This chapter is dedicated to kaillinne arami and Theowyn of HPG for taking the trouble to answer my questions.

Chapter 7: Ten Days Later

7.1

Something pale and white on the edge of his consciousness. The floor had turned warm and comfortable. Hands holding him up as something was poured down his throat. He almost gagged and threw out the liquid, but the next moment something warm settled in his body. Somebody calling out his name. He wanted to open his eyes but he was already drifting off…

7.2

The aroma of something tasty wafted from the kitchen as Harry woke up. He grinned to himself as he yawned and stretched. The beginning of another glorious day. Not wanting to waste a minute more he got up and dashed into the bathroom. Half an hour later he bounded his way to the kitchen. Sure enough, mum was in the kitchen making yet another delicious breakfast for him.

"Good Morning, mum," he said, making his way towards her.

Lily whirled around and hugged him tight. "Good morning, son."

"Can poor old dad also have a hug?" James Potter said in a mock plaintive voice as he entered the kitchen. Laughing, Harry withdrew from Lily and rushed towards his father and was immediately engulfed in his arms.

"Wish mum too would give poor dad a hug," James spoke in the same plaintive voice. With an indulgent shake of the head, Lily moved towards them and hugged her husband and son close.

Caught in the warmth and love of his mum and dad, Harry felt on top of the world. He snuggled closer to them. The three of them would have stood like this indefinitely had not the smell of something burning made Lily break away from them with a muttered exclamation. Looking at Lily's crestfallen face as she took out a burnt pie from the oven, James laughed and said, "Really Lily, why do you bother doing it the muggle way anyways. Just use magic for cooking…"

"James Potter, let me tell you," Lily glared at him, "that I like to cook for my son with my hands rather than with a wand."

"My son! I think he is as much mine as yours and I..."

Harry watched with a sinking feeling. His father and mother were fighting. Did they not like each other? He remembered the contemptuous way Lily had spoken to James when they were fifth-formers.

Something of what Harry was feeling must have shown on his face because suddenly Lily was next to him, putting her arms round his shoulder, "What is the matter son?" Harry looked at the ground.

"What is the matter son?" it was James now as he approached Harry from the other side.

As Harry shuffled his feet, Lily said, "Wait a minute, is it…are you thinking that James and I do not love each other?" Harry mumbled in reply.

"Oh for Merlin's sake," James ruffled Harry's hair affectionately, "Harry we have explained this to you. All this is just good-natured bantering."

"Oh Harry," Lily said in good-natured exasperation, "don't you pull the legs of your friends?" She waited till Harry looked up and nodded in affirmation before adding, "Your dad and I indulge in the same. It doesn't mean we are fighting."

"Honest," James said as he bent on one knee and dramatically and took Lily's hand, "I, James Potter from the most noble house of the Potters, do honestly confirm that I love, adore, and cherish my wife and the mother of my son, Lily potter nee Evans." Putting his face forward he kissed the hand that he held feverently.

Lily blushed as red as her hair as she slowly made James rise, "And I Lily Potter also solemnly affirm that I love, adore, and cherish my husband and the father of my son, James Potter of the most noble house of the Potters despite his tendency to be a prat most of the time."

Harry snorted and James looked most disgruntled. Before he could voice his protest, however, Lily kissed him on the lips thus effectively silencing him. Harry could not help but snort again; his father had the most gob-smacked look. Lily turned towards him and opened her arms wide for him and he ran towards her. "Harry dear," he heard her say, "your father and I really love each other. We have explained this to you."

"Yes I know," Harry mumbled, safe and warm against her chest, "but I don't know what happens to me. I have found you and it is so incredible that at times I simply cannot believe it. Sometimes I think that you will simply be taken away from me and I…" His body shuddered and he could not continue.

"What do you think we feel Harry? The last time I saw you, you were a baby in a crib. Now I find you almost a young man and I think of all the years that I have missed watching you grow up…and then I think I should not even mind that lest this also be taken away from me…Lily too was trembling now and her voice was full of tears.

"Hey you two, do stop it," James' arms were round them both. "Let's enjoy what we have right now rather than regretting what we could not have. Right?" With a shaky breath, Lily disengaged herself from both and said, "I better look at that breakfast." She pecked on Harry's cheek and moved towards the oven. "Are you okay son?" James asked, his voice full of concern. Harry nodded his head, not trusting his voice and moved towards the table.

"Incidentally," James said in an overtly loud voice, "can anybody please explain why muggles pull one another's legs, why not hands, arms, ears, nose…"

Harry's laughter filled the air as Lily rolled her eyes and said, "Pureblood prat."

7.3

Harry smacked his lips. Scrumptious, the pie that his mother had prepared.

"Have another piece," Lily said.

"I'll burst if I have another bite."

"Nonsense, you should eat more. You are too thin."

"Thin! Mum please. I have done nothing except eat and eat and eat."

"Well, if Harry doesn't want it, I'll like to have it. Looks too tempting." A voice said from the doorway.

"Sirius." The three of them exclaimed together as Sirius entered and hugged them all.

"So Lily can I have a piece of that pie. It looks as delectable as you."

"Excuse me," Lily said placing her hand on her hips, "do I look like a pie to you?"

"Not any pie, dear Lily," Sirius replied, "but one that is making my mouth water. One that has made my stomach grumble. One that has been prepared by these beautiful hands of yours." Bending forward, Sirius grabbed Lily's hands and kissed them.

"Lil, give him a piece before he slobbers all over you," James grinned.

Laughing and shaking her head, Lily placed a plate in front of him. Smugly, Sirius bit into it. The next instant, however, he slid down from his chair onto the ground rolling in agony, the pie still clutched in his hand.

"Sirius," the three of them exclaimed as they rushed forward. "What's the matter?"

Sirius only moaned in reply.

"Where does it hurt, Sirius?" James voice was high with anxiety.

"Everywhere," Sirius said sitting up. "How is it that you get such delicious food? It is just not fair. It is mighty painful, let me tell you."

"YOU!" James roared and charged towards Sirius, who in turn slided behind Lily.

"How dare you hide behind my wife's back?" James roared.

"Well I belong to a family of Slytherins, isn't it?" Sirius counter-questioned, still comfortably behind Lily, who Harry saw was barely able to suppress her laughter.

"Lily, move aside," James said.

"Lily as a true Gryffindor you will not," Sirius said calmly munching on his pie.

"Stop it!" Lily exclaimed, peals and peals of laughter escaping from her mouth. "Oh Merlin!" Soon James and Sirius joined her. Harry realized that he too was laughing uproariously.

So many years," Lily exclaimed shaking her head, " and it seems like it was only yesterday you were indulging in pranks like this."

"For you it might be yesterday," Sirius said standing up, his mood somber. "For me it seems like an eternity. In Azkaban…"

Before he could finish his sentence however, James had put an arm round his shoulders. A moment of silence later, Lily caught James other hand and he pulled her in that awkward embrace. Harry's eyes misted over. As quietly as possible, he turned on his heels and went out.

7.4

"Harry! Harry!" His mother's voice, frantic with worry, reached him. He rushed inside and collided with her, hard. "Ooof," both of them exclaimed loudly as James and Sirius rushed out. "Harry where were you?" Lily said as soon as she had collected her breath.

"Mum I was just…"

"Why did you leave the room?" it was James now.

"I er…"Harry turned red. How was he to explain that he had left them because he had felt like he had been intruding.

"I know it is foolish of me," Lily seemed to be speaking more to herself than to them, "but I don't know what happens. I mean…I looked up and saw that you were not there and ….and I thought that you had disappeared…..that I'll never see you again….." She stopped abruptly.

" I think what we all need is a strong " Sirius began, " er…butterbeer," he finished lamely as Lily glared at him.

"Tea I believe would be better." Lily remarked with a decisive finality having recovered by now.

James turned towards Sirius, who looked most disgruntled, "I tell you, these muggles have a fetish for tea." He raised his hand as Lily walked towards him determinedly, "Hey, hey it was just a joke. I am very fond of muggles. Swear. Ain't I visiting my dear sister-in-law tomorrow?"

It was very silly but all of them were laughing at once.

Harry suddenly recalled what Hermione had written in the owl that he had received yesterday from Australia: It is very strange but often we are laughing at the silliest of things. It seems as though we do not need a reason to laugh, or cry for that matter. Yesterday, for instance, Fred made some silly remark and Percy boxed him on the ear, and burst out crying. It would have been very embarrassing but for the fact that almost all of us were laughing and crying at the same time. George went and hugged Fred and then Bill was holding George, Percy, and Fred in his arms. And we were all smiling while all the time tears ran down our faces. Harry all this seems so melodramatic while writing down but I tell you all this happens regularly….

Harry was jolted from his reverie as a loud guffaw came from Sirius. His father and godfather were sitting on the sofa while the noises in the kitchen told him that mum was preparing tea. Harry too sat down on a chair watching James and Sirius. The tension and fine lines that Harry had seen on Sirius' face had almost disappeared. He looked happy and without a care in the world. His father's face was all agog too as he listened intently to whatever Sirius was saying. Harry felt something warm and comfortable steal over him.

7.5

As Harry placed the cups in the sink, he heard the door-bell ring. Remus, he smiled to himself and sure enough, a moment later he heard Remus' warm voice as he greeted his parents and Sirius.

"And where is Harry?"

"Over here," he said walking out of the kitchen and into Remus' embrace. For a moment, Remus and Tonks lying unmoving on the ground flashed through his mind and his clutch tightened somewhat. Remus hugged back tightly too as though in understanding

"So is everybody ready?" Remus asked as Harry and he moved apart.

"Remus have something before we leave, it is going to be a long day."

"Please Lily. I am full. The amount that I am made to eat nowadays." Remus gave a theatrical looking shudder. He really looked better fed and in better health, Harry noticed. The tired, exhausted look in his eyes had vanished. Now the hazel eyes glowed. There was no doubt about it, Remus Lupin was a happy man. But then even Sirius did not have that kind of sullen air that he used to have earlier. And his mother and father, Harry mused turning towards them, well he had never seen them in person. No of course, he had seen them, he mentally corrected himself, as a very young child. But then since he had no recollection of that time, it was as good as having never seen them except in photographs. Whatever, Harry gave himself a mental shake, his parents also virtually glowed with happiness.

"Dreaming of something pleasant, Harry?" His father's voice cut through his thoughts.

"Er no," he stammered vainly trying to wipe a goofy grin from his face.

"Perhaps our young hero is thinking of a young lady." Sirius drawled.

"Sirius," Harry muttered aghast, as the other three looked at him with bemused questioning expressions.

"Well, since your two friends are so enamoured of each other, I wondered whether you too, you know." Sirius winked at him.

Harry tried to look offended but Ginny's image rose in his mind and the colour rose in his cheeks.

"Got you," Sirius exclaimed triumphantly.

"Please can we just leave," Harry was sure his face was an unbecoming tomato by this time.

Sirius seemed about to say something but Remus checked him by holding Harry's arm and saying loudly, "So onto Godric's Hollow."

The last thing Harry noticed as he did a side-apparation with Remus was his parents exchanging amused glances. The colour in his cheeks rose even higher.

7.6

He opened his eyes Blinked, shut them and then opened them again. He was no longer in his own home. With a start, he tried to sit up. Two arms propped him up as a voice said "Severus easy." He looked up: a pale, pointed face crowned by pale silver hair.

"Lucius?"

"Thanks to Salazar, you are fine Severus."

"What are you doing over here? Where exactly am I?"

"At the manor…"

"Manor? What am I doing over here? I was at home."

"Yes I know. I brought you over here."

"Brought me? How come and why don't I remember any of this?"

"Severus don't get so agitated. I went to your home. Salazar, you gave me a scare. You were unconscious with almost no pulse. I wanted to take you to St. Mungo's but you were not even in a condition to be moved. So I did a few diagnostic charms, fed you some potions, and then when your condition improved somewhat, I brought you over here. Do you have any idea how much of poison was there in your system?" By the end of it Lucius' voice seemed to fracture.

"But why, why were you at my home in the first place?" He asked after a few moments of silence.

"Draco told me that you had not been very well on that day in Hogwarts. And then I thought…well I thought with her coming back you might..." Lucius' voice trailed off.

Severus suddenly realized that he had a splitting head ache. And there was a vile taste in his mouth. "You had no right," he whispered.

"Well what was I to do? Leave you in that condition."

"It would have been better."

"Better for whom?"

"For all of us perhaps."

"You don't really mean this Severus, do you?"

"What do you mean I don't mean it?" He was angry now. Angry and spitting. "Of course I mean it. Why did you have to come to my place and then pour your vile potions down my throat? Couldn't you just have left me to rest…."

"And rot?"

"Yes rot. Get it now. I don't need saving…."

"Who am I to save you Severus? Did Dumbledore save you?"

"You…How dare you…Just leave me alone, Lucius."

As Lucius got up, he grimaced, and Severus took his first real look at him. Even through the glamour that Lucius was wearing, he could make out the cuts and bruises on his face.

"There is a vial on your bed-stand Severus, if you want to, drink the potion in it. Your system has to be purged of all the poison. I tried getting a medi-wizard but no one was interested in coming to the home of a Death Eater. I think you are strong enough to go to St. Mungo's. I will get a portkey ready. You can go to the hospital, but if you want to go back to your home, I'll not stop you." With this, Lucius was limping away.

At the doorway, he turned and said, "Perhaps there will not be any other opportunity so please accept my thanks and gratitude for what you did for my wife, my son, and for me. Thank you, Sev."

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A/N: Hi Choirsinger, hope you liked Harry's interaction with James and Lily.

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