I don't own Harry. Nope.

According to Madam Pomfrey, thoughts could leave deeper scarring than anything else. Order of the Phoenix

James was dreaming. That must be it. Everything up to this point he'd taken in stride, but now memories that were definitely not his were coming thick and fast, fighting for room as they invaded his brain. Images of people he'd never seen in his life and yet felt like he'd known them forever.

He sat down on an old, patched leather chair close to the fireplace. His head rested in his hands. James felt like he was going insane. He felt like he didn't belong here, that he should get out. He felt like this was the first place he had ever truly belonged.

These emotions all conflicted with each other and James suddenly had the strong urge to scream. He felt like he was going to be sick. He was ecstatic, wonderfully happy. What was happening to him?

Charlie suddenly collapsed into the armchair across from him, groaning. James looked up. "Ron...Charlie..." which one was he? Which one was correct?

Molly knelt in front of Charlie, her fingers lacing through his. She wasn't affected by this room as much as James and Charlie were.

Sirius was talking to Nearly Headless Nick, and his words floated towards James in pieces as more memories came. He was trying to finish homework... He was watching two red-headed boys let off fireworks...memories from another lifetime. From a thousand years ago. From a time of magic.

The images were coming in trickles now. He was seeing a man in the fire...he looked like Sirius. He was looking out the window, watching as smoke curled out of a small chimney. Always, he was accompanied by these people, by Ron and Hermione. Or were they Charlie and Molly?

Times were getting confused. James felt like he had to stop. Like he'd suffocate if he didn't pull himself out of these now. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on nothingness. Thinking about nothing. Empting his mind until it displayed total darkness.

Sirius's words were finally making sense, coming in slowly like a badly tuned radio. "Another room...get out of here...magic...wands..." disjointed words.

Opening his eyes, James saw that Charlie was sitting quite still, his breathing ragged as he too tried to wrench himself away from the powerful, consuming, magical memories of the past. Seeing James looking at him, Charlie widened his eyes, raising an eyebrow as he struggled to control his breathing. James shook his head. He had no answer for his friend's mute question. He didn't know what was happening to them.

Nick was by his side, a frozen hand falling through his elbow. James stood up, shuddering from the unexpected cold. "Now, I think that it is time."

"For what?" Molly echoed what James had been thinking. The ghost only smiled in reply, floating easily through the brick wall.

James looked around at his friends. Charlie hoisted himself to his feet, still looking confused. Molly looked anxious, Sirius excited. "So...forward or home?"

"We should finish this." Sirius looked excited, his black eyes reflecting the light from the afternoon sun. "We need to finish this. Or at least you do."

James looked around. Molly nodded, though she still looked wary. Charlie didn't say anything, but led the way to the hole that that they come through, catching up with Nick.

They walked down staircases, through a maze of corridors. James was silent, trying to beat back the visions that were threatening to engulf his brain. He was also trying to take in as much of the school as possible. It was in remarkable condition, considering it had been abandoned for a thousand years. Portraits still hung on some of the walls and (was this a trick of the light?) they were moving, pointing when they caught sight of James, sidling in and out of other frames, trying to spread the news.

Walking past a particular door, Hermione gasped, and ran to it, peering inside to see the hundreds of books that were stacked there. "I know this place!" She squealed, her hand trying the doorknob to find that it was locked. She turned to the boys, her face a picture of excitement. "I used to come here all the time...all the time!" She tried again to open the door, again finding it was locked.

Nick cleared his throat. "Try the wand." He indicated the forgotten white wand that Hermione held loosely in her hand. She looked at the wand, at Nick, at the door, and back to the wand. Taking a deep breath, she focused the wand on the door handle and said loudly, confidently, "Alohomora."

A lock clicked and the door swung neatly open. Molly stepped inside, taking in a deep breath. She turned back to James and he could see it in her eyes. The library was doing for her what the Quidditch Pitch and the Common Room had done for Charlie and James. "I'll be just a minute!" She said, before scurrying into the depths of the room, looting through the bookshelves.

James glanced at Charlie, who shrugged, not understanding the behavior either. Turning back to the door, James saw Molly hurrying back, breathless, carrying a thick book.

"What's that?" Sirius asked, trying to get a look at the cover.

Molly clutched the book to her chest. "I think it will help us a lot. It's called Hogwarts, a History."

James whistled his approval, "How'd you know where it was?"

Molly closed the door slowly behind her, casting the room one last, longing glance. "I just knew. I think that that girl, Hermione...she used to spend a lot of time in there." Molly was already opening the book, starting to read it even as they began walking.

Sirius asked Nick again, "Where are we going?"

"Nearly there!" Nick called, turning yet another corner. James was sure that if he was left alone he wouldn't be able to find his way out of the enormous school.

Two gargoyles stood at the end of a hall, in front of a large black door. Nick stepped forward, "I know this password." he explained to the group as he said, easily, "Chocolate Frogs." The gargoyles immeditly sprang to life and jumped aside. James noticed that one of them had only one wing. He barely had time to marvel at these to creatures, though, because Charlie was pulling him onto a steep, twisting staircase that moved automatically until it came to a smooth stop in front of another large door.

"Go on." Nick said, already starting to float down. "He's been waiting."

The door creaked open. James instictively pressed closer to Charlie, Molly, and Sirius. A soft, old, despretly familiar voice called to him. "Come in, Harry."

SOrry for not updating sooner.

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