Chapter 5: Discovery's

"So whose Dudley?" asked James offhandedly as they came into the kitchen and back into Sirius presence, who looked at them curiously.

"My cousin." Harry replied shortly, he didn't like Dudley much.

James's eyebrow disappeared into the fringe of his messy hair. "And he gave you those bruises?"

Harry nodded and explained a little. "I'm a freak."

Sirius gave him a guarded look, then picked him up and placed him carefully on his lap. "The only freak is Dudley for thinking that."

Harry giggled and Sirius egged him on by tickling him mercilessly under the arms.

"Help!' Harry gasped looking at James, who just stood and watched. Struggling Harry wiggled his way out of the older mans grasp. "Stop." He ordered stamping his small foot.

Sirius threw back his head in laughter. "Alright, alright. Let's go in the other room they should be done by now."

James nodded, he had become very quite since Harry had told him about Dudley. Harry hopped that James wasn't mad at him. Maybe he should have explained a bit more why he was a freak?

In the living room the man they called Remus was still there talking to lily enthusiastically about a cooking recipe. When the 3 boys came in he stopped and glanced at the clock on the wall. "11 o'clock? Oh I have to go, order business. Nice to meet you Harry, see you guys later." He waved and… disappeared?

Harry backed away nervously: people did not disappear. Lily gave him a look of unease and reached out to touch him, but Harry winced and dodged it.

"It's ok Harry." She said softly

"It's just a bit of magic." Commented Sirius dismissively

Harry's huge green eye's widened "there's no such thing as magic."

Lily's brow creased. James remained silent and just watched a look of hatred growing on his face.

"Who told you that?" Lily whispered

Before Harry could open his mouth James stepped forward blocking the little boy's view of the lady. "I'll tell you who told him." James said roughly "You're good for nothing sister and her idiot husband, not to mention their brat of a kid who spends his spare time hitting him around." James pointed his finger at Harry and Lily's eyes followed it. Abruptly James turned and kneeled in front of Harry, placing his hands on the younger boy shoulders. "There is magic Harry. It's everywhere, even in you and me. Don't let anyone tell you different, understand?"

His large hazel eye's where starring into Harry's green ones willing him to believe him. As confused as harry was though he did believe. If there was no magic then how could this have happened? How could he be in his cupboard one moment and in the old mans office in the next? How could he have travelled by fire place? How could that man just disappear? Maybe in this land of magic people always appeared and disappeared and that was how he had gotten here in the first place?

Slowly harry nodded.

James face brightened noticeably and he flashed a smile.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, then…

"Say, I've got an idea why don't we take him flying?" Sirius blurted not being able to stand the tension.

"Great idea, Padfoot."

Lily eyed the two men apprehensively. "As long as you stick low to the ground and don't do anything nuts. Harry's never ridden a broom before."

"Calm down." James soothed "How much harm can we do?" His wife gave him a penetrating stare and James melted under it. "Alright, alright nothing nut's."

She turned to Sirius.

Sirius held up his hand as if taking an oath. "On my fathers honor."

James grabbed Harry's arm and led him towards the fireplace. "What honor would that be Padfoot?"

"I'm part of the most noble and ancient house of black, don't you know, Prongs?"

James laughed and dropped the powder, engulfing them in green flames.

Harry fell and started to cough upon landing. Ashes had gotten in his mouth and left a horrible taste.

James helped him into a standing position and brushed him off whilst Sirius tapped Harry on the back.

The men gave him some space and Harry was able to take a look at his surroundings. They where in a small room decorated in trophies and pictures that where…moving? Magic. Harry gapped open mouthed.

"Morning, James Sirius." Said a little man behind a desk in the corner

"Morning Carl." Replied James taking Harry's hand and steering him towards the counter. "Where gonna need to rent a broom for Harry here."

The man leaned over the table and surveyed the little boy with a critical eye. "Hmm…how about a shooting star…he's just a beginner right?"

James nodded.

"Hear about Bagman?" asked Sirius

"Hear about it? Of course. Idiot. Lucky he didn't get kicked off the team, if you ask me." Carl said pulling a small broom off the shelf and handing it to Harry, who took it uncertainly.

"Bye Carl thanks. Just put it on my membership bill." Said James pulling Harry towards a door to there right. "Come on Harry."

Sirius followed after a few more words exchanged about Bagman.

They entered into a locker room. Both James and Sirius walked like they had been there many times.

Harry was utterly confused. Did they want him to sweep? But he couldn't ask: Uncle Vernon had said to never ask questions. So Harry watched silently, fingering his tiny broom nervously, as the two adults changed and talked about a man named Bagman.

"Alright Harry," said James finally dressed in his strange outfit. "Are you ready for your first flying lesson?"

"Umm…" Flying? How? It was just a broom.

"Course he is!" Sirius said enthusiastically patting Harry on the back and shoving him towards a door across the room. "If he's anything like you, Prongs we wouldn't be able to get him down." He laughed and pushed open the door.

Harry stood frozen in shock. They where standing at the entrance to a huge field with what looked like three giant bubble blowers on each end. He had never seen anything like it.

"Come on Harry, over here." James called waving him over "alright, you mount your broom like this, now copy me…That's great!" James's voice was very giddy and his smile threatened to become bigger than his face when Harry had done it right. "Ok, now to come off the ground just kick off a little… now you try." He ordered hovering a few inches off the ground.

Harry did and couldn't help but feel amazed and happy when it worked. He was flying!! There was no way anyone would ever believe him.

"Now, to go up a bit" James was telling him "just tilt your broom like this…you got it!"

"The boy's a natural." Yelled Sirius from above them.

"Must have gotten his exceptional skills from his father." James stated "Your father must be a marvelous person."

Sirius snorted in disgust. "Actually I was thinking quite the opposite."

They stayed out flying all day. Harry had never had so much fun! The older man had to chase him to get him down.

They arrived back home just in time or supper, which lily was not very happy about. Harry laughed along with Sirius as they watched James describe Harry's dive to his wife, whose eyes bulged out in an unnatural way.