallway, and was very well decorated.
"Are they here?" A voice from another room asked. It was a woman's voice, supposedly Lily Potters."
"Yes, dear." James answered as he motioned for them to follow him. He led them to another room that looked like a living room. "Sit down. I'll be right back." He said as he left the room.
"See, Albus!" McGonagall hissed.
"I don't understand how this can be." Dumbledore whispered to her.
"That's what we're trying to figure out." A woman's voice from the doorway called. Looking up Dumbledore gasped in surprise. Lily Potter stood next to James. "How can Harry be alive?" She continued.
"When Minerva told me I didn't believe." Dumbledore said still gazing at the Potter couple.
"Is it true?" James asked looking Albus in the eyes. "Is Harry really alive?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, he has been going to Hogwarts since he turned eleven."
"Where is he? When can we see him? Where has-" Dumbledore raised a hand to stop Lily's questions.
"First, I need to prove you really are Lily and James." He said as he pulled a vial containing clear liquid out of his robes. "May I question you under veritaserum?" At their nods he took out a dropper and opened the vial filling the dropper with the clear liquid. "Who's first?" He asked eyeing the Lily and James look-a-likes.
"I'll go first." James said as he sat down in the lazy chair in the corner of the living room. Dumbledore nodded and dropped three drops of the clear liquid onto James' tongue.
"What is your full name?" Dumbledore asked.
"James Mark Potter." James answered in a dull voice.
"Who is your wife?"
"Lillian Rose Evans Potter." James answered in the same tone of voice.
"Why did you leave England?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"After Harry's death – or rather when we were told Harry had died – it was too difficult to stay. We wanted to move forward in our lives with our remaining children." James answered.
Dumbledore nodded. "That's proof enough." He stated as he gave James the antidote. "Now Lily, are you ready?" Dumbledore asked looking over at her.
Lily nodded unhesitant. Dumbledore gave her the veritaserum and waited for it to take effect. After a few moments he began his questioning.
"What is your name?" He asked.
"Lillian Rose Evans Potter." She answered in a emotionless voice.
"How many siblings do you have?"
"One; Petunia Evans Dursley."
Dumbledore nodded and gave her the antidote. "It seems you are who you say." He stated.
"Will you answer my questions, then?" Lily asked.
Dumbledore nodded smiling. Same old Lily, never one to beat around the bush.
"Where is Harry?" She asked. "Professor McGonagall already informed us he didn't grow up with Sirius."
"With your sister and her family." He answered diligently.
Lily gasped. "He was left with Petunia and her oaf of a husband?" She cried angered.
Dumbledore nodded. "The Minister ordered me to place him in they're care."
"Have they treated him okay?" Lily asked. She knew her sister hated magic and anything associated with it.
"As far as I am aware, they have." Dumbledore answered with a nod.
"When can we get him?" James asked entering the conversation. "Where does Petunia live?"
"Unfortunately we have to wait for the British Ministry to prove you are in fact alive, and place Harry back into your care." Dumbledore answered. He would love to just tell them where Harry was, but they needed to do this the legal way, and unfortunately that way took time.
"Why? He's our son." James asked. "And the ministry messed up. Why would they tell us he was dead and tell everyone else we were dead? It doesn't make any sense!"
"I agree." Dumbledore said in a calm voice. "But we need to do this legally to get Harry into your custody."
James nodded. "When do we start then?"
"I would like it if you portkeyed with Minerva and myself to the British ministry. Hopefully we can get this cleared up soon."
Lily and James nodded without hesitation.
"How long will it take?" Lily asked as she stood.
"We'll most likely be at the Ministry for a few hours." Dumbledore answered.
Lily nodded. "I'll get Matt to watch the kids." She said as she left the room.
"Who's Matt?" Dumbledore asked curiously. 'Maybe a sitter.' He thought.
James smiled a little apologetically for not telling his old headmaster about his other kids. "Our oldest son, Matt."
Dumbledore nodded without further comment. Lily reentered the room and informed them Matt had agreed to watch the others.
"Ready?" Dumbledore asked as he pulled out a portkey which he redirected the location to the Ministry.
"Yes." James said as he, Lily, Dumbledore and McGonagall touched the portkey and felt the tug at their navels before they found themselves in the British Ministry of Magic.
"May I help you?" The receptionist asked.
"Yes," Dumbledore said smiling. "May I see the minister please?"
Recognizing the legendary headmaster of Hogwarts she didn't ask his name. "Have you got an appointment with Minister Fudge?"
"No, but this is rather urgent."
She nodded and stood from her seat and walked over to the fire place. After throwing a little floo powder in she began whispering, presumably to Minister Fudge.
"He says he'll see you." She said after finishing her conversation in the fire place. "Just go to his office, he's waiting."
"Thank you." Dumbledore said flashing a smile at her before they left the receptionist desk and made they're way to Minister Fudges office."
"Hello Cornelius." Dumbledore said as he entered the office.
"Ahh, Dumbledore," Fudge said as he stood to shake Dumbledore's hand. "What do I owe this visit?" At that moment James, Lily and McGonagall walked in behind him.
Fudge blanched at seeing Lily and James. "Wh – What is the meaning of this?" He asked looking a little alarmed and glancing at Dumbledore.
"My dear Professor McGonagall recognized them while visiting a relative." Dumbledore began his explanation. "She contacted me and I question Lily and James to see if they are who they claimed to be. As you know, under veritaserum, they can not lie. They say that they were informed, by you, that Harry Potter was killed in the attack at Godrics Hollow. Why was the Wizarding world told Lily and James were dead if that was not the case?"
"Why were we told Harry was dead if he wasn't?" Lily asked angrily. James clasped his hand around her wrist to keep her from attacking the minister, should she decide to.
"How do I know that you are Lily and James Potter?" Fudge asked glaring at Lily.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Lily cried angrily. "You knew as soon as we entered this office who we were."
"It still needs to be proved you are not Death Eaters." Fudge said smugly.
"Death Eaters?" James asked also angry. "You know were not Death Eaters!"
"I have already questioned them under veritaserum, Cornelius." Dumbledore reminded the somewhat smug minister. "We are here now to correct this. They are obviously alive, and for some reason we've been told otherwise. And they've been lied to about their son."
"In order to place Harry Potter into they're care we need to prove they are who they claim to be." Fudge said with a fake smile to Dumbledore. "We shall question them under Veritaserum ourselves."
"Fine." James spoke up, still angry. "If it gets us Harry back that's fine. But know this, I will find out why we were lied to."
Fudge was unable to hide the anger he felt, but he managed not to say anything. "Come with me." He said briskly as he walked out the door to the Auror department.
Dumbledore and McGonagall watched as Lily and James were questioned under veritaserum by Fudge and his Aurors. He knew Fudge knew they were the Potters. He also knew that Fudge was trying to cover himself by finding some fault in they're story. Unfortunately the only thing that really worked against Lily and James was them leaving the Wizarding world after the attack at Godrics Hollow. Dumbledore also knew that there would be a large uproar should Lily and James decide to go after the minister for the lies that were told.
After two hours of questioning Fudge finally relented that Lily and James were who they said they were.
Sitting around Fudges office they were discussing what would happen from here.
"When can we get Harry?" James asked.
"As soon as the ministry can get the papers filed. I'd say a week and a half, two weeks at the most. We will be notifying the Wizarding world that you are alive in tomorrows paper."
"What are you going to tell them?" James asked somewhat bitterly.
"That there was a mistake." Fudge replied looking a little flustered.
"So you're just going to make up a story about your mistake?" Lily asked emphasizing the word 'mistake.'
"It was an honest mistake." Fudge said sneering a little at Lily.
"Sure it was." James said bitterness leaking through heavily. "Right now all we want is our son back."
"You have to sign this," Fudge said as he thrust a paper at them.
James examined the paper with Lily reading over his shoulder curiously. "A confidential agreement?" Lily asked her anger flaring.
"Yes, you must understand." Fudge said puffing his chest indignantly. "We don't want the Wizarding community to have an uproar over this. We need to keep the peace. That," He motioned toward the paper still in James' hands. "Will insure you don't say anything."
"And if we decided to speak?" Lily asked her emerald eyes flashing defiantly.
Fudge smirked. "If you do speak about this then I can find you as unfit to be parents."
Lily and James gaped in shock at the minister. He was black mailing them. "I'm going to speak with my wife for a moment." James finally said in a deadly quiet voice. It was obvious he was angry. Very angry.
"Can he do that?" Lily asked. Her husband was well aware of the laws in the Wizarding world because of his time as an Auror.
James nodded solemnly his eyes blazing. "Yes unfortunately."
"We need to get Harry back." Lily hissed. "I don't care at the moment. I won't talk about what happened, even if Pudgy Fudge does deserve to be questioned for his lies."
James nodded in agreement. He could tell Lily was beginning to get hysterical. It was a lot to go through. Learning your son was still alive, the Wizarding world had been lied to, they had been lied to, and Fudge had the gall to black mail them. Now, the prospect of possibly loosing Harry again would be too much.
Back in the office James placed his arm around his wife's wait in order to keep her calm as well as keep her from attacking the minister. "Fine. We'll go with this. I'll sign that." He spat motioning to the paper on the desk. "But don't mess with us further, or I will inform the Wizarding community of your mistake." He spat.
Fudge blustered but realized that was as much as he was going to get.
After signing the document James asked, "When can we retrieve Harry?"
"I will contact you when everything is approved." Fudge said smiling bogusly.
"Who will tell Harry about our being alive?" Lily asked.
"You can do that when you get him." Minister Fudge said arrogantly.
"Why did you imprison Sirius." James asked. "He was not the secret keeper! He didn't betray us."
Fudge blanched. "All evidence proved he did."
"I'm telling you now." James said coldly. "He was not our secret keeper. Therefore he was not the one who you should have arrested. Pettigrew," James spat the name angrily. Had Peter not betrayed them they wouldn't be going through this now. "Was our secret keeper."
"Be that as it may," Fudge said collecting himself. "Black is still responsible of the murders of twelve Muggles; unless you can prove differently." Fudge sneered.
James saw no way he could do that. He knew Sirius was not responsible for the twelve Muggles deaths, that had to be Peter, but he had no way of proving it at the moment."
"Is that all?" Fudge asked knowing James nor Lily could help Black out of Azkaban.
James nodded and without any reply turned with Lily and left the room followed by Dumbledore and McGonagall.
"Thank you Dumbledore." James said somewhat tersely. He was still angry at the whole situation.
Dumbledore seemed to understand because he nodded. "I've set this portkey to your home. I'll see you again later this week, if you don't mind my stopping by that is."
Lily smiled a little stained. "Of course not headmaster. Good night."
"Good night, child." Dumbledore said smiling.
With that Lily and James felt the familiar tug at their navel and appeared in their home.
End of Chapter Three
A/N: Finally an update! I hope it was worth the wait. Please REVIEW!
Next chapter: Hopefully I finish it sooner then I did this one, but it's about Harry.