Hindsight

Summary: "Ten years," James whispered to his wife. "We've been dead for Ten years… how is this possible?" Ten years after the tragedy at Godric's Hollow, James and Lily come back to life and find their world turned upside down.

AN: Thanks to my very wonderful, and very patient reviewers!

Chapter 29

"So we don't have to worry about the press for now?" Lily asked once more.

It seemed that after a few days of chaos in the Wizarding World, the Ministry had somehow managed to convince the masses that the article had been a hoax. Minister Fudge himself was quoted saying he would "be at the forefront of the investigation to find who would start such wild rumors." Dumbledore knew there were still those who would be clawing at Harry for information, but it appeared likely that it would pass.

"Hopefully," Albus answered quietly. "I'd like to move matters to why I brought you here today, however."

James leaned in from his place next to her so that he could stare at the old newspaper once more. Remus and Sirius were standing behind them, looking slightly more relaxed after the Headmaster's reassurance. Currently, they were all in his office, discussing and planning. Harry had been sent to the Weasleys' for the day, much to his dislike. His parents paid no mind to his irritation. No matter how involved he was getting in the mess, they wanted to protect him as much as possible. He was still a child, after all. "I'll find a way to help, just you watch!" he had promised them before flooing to his friend's house. Lily was rather wary of the fierce determination in her son's eyes and could only hope he'd listen to them later on.

"What is it this time?" Remus breathed tiredly. "Another convict escapee? Are we on the brink of an apocalypse?"

Albus allowed himself a small chuckle. "I wanted to talk about the search for Horcruxes."

Lily sat up instantly, James' hand covering hers before she even knew he had moved closer to her. "I'm happy you brought that up, Albus," she told him with relief. "I was hoping-"

"We were hoping," James cut in.

"That we stay home for now until Peter is caught again," Sirius finished. "We just don't feel comfortable leaving home and being out of contact, especially with Harry's safety on the line."

"And that locket bloody well traumatized them," Remus blurted out before he could stop himself. He frowned apologetically when Sirius and James glared at him but Lily yanked on her husband's hand.

"No, Remus is right," she defended. "Albus, you've no idea what they went through when they destroyed the locket."

Albus sat back with a heavy sigh. "Actually-"

"Wait, just let us explain," Lily begged.

He raised one brow delicately. They took it as permission to have their say.

"Albus, that night when we destroyed the locket…" James began. He glanced at Sirius and saw the man seemed to be having trouble putting their experience into words as well.

"It took everything we were," Sirius finally stated. "It took our happiness and made it dark. It took our fears and made it stronger. It brought out the things we couldn't even admit to ourselves. We don't know if we can face that again- at least not so soon."

"And I can't leave Harry behind. Not now," James argued. "I know what the prophecy says about him, but he's just a boy."

"Our boy, Albus," Lily whispered. "No matter how old he is, he's our baby. You can't expect us to sit on the sidelines regardless of a prophecy. You have to let us try to protect him from it, and we can't do that with two of his family members so far away. So please-"

"I believe I've heard enough," the Headmaster said softly, but firmly.

James and Sirius looked down, defeated and sure that Albus would give them all his reasons for why it had to be them- that they were his most trusted, and he couldn't rely on anyone else to complete the mission. Lily squeezed James' hand tightly in support, ready to plead their case over and over again if need be. Albus continued to stare at them silently for a few seconds longer before heaving in a deep breath and pushing away from his desk so that he could rest against the arm of his chair. He stared at his wall of trinkets, clearly thinking very hard about everything he'd just heard. When it appeared like he would be lost in his thoughts, Remus walked over to him and shook his shoulder cautiously. Dumbledore blinked and laughed quietly at the man that was staring at him with confusion.

"I'm fine, Remus. And though you've all given me wonderful reasons for why you need some rest from the Horcrux search, I must admit I intended to keep you here from the start."

"You did?" James exclaimed.

He nodded. "You are not the only ones that I know can handle this assignment. In fact, I already have a trusted friend investigating our suspicions that a Horcrux might be under the protection of one of the Death Eater's in Voldemort's inner circle."

"And how the bloody hell is he investigating that?" Sirius blurted out before he could stop himself. "Those who aren't in prison are dead."

Albus smiled wryly. "I have friends in high places, Sirius. He has access to Azkaban. Be assured he'll be of great help."

"Who is it helping us?" Lily couldn't help but ask.

"As important as that question may be to you, there is something I must speak to you about that has higher priority." They all unconsciously leaned towards the man. Albus, who decided it was not the appropriate time to make a joke about them acting like the young students they used to be, continued with his news. "I was able to meet with the Minister, and he has offered extra protection to Hogwarts to ensure the children's safety but… not quite the protection any of us expected. In fact, I can very easily state, that I'm quite livid with this turn of events." His calmness was chilling. "Cornelius has decided that Dementors shall be placed around the perimeter of my castle."

"What?" Sirius rasped. "What?!"

"Sirius-"

"No!" he shouted, shaking his head wildly. "No, those- those things aren't getting anywhere near him, or any of the other children! He can't do this! Not even in your wildest nightmares can you imagine what those demons are like!"

"Indeed," Albus agreed without hesitation, but Sirius continued ranting loudly as he paced back and forth behind his friends. Dumbledore went on, unperturbed. "And for that reason, I've decided it important to hire a trustworthy, competent Defense teacher this year. One that will actually help the staff and students when these creatures decide to stray from their posts. So… do you think you're up for the job, Remus?"

Sirius nearly stumbled. James whirled around to grin excitedly at the werewolf while Lily delightedly squealed "Yes! Yes, he'll take it!"

Remus, on the other hand, stood frozen in his spot, unable to believe that he was being offered the position. "M-me? You want me to be a professor?"

Albus' eyes twinkled madly. "I can't think of any person fitter to be our Defense teacher. I hope you will not disappoint me by turning the offer down."

He gaped helplessly in return. "Professor, I have no idea what to say…"

"Don't you see how perfect this is?" Lily told him. "Not only will the school be getting an amazing professor-"

"Lily," Remus protested immediately.

"But someone will be here to protect Harry! It's just perfect, Remus!"

"Finally, a job worthy of you," James remarked supportively. "You have to do this, Remus! You deserve it!"

He turned to Sirius next, who couldn't help but smirk amusedly despite the anger still simmering in his chest. "And now Harry will have someone to bail him out of detention!"

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Sirius!" Lily laughed. "He'll never make Head Boy if you keep that up!"

"James should've never made Head Boy!" Sirius frowned. "I have to make sure Harry doesn't follow his father's footsteps and become a loser like him."

"This loser constantly made sure you wouldn't be serving detentions passed graduation so I'd expect a bit more respect," James spat back playfully before turning to the man in question. "So… how about it, Professor Lupin?"

Remus' lip twitched upwards. "It does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

Albus clapped his hands together. "It's settled, then?"

"I…yes!" he laughed with a nod. "Yes, I'd love to- but- but what about my condition?"

"Something that can easily be fixed with substitute teachers and the Shrieking Shack. Severus shall be making Wolfsbane Potions for you, and James and Sirius can accompany you during those nights."

"You really thought this out, didn't you?" Lily commented, a grateful tinge in her voice.

Albus stood and walked over to them. "Quite thoroughly. In fact, I've been thinking of others that could be installed in this castle as security for Harry. I can't imagine forcing you, Sirius, to stay here-"

"You thought wrong," he interrupted with a scowl. "I'll be fine. Find me a position. I'll even be Remus' assistant if it means I get to be here to keep those bastards away from my godson."

The Headmaster was unsurprised, expecting nothing less from him. "It just so happens that Hagrid is becoming our new Care of Magical Creatures professor. It would be helpful if you could give him a hand whenever he can't fulfill any of his duties as groundskeeper."

"Deal!"

Albus turned to James and Lily, who were positively beaming with gratitude. "You have no idea how much we appreciate this," James said. "It makes us feel so much better, knowing they'll be here to watch over him."

Dumbledore smiled. "Why, James. Just them? Do you not want to be around as well?"

Lily gasped. "Really? You want us here as well?"

"Whoever was planning to reveal your identities did so under the hopes that you'd distance yourself from Harry so that others would not get suspicious," he explained. "Well, to hell with that." There was a stunned silence before James and Sirius burst out laughing. Even Lily was trying to smother her chortling, shocked to hear their old teacher cursing. "Lily, if it wasn't obvious enough, shall be taking over Muggle Studies for Professor Burbage, who I shall finally be giving leave to so she may explore more of the Muggle world this school year. James will be the one to come in as Remus' assistant, under the guise that he shall be taking over whenever Remus has to go away for business."

"Oi," Sirius barked. "You saying I'm not good enough to be an assistant Professor? I'm wicked better at Defense than James is! So is Lily for that matter!"

"Well, besides the fact that I'd be useless at Muggle Studies," James drawled, "I'm obviously teacher material, while you're…"

"I'm?"

"Not. At all. Even a little bit. You'd drive Remus mad. He'd probably quit on his first day!"

Sirius reached over and swatted James' head. "Git!"

The man turned to his wife with a pout. She rolled her eyes. "You deserved that, Potter. Sirius is actually better at Defense than you are."

He reeled back, pretending to be hurt. "You're choosing Sirius over me? Is the world ending?"

Sirius wiggled his brows. "I do believe she's realizing she chose the wrong man."

Lily snorted once more. "On second thought, James, hit him back."

Albus laughed as he sat back down at his desk. "I'm starting to reconsider my choices in employment."

Remus raised a brow. "If you weren't questioning yourself after Lockhart, then there really is no hope for you, sir."

"Oh my! We'll have to start working on lesson plans!" Lily said to Remus. "How will we hide this from Harry?"

"We're hiding this from Harry?"

"Come on, Harry! It's just me and Dean! You can tell us the truth!"

Harry pinched the part of his nose just below where his eyeglasses sat and counted to ten slowly.

From the moment he had stepped onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, he'd immediately been swarmed by people, all of them asking about his parents. Though his family had rushed him onto the train, the questions didn't stop. Classmates he'd never even spoken to approached his compartment. Ron was turning red in the face with how furiously he was shouting at everyone to leave them alone. Neville was trying his best to rein the boy in, but it didn't help when Hermione's irritation grew and she joined forces with their friend. "Just leave him be already!" she would cry angrily every time their door opened. "This is absurd! Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall will be hearing about this when we get to school, just you wait!" But it was no use. They came in waves and weren't letting up.

"This is ridiculous," Harry mumbled. "Not you too. You guys are supposed to be my friends! Can't you just let this go, for my sake?"

"But then why are your guards always different when you go out?" Seamus rushed out before Ron or Hermione could yell at him to shut up. "There's this theory, you see, that they're your parents hiding under a glamour!"

"Are you that stupid?" Ron snapped. "Obviously, Harry's uncles have a few different guards they've hired to protect him. Lots of people have tried doing him in for- I don't know- his entire life. They aren't going to entrust his safety to just two people. He needs an entire army at this rate!"

Hermione, Neville and Harry looked at him in surprise. How had he come up with that explanation so fast? When Dean and Seamus turned to each other and began whispering, Ron shrugged at them and mouthed "mum" leaving them with the assumption that Mrs. Weasley had prepared Ron with things to say in case anyone bothered Harry.

Harry glared at the others. "So? Is this press conference done? Can I go back to the fun I wasn't having because of everyone hounding me?"

Dean frowned guiltily and nudged Seamus. "Sorry, Harry. We were just teasing, honest."

Ron looked ready to call them out on their bluff but Neville pinched his arm and shook his head, signaling for him to let it go.

Seamus sighed and nodded. "Yeah, sorry, Harry. Though, you can't blame us, can you? How wicked would that be?" Realizing what he'd said, he looked like he wanted to slap himself. "I mean! Merlin, sorry, Harry! I don't mean to be rude about it or anything! I- obviously it would be cool if they were alive but I didn't mean for it to sound like some wonderful journal piece- I just thought-"

"It's all right, Seamus," Harry laughed, deciding it was time to save his friend from embarrassment. "I got what you meant. Calm down, would you? Can we just… talk about something else?"

"Oh!" Dean exclaimed. "Is there any news about our new Defense professor?"

Seamus squeezed in between Hermione and Ron, both of them glaring at him as he did. "As long as it isn't anyone like that god awful idiot Lockhart, I think we'll be fine," he said, looking to Ron and Hermione for support with a cheeky grin on his face.

Hermione rolled her eyes but nodded. "Seamus is right. No murderers and no frauds and we should be in the clear."

"Your uncles are pretty close to the Headmaster, aren't they, Harry?" Neville asked as he reached for one of Harry's Chocolate Frogs and began unwrapping it. "Maybe Dumbledore told them about it. Have they told you anything?"

Harry pursed his lips. "They have. Said that Dumbledore wants to hire someone that can actually do his job right but they're insisting on keeping it a secret. Merlin knows why!" It bothered him greatly that his parents wouldn't tell him who his professor would be. Instead, they would smirk knowingly and tell him that he wouldn't be disappointed. He could only assume that it was someone they trusted to keep him safe from Pettigrew and the Dementor creatures that they were all so angry about. Remembering the thirty-minute lecture he'd gotten about them, he suddenly felt the need to warn his friends. "Actually, I think we should be more focused on these Dementor things that they told me about. Do you guys know about them?"

"Just that they guard Azkaban," Seamus voiced.

"And that they take away your happiness," Neville stated with some uncertainty.

Harry bit his lip. "Yeah but apparently it's even worse than-"

The lights suddenly went out and the train lurched to a stop, sending Harry, Neville and Dean flying forward into the others. Hermione let out a loud screech as she felt someone's head land right in her lap. Ron was trying to help Neville, or who he assumed was Neville, but was having great trouble with two others on top of him.

"What the bloody hell is going on?!"

"Who is on me?!"

"Oh no, I've dropped my Frog!"

"Ouch, Hermione! It's just me, stop shoving me!"

"Whoever is sitting on me needs to get off right now!"

"Someone's stepping on my stomach!"

It took a while or them to untangle from each other but when they were finally back in their seats, Harry was the first to speak. "Is everyone all right?"

"Yes," Hermione answered. "I think? What do you think is happening. We can't possibly be at Hogwarts already!"

"Maybe it's Harry's parents, haunting Seamus for being an insensitive git," Ron piped, earning him a snicker from Neville and a punch to the stomach from Seamus.

"Oh, shut up, Ron!"

"No really, guys," Dean said worriedly. "What's happ-"

The compartment door whipped open and what little light was left in the sky shone against bright red hair. "Ronald? Are you in here?!"

"Gin?" the boy in question called, getting up immediately and pulling his sister in. "What do you think you're doing, running around the train at a time like this! You could've gotten hurt!"

"I was worried about you, you jerk," she spat irritably. "Sorry I bothered!"

Harry stood to close the door. "Let's try not to sass him, Ginny. How many times do you actually see him acting like a loving older brother?"

Ginny snorted with laughter. "You can't see me, Harry, but I'm glaring at you," Ron growled. "Close the door, would you? The cold is getting in!"

Harry had just grasped the door handle when a large, hooded figure swooped forward and leaned in towards him. A shiver went up his spine, and he vaguely heard his friends' startled gasps and cries at its appearance, but his focus was solely on the Dementor. He tried to remember everything his family had told him about them, but his mind went blank in panic and he stood frozen in his spot. The cold became intense and numbing and Harry felt his breath stripped away from him as he quickly began to lose vision. He heard terrified cries, pleading shouts- ones that reminded him of when Quirrell had dragged him down to the dungeons with his mother.

Who was screaming? Was it his friends?

He desperately wanted to help whoever it was, but he couldn't. The cold was unbearable. A thick white fog was swirling around him, inside him-

"Harry! Harry! Are you all right?"

Someone was slapping his face. Weakly, he opened his eyes and looked around.

"Wh-what?"

Harry stared up into the eyes of his uncle, who quickly sagged with relief. Remus hauled the boy up so that he was sitting and hugged him tight. "God, you gave me a fright," he whispered.

Noticing their position, Harry quickly realized he'd been lying on the floor. The lights were back on in the train and it appeared they were moving again. "What happened?" Harry murmured. "What just happened?"

"That thing," Neville told him nervously. "It was horrible."

"It stood there and looked around- I mean I think it did, I couldn't see it's face- and you… you…" Hermione stuttered, a look of pure concern on her face as she recalled what she had seen.

"I thought you were having a fit or something," Ron continued for her. Harry looked to him and saw him rubbing Ginny's back, the youngest Weasley pale and shaking. Seamus and Dean were whispering to the girl. Harry assumed they were trying to distract her, but they themselves looked just as disturbed. "You went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching-"

"And then Remus came in, whipped his wand out and sent the thing away with some silvery shield," Neville finished, his voice higher than usual. "Oh, Harry, are you sure you're okay?"

Harry pushed Remus away to look at him. "Wait a second. Moony? What are you doing here?!"

The werewolf grinned weakly. "Surprise?"

"Surprise?"

Hermione knelt down with a small smile. "Don't you get it? You said it yourself. Dumbledore wanted to hire someone he trusted to be of proper help. Someone he could keep on the train, just in case something like this happened with the Dementors."

Harry gaped at his uncle. "Remus, you're our Defense teacher!"

The man sighed. "Some help I am. Your godfather will be absolutely livid with me when he finds out I didn't get to you in time before you fainted, but at least you're alive. Don't worry though, Harry. I won't let them near you again."

He ignored the comment about his near-death experience and instead said, "Fainted? I fainted?"

"Well, you don't think you just purposefully laid down and had a seizure, do you?" Ron questioned.

"We were so worried when we saw you like that," Ginny mumbled softly.

Seamus and Dean nodded in agreement with her before standing up. "We're gonna go check on some of our friends, but if anything else happens to Harry just scream for us. We'll come running," Dean told them all. Seamus gave Harry a pat on the back before they headed out.

Harry turned a dark shade of red. He knew his friends were concerned but it was still embarrassing. Sure he'd fainted, but Ron hadn't said he was foaming at the mouth or wildly flailing about. At least he hadn't made much noise, he supposed.

His eyes widened as he remembered the shouting he'd heard. He wondered if that student was okay.

"And the screaming? Who was screaming like that?"

Hermione frowned. "What are you talking about? None of us were screaming."

"What do you mean none of you were screaming? I heard it clear as day. Was it someone in another compartment?"

Ron glanced around anxiously at the others. "No one was screaming, mate."

Remus was now staring hard at him, like he was trying to see into his mind. "I don't understand," Harry told them. "I heard it. I know I did."

The older man gave him a look that said he believed him and Harry felt somewhat comforted to know that someone did. "Do you remember what Sirius and I told you about Dementors, Harry?"

He stared at his hands, thought back, and remembered.

James, Lily and Sirius were all sitting at the High Table, though separated from each other. Lily was sitting at the far left, where Professor Burbage usually sat. James sat a few seats away from her, between Professor Sinistra and an empty chair that Remus would be taking. Both of them were using the appearances they used the first time they went out to Diagon Alley with Harry. It would be recognizable to him, but to no one else. Sirius was at the far right, sitting next to Hagrid who was in his usual seat at the end of the table. They were all excited for Harry's reaction to seeing them. Though most children would be highly bothered by having their parents around during the school year, they knew Harry would be comforted to have his family near at a time like this. James was trying to stifle his laughter at the way Lily was bouncing in her seat from excitement. The Feast was starting late because of some train delay and she was getting eager to see her boy. "You'll give yourself away, love," James whispered to himself as he continued watching his wife look for their son in the seat of students that were finally coming in through the doors. All of them looked like they were in a frenzied conversation with each other.

The tables were just getting filled when they finally heard what the children were talking about.

"Did you hear about Potter?"

"No way! Did he really?"

"I can't imagine him fainting after everything he's gone through for the past two years."

"No one else fainted but him! Can you believe it? The Boy Who Lived can't face a Dementor? If he couldn't do it, then we're all going to be killed by those things!"

Sirius bent forward and gripped the table hard, trying his best to control himself. He inconspicuously looked at his friends, who were both rapidly growing pale.

"I heard the new Defense professor was on the train and had to run and save him before he practically died!"

"Is it true he was turning blue?"

"He'll never live this down!"

"Leave him alone. Maybe he was just stressed out from everyone bothering him about that Prophet article that he was too distracted to defend himself."

"Hey, Potter!"

They finally caught sight of Harry, who was rushing down the Gryffindor Table only to be stopped by Draco Malfoy. The Slytherin boy smirked, unbothered by the fact that he was nowhere near his own table and that many Gryffindors were standing up to defend their housemate.

"Is it true what they're saying? You fainted? You actually fainted?"

Harry's face scrunched up in anger but all the teachers simultaneously relaxed when they saw Weasley and Granger grab both of Harry's arms to drag him away before he did something he'd regret. Malfoy strode on with a smirk, one that wavered slightly when Neville purposefully bumped his shoulder into his. He glared at the boy who was no longer afraid of his tormenting and stormed away.

James and Lily looked at each other, wondering if there was any truth to what everyone was saying about their son.

They got their answer when Remus came in through the side door behind Dumbledore, hurried passed the stoic headmaster and sat down in his seat. He looked at James somberly.

"What happened?"

"Dementors were on the train. They were doing a sweep through to make sure Peter wasn't there but they hovered too long. Albus is livid."

"Is it true? He passed out?" James whispered.

"Worse," Remus answered quietly. "He was twitching on the floor when I found him."

He felt his insides go cold as he imagined what Harry must have gone through. "Lily and Sirius are going to go mental when they find out."

"I made him eat some chocolate and I stayed in their compartment so the other students wouldn't bother him for the rest of the ride," Remus said, hoping to give some comfort to the man. "He's feeling better. Just shaken up about…"

"About what?"

A fury settled on Remus' face. "It got close enough for him to recall bad memories. All he could hear were terrified screams. He had no idea what it was but… he figured it out."

James caught the way Remus glanced in Lily's direction before he was forced to turn his attention to Dumbledore, who was just welcoming everyone back to another school year at Hogwarts.