Quidditch and Lost Brothers

Although the parchment was there, just waiting for them to use it, none of the boys dared to touch it. They all stared shocked at Harry, until Remus said:

"I…Ow. Prongs, take a look!"

James was quite interested and wanted to open the map, but Harry closed and cleaned it before he could move.

"Mischief Managed. No, James. You've got yours." And after putting the map away, he walked to the door. Before he left, Harry smiled slightly to Remus.

"I'll tell you one single thing: Remus, you were the best teacher I had."

XXX

After the night Harry entered to the marauders the weekend didn't take long to arrive, and he woke up excited with James commanding them to hurry to the team selection.

"Are you sure?" he asked as they left the dormitory. Harry nodded.

"Quidditch is my life."

James grinned, and Harry noticed Sirius and Remus had been observing him quite insistently for a while, since he had proved he was from the future. Tense, he turned to the sofa where Lily and the rest of their friends were waiting for them. The moment she saw him, the red – headed smiled and sat right beside him.

"Be calm, everything will be fine. Ron's hyperactive!"

Behind her Harry could see a pale Ron waving to him, holding strongly his broomstick. Anxious about flying he felt Lily's hand kindly cuddle his hair. Quickly, James ran towards them, pissed off:

"Hurry up! What are you waiting for? Do you think the broom is falling on your laps along with a place in MY team? Go, go!" And he left as quickly as he came.

"Has he gone mad?" Emmeline asked almost laughing. Sirius laughed with abandon and answered:

"Nope, every time we choose someone for the team he gets like that. The last time I couldn't stand and laughed. He almost punched me, didn't he, Lene?"

The girl beside him nodded. As James was already annoyed enough they decided to go to eat breakfast. Harry felt Lily's hand rub his, but he was too nervous to go away.

There were many people on the field when they arrived, and Harry sat down with Ginny and Ron after Lily kissed his cheek (she ran to the grandstand, and now was waving happily to him).

When there was little time left for the selection to begin, the old team arrived (Sirius, Marlene and Fabian Prewett) and sat on the grass to chat. Near him, Harry heard some comments of some of the students, along with occasional sighs from the girls. James arrived just in time, gazing seriously at them, who stopped talking to listen.

"First, good morning. Those who aren't from Gryffindor, get off. "A group of girls ran away. "Great. Now, let's see how many of you can stay in the air for more than a minute. Please." He motioned everyone to fly.

There was a sudden mess around everyone who was picking a broom, but it soon stopped due the number of people who were afraid, of even some who failed to take off. At the end of the first test Harry, Ginny and Ron remained with a few others.

"Good. Now we have already separated the complete useless from you. I want the keepers here, the chasers there and the seekers over there. Perfect. No, we don't need beaters; I'm satisfied with mine, thanks."

Harry glanced at Sirius and Fabian, who are pretending to tap-dance with the bats to amuse Marlene. Someone gasped beside him, and he saw Ginny giggling.

"Chasers, form groups of three and pick a keeper. Let's see what you can do against our team. You." He pointed to one of the keepers. "You'll stay with us. And you. "He turned to Ginny. "You too. You both will be tested, also."

The game was a massacre, and Ginny adapted well as they won upon all the others. At last, only Ron and another keeper remained, having both blocked five throws.

"Before we go to the seeker's test." James announced to overcome the fuss that the candidates were making. "I'd like to announce that our new chaser is going to be Ginny and our keeper is going to the Mark Webber. I'm sorry, Ron, but I can't risk with an unstable keeper."

Harry stared surprised at James as Ron got white, leaving the field. When the seekers were alone and Ginny and Mark had already joined their teammates, a noisy group showed up, making everyone silence.

It was the Slytherin team. Among the players Harry recognized one or two known death eaters, but a single boy called his attention. He was tall, but looked skinny and fragile compared to his gigantic colleagues and his grey eyes and black hair reminded Harry of someone. He didn't realize who was until Sirius dismounted his broom and ran in front of them, staring at the boy.

"What are you doing here, Regulus?" he asked fiercely. Regulus looked coldly at him.

"We're going to play quidditch, Sirius. Now, excuse us."

James, his face already turning red, yelled:

"All of you: I'm releasing the snitch. The first who catch it is the seeker. Go!"

Harry didn't think twice before mounting his broomstick and giving a strong impulse on the ground. The broom was older and much slower than the Firebolt, but he soon became used to the sudden slower movements. Even with all those desperate people looking for the Snitch, he stopped and stared.

Down in the ground he saw Sirius grabbing Regulus by his collar while Marlene and Ginny tried to apart them. A glimpse of golden light close to a girl's hair and he accelerated, his heart beating faster every second. His fingers closed around the little ball, and he breathed calmly.

His feet touched the ground little time after, and as the others left disappointed he ran towards the perturbation. The Gryffindor team was gazing with hatred at the Slytherin ones, and Sirius argued with Regulus.

"You're bloody demented, Regulus! Look, we're done! You can take this stupid field and put it right into your-"He couldn't finish, since Marlene tapped his mouth with her hands. Harry poked James' back and showed the snitch. Prongs smiled satisfied.

"I knew you'd make it. Marlene, can you… erm… Take Sirius to the changing room before he kills Regulus?"

Marlene nodded as she dragged Sirius to the changing rooms. James and Harry walked the other way, picking up the school brooms from the ground. As they took them to the garage, Harry gazed at James:

"Why didn't you let Ron in?" he asked confused. James sighed, tired.

"Try to understand me, New Kid. I can't let all my friends in; I'd love to form a team with all of them, but I can't risk. This is my chance to win the cup, and just can't take chances with a keeper who doesn't control his nerves."

"I know." Harry sighed. One by one, the boys put the brooms on their places. When the job was done, James turned seriously to Harry.

"Well, now I'll explain why I called you here. Harry, you already proved you're from the future, 'course. It's just something Sirius and Remus wanted to know, and to be honest, me too."

"What?" Harry asked, leaving the garage. The sun was illuminating the rest of the team that was waiting for them.

"I saw you flying."

"That's good; I wouldn't like to be in the team just because I caught the snitch." Harry joked, but Prongs remained silent.

"What I want to know is: are you my son? Relative of mine, maybe?"

Harry tried to sound as normal as possible.

"And what makes you think such thing?"

"I dunno. It's Sirius that thinks you look like me. Nonsense, let's go."

And as they went towards their friends, Harry felt a grip in his heart, wondering what would've happened if he had simply hugged James.