Trick of Time Chapter 7

Hey, sorry guys. A lot of stuff happening, and I should be doing homework now. My great aunt just died, my rat died yesterday, I was in a music talent-show right after a concert in the church and I need some sleep!

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Every time it's written in cursive in the middle of the text there is a flashback. One of James' memories that Harry remembers. I didn't want to give them all at once. I'm not Rowling, I assure you. I know it's hard to believe, but it is the truth.

Chapter 7, Memories of the Past

James walked down the stairs, he was five years old but quite tall for the age. It was Christmas morning and he couldn't wait to open the presents. He eagerly ran the last bit and entered the living room.

A large Christmas tree was the first he saw, and then moved his eyes over to the presents and his parents who had woken up really and prepare breakfast. Everything just for him.

James went straight over to the largest of the presents, a long but thin one. It was from his parents. He opened it and was met by his first broom! His own broom! He didn't have to ride together with his dad anymore. He had his own!

He ran over and hugged his parents. He was so happy!

When Harry woke up the next morning, he felt a bit sad. The break was over, and he would have to go back to Hogwarts. It would be great to see Sirius, Remus, Peter and Lily again, but he would miss his grandparents.

He also missed his surrogate family. He missed Mrs Weasley fussing over him and hanging out with Ron and Hermione.

But after seeing all those memories, he had started to really care for his grandparents. He had been James, seen through his father's eyes, and had liked it. Loved to have caring parents, but he wasn't James Potter, he was Harry.

He belonged to a younger generation, where Voldemort had already ruined so many lives, including his own. Ruined his own happiness, and the happiness of so many others. If Harry didn't get back, he might ruin even more.

"I can't wait!" said eleven-year-old James. "I'm afraid you have to," his father said. "Come on, it's just twenty minutes before we arrive at the station." James still didn't look like he would calm down.

"Promise me you'll write to us, dear." His mother was trying to hold back tears. She would clearly miss her son a lot. "Mum, I'm a big boy, I don't need to write to you every day, but I promise to respond to your letters, as long as you don't send too often."

He walked out onto the platform, eager to board the train. "James, not so fast. I want to say goodbye," his mother called, and he stopped. "Bye, mum." James smiled. "I'll write. I'll be fine, I promise you. Well, see you around Christmas!" he called behind him, after hugging his parents and eagerly walking to find a seat.

He found a compartment where there already were two other boys and a girl. James…

"James, dear, it's breakfast! Would you please come down when you're ready?" Mrs Potter called from downstairs. "Coming!" Harry replied, and took the stairs in three jumps, just like he remembered James had done.

He sat down by the table.

"Ready for school?" James' father asked him. "I guess," Harry started to eat. "Please do fewer pranks this year," he said, as he looked over his copy of the Daily Prophet. He was trying to be stern, but Harry could see a small glint in his eyes.

"All right," Harry said cheerfully. His and James's mind had become more like each other over the holidays. Would he become James if this continued? Harry would need to contact James again. He decided to take a chance.

"Dad, can one send a message to the future?" he asked. Mr Potter looked rather surprised but started to think about it. "Yes, I dare say you could do that."

"Yes?" Harry asked eagerly.

"You can write a message and place it somewhere where you would find it in the future," Harry jumped up. "I think there is some sort of time spell too, but I am not familiar with it…" Mr Potter continued but Harry was already on his way out.

"That's brilliant, thanks dad!" he shouted and left the room. "What's gotten into him?" asked his grandmother and shook her head.

"Hey James, wait up," Sirius called from behind. "What is it, mate?" asked James, who turned. "I've just found a place that's brilliant! Come I'll show you," and with that the two boys ran down the corridors, not stopping before they had reached a wall in an empty hall.

"Yeah?" asked James. "Look here," Sirius said eager, pulled out his wand and knocked on the wall on five different places. It was like a window had appeared in the hall, not showing trees or mountains as the rest did, but it led to a room.

Sirius opened it and jumped in. "Looks like a whole new common room to me," James said. "I know," Sirius said happily. "How did you find this?" asked James, who was a little taken back.

"A ghost told me that he'd just gone through a wall and ended up somewhere new, and he described it and told me where it was, so I tried to find out how to get in all afternoon."

James looked around, and Harry through his eyes. They saw a room with pillows on the floor. Small tables were placed around, and the whole room had small bookcases around, filled with all the spell books one would need.

"We won't need the library ever again!" shouted James happily and Sirius threw himself down on a pillow. "Come on, let's tell Remus and Peter," he said happily.

James had found the place in the second year, Harry knew for sure. Right before they got to know Remus' secret. He could place a note there, and James would hopefully find it in the future. As he parted from his grandparents, he felt more eager to get back to school than he was that morning.

Parting from Sirius was probably the hardest thing James had done since he came here. Seeing his friend fall apart again and feeling lonelier than ever. Nevertheless, he had to go back to Hogwarts to find his way home again.

He hugged dog-Sirius farewell. But as he let go of the black fur, the dog suddenly started making gestures. James had been told why Sirius had to hide his face, but it was damn hard playing charades with a dog!

Sirius' paw made some sort of writing gesture. Trying to spell something on the ground. And then pointed to James. He did this several times, until James had to run for the train.

He bordered the train and quickly located Hermione and Ron, feeling sad for leaving Sirius but also puzzled by his last message. "James, are you OK?" Ron asked, looking worried. He answered: "yeah, sure, why shouldn't I be?" But he could feel the sadness throughout his body.

He wasn't speaking much before they had arrived at Hogwarts. It wasn't until they all were headed for their dorms that James was showing some enthusiasm. He had just understood what Sirius had tried to tell him.

"Follow me; I want to show you something."

Harry ran up the stairs and down the corridors with Sirius after him. Once again Sirius cursed the fact that James, or Harry, in this case, was faster than him. Curse that Quidditch-athleticism!

"James, wait!" he shouted, rounded a corner and ran straight into his Godson. "Ow, why did you stop?" he asked, but Harry had closed his eyes, searching through the memory. When he opened them, he pulled out his wand and knocked on the wall.

"Right…" Sirius muttered, finally understanding where Harry was headed, but not why he had to run there. They both climbed through the window. Harry sat down by one of the Japanese style tables and found quill and parchment in his bag.

He started to write like a lunatic.

"Eh, Harry. What are you doing?" Sirius asked, leaning over. "I'm trying to contact James in the future. I'm sure he'll come here and find my letter," Harry said, without looking up.

"You told me that you met him, so why do you need to contact him?" Sirius asked. "Because I know how we can switch back again." Harry grinned and looked up at Sirius. "You can have your best friend back again, and I can finally be me, Harry Potter."

James knocked on the right places, waited and opened the window. "Sirius found it, but we didn't draw it on the Marauder's map. It wasn't needed since no one ever comes here except us." He explained to the others.

The three of them got inside. Ron was first, walking around, falling down on one of the pillows. Hermione sat down by the first table she came to, and suddenly yelled out. "James, there is a letter for you!"

James walked over to her, eager. "Open it!" Ron said and moved closer towards the others.

"Read it out loud," he said.

"Hi, James. No, Dear Dad," James began, staring up and over to the others. "It's from Harry," Hermione called happily. "Continue," Ron was getting excited. There was news from his best mate, and he wanted to hear them.

"I do not know if this letter will reach you, but it was your dad's idea to leave something, and hope that you would find it in the future. Don't worry, he doesn't know anything. Sirius has shown me your memories, so I know you much better. You'll have to ask Ron and Hermione because I don't keep a journal."

James stopped again. "I miss my life," he sighed.

"I have an idea about how you can get back. I was in Snape's office and fell down into the pensive. It was showing a memory with you and your friends, and suddenly we just switched. I think you'll have to do the same thing. Maybe with the same one, or with one corresponding with our current timeline.

Love, Harry."

James looked up. "I have to get into Snape's office."

"How?" asked Hermione. "He kicked you out, remember?" Ron looked like it was the craziest idea ever. "I don't know how. I can ask for potion lessons, sneak in, or… use a Polyjuice potion."

"I have a feeling we will have to break into Snape's office whichever idea we choose," Hermione said, her eyebrows knit together in deep thought.

Harry wandered around on the floor. He hoped that James had received the letter. What if it had been taken some other moment on the timeline between him and his father? No, it wouldn't do just wandering around worrying. He wouldn't get to know anyway, because you can't send a letter to the past.

"Hey, Harry, trouble!" Sirius yelled as he came in the door. "What's the matter?" Harry was waiting for the worst. "Quidditch practise in ten minutes," Sirius said, grabbing his broom. "I hope you're good. Really good…" he muttered.

Together the two boys walked down to the pitch. "I'm a seeker in my time," Harry said.

"James is luckily a seeker too. I hate to admit it, but he's way better than me at this game," Sirius sighed.

"It's going to be Ok, Sirius. I am erm… the youngest Quidditch player of my century." Harry said feeling his face go red. "Wow," was all Sirius could say at that.

"Think about it, Hermione, if I look like Malfoy, I can get in without anyone noticing, and I can come up with an excuse for Snape, and…" James said as they walked to the potions class. "It's just that it takes a month, and we don't have ingredients, and…"

"…we've actually done it before," Ron interrupted.

James was shocked. They had made polyjuice potion before? He wondered what sort of shenanigans his son was up to when he wasn't around. "Cool, then you know how to do it. We'll get the stuff, maybe Sirius can help?"

They came down to the lesson just in time. Everyone went inside, and James was careful not to be noticed as he sat down in the back.

"We'll learn about dangerous potions today, and how we can prevent a series of painful deaths by using a counter-potion." Snape went on and on, James couldn't help but feel tired. This was a boring class. School was boring full stop – always too easy or too tedious.

"Mr Potter!" Snape called and James woke up. "Sleeping in my class are we?" he asked in a crisp, dangerous tone.

"Of course not, just closing my eyes to think more deeply about the information…" James was cut off. "A very believable excuse. Now, go and sit next to Mr Malfoy."

Snape nodded towards the front desk. "I expect you to behave," he said. As James got up he muttered, "Don't think I'll look past this Snivellus," he looked up at Snape. "I'm your teacher Potter, you will have to respect my authority."

James sat down next to Malfoy and decided to glare at the teacher for the entire lesson. He also made Snape trip once, so he lost balance for an instance. James simply stuck his foot out in the wrong, or shall we say right, moment. That was his excuse at least, but Snape wanted him to stay behind. Imagine something that unfair!

"Sirius, James, you're late!" the Quidditch captain, yet another Weasley, called. "Sorry, Alex," Sirius said while whispering to Harry: "Arthur's little brother." The seventeen-year-old nodded, "I accept, but just because it's the two of you."

They all got on the brooms, "These are really new, aren't they?" Harry sighed. "Looking down at something that could've been one of the school brooms back in his own time. Even now it was lousy and looked cheap."

Sirius grinned, "Your father confiscated your broom," he grinned. "You'll get it by mail." Harry sighed again, "how is it you know this stuff?" he asked, a little envious. "It is in my nature to be nosy."

The boys kicked off the ground and got into the air. "Do some tricks, like stand on the broom, or dive fast. I don't know. Just something … improvise," Sirius muttered as he himself flew off.

Harry remembered flying-moments from James' diary.

James and Sirius had been doing it for years, and their style was really different in the air as well as on the ground. Sirius was casual, effortless but not flashy. James was more cool, rough and brilliant. He was a risk-taker. Harry ruffled his hair, happily. He was flying again.

In short, James liked to show off by actually showing off. Harry would need to adopt that now. But maybe in the air he could actually resemble his dad just a bit?

"Snitch is loose, Potter can you handle it?" Weasley shouted.

Harry threw himself at the broom. He spun around, dived backwards as he slowly stood up, grinning confidently. He got higher over the ground, stepped forwards to tip the broom down, and both of them fell towards the green grass underneath.

Harry elegantly spun around in the air, reaching for his broom with one of his legs, as the other fastened around the golden snitch. His leg found the broomstick and they stopped falling.

Harry, hanging upside down, had caught the snitch.

Harry saw Sirius spinning around under him, quite elegantly.

"Hey, guys, we're playing a game towards Hufflepuff, just for fun." Alex Weasly called,

"James you'll be a seeker today, we've found a great chaser for the season and you clearly have this handled," he grinned. Even giving him a thumbs up for that performance.

"Maybe you can show him some techniques."

"Of course I will," Harry responded trying to sound confident. Actually, feeling somewhat confident too.

And thus, the game began.

"Potter what do you think you're doing?" asked a furious Snape. "Being me, Snivellus," James threw back. The teacher grabbed his collar. "You are not supposed to be your arrogant, egoistic self, Potter," he snarled.

"Well, I can't help it…" James was pushed against the wall. "Oh yes you can, Potter. You just like to show off, not caring about the consequences. I can get you expelled if I want to, and I will certainly give you a detention. However, it is not you I am expelling but Harry! What do you think that will do to him? "

Snape and James had a staring competition. James was, to his sorrow, forced to look away. Harry and the plan were more important than winning anything now.

"All right, all right. I'll try to be more careful…" Snape shook him, "professor," James muttered. "My office, six O'clock sharp," Snape hissed as he let go of James, who suddenly realised that he'd nearly been lifted from the ground.

"Perfect," he muttered as Snape disappeared. "Even though I wish he was a little less scary…"

Harry went to sleep that night feeling hopeful and happy. He loved Quidditch and it had made him feel more like James than he'd done up until now. He finally felt like he understood his dad a bit.

As Sirius turned in his bed next to Harry, curling himself up like a ball he muttered, "Don't forget your date on Saturday."

Harry jumped, "What date?" he asked, but Sirius had already fallen asleep. How anyone could do that, was really a mystery to him.

Harry had now mixed feelings again, happy but also a feeling of expectation and uncertainty. He wanted to know if James had received his letter, but one can't send a letter to the past…

You can't send a letter to the past…

Hontoni Gommennasai Minna-san!

Sorry, sorry, sorry! It's just too much to cope with.

A special thanks to everyone that supports me, I'm so happy to have you guys!

Mata nee,

The Artful Fox