No Warnings

Chapter 8: In the Wake of Dawn Part I

"Harry," James said as Lily went to catch up with some of her old school friends. "I know that this is a big step for any wizarding child, but I want you to know that your mother and I are very proud of you. Now, I know that you don't need any more pressure than you already have, but I want you to do a good job and uphold the Marauder name. Just don't let your mother find out that I told you that. She'll have my neck."

Harry laughed. The favorite thing about his father was that he always tried to make his childhood normal and fun. Where as Lily was overbearing and insistent of Harry's safety from even the most trivial things. James was so much more relaxed than Lily was. Harry supposed that was because he was Lily's only child and he was constantly being threatened by an invisible foe.

A foe that had no intention of ever harming Harry. In fact, Harry was probably one of the most well protected people in the entire world, both Muggle and wizard. None the less, Harry had always seen James as his favorite parent. Not that Lily was bad. She of course had her moments, but Harry and his companion both thought that she could be a liability.

"Of course I'll try!" Harry laughed. "I'll try to make you, Sirius and Remus proud!" Harry beamed up at his father. He really did like him. Harry then saw Lily approaching them. The bright smile faded for a moment, and a fake smile was put on. James remorsefully watched the expression change on his young son's face, and knew that his wife wasn't far.

Lily looked several years older than she should have, but that didn't detract from her natural beauty and grace. Her dark red hair was still vibrant and her eyes still shone like freshly cut emeralds. James still adored her loving smiles that he knew were made when her two best men weren't looking. Those smiles were full of love. James gave a smile. It was small, but it conveyed all of the love he felt for his wife.

"Now, Harry, I'm going to write everyday, so you don't have to worry about not hearing from me." James's smile faded as he listened to his wife. "If you ever feel like you need to come home, I'll come and get you straight away. Also, I want you to stay with Percy as much as possible, so you won't get lost. If you do get lost, ask the paintings to point you in the right direction. Especially the painting of the Knight of Yorkshire. He will always point you the right way. Also, I don't want you getting in any trouble, so stir clear of the twins and don't get in any fights with anyone outside of your house, especially the Slytherins. Just make me proud and be a Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Oh, and be nice to the Hufflepuffs. They are very sweet people. Now, don't forget to say hello to Susan. I'm sure she would like to have a familiar face around. Oh, and-"

"Mom, it's okay," Harry said while hugging his mother. "I'll write to you the moment I arrive at Hogwarts. I think that's Lucy over there, didn't you need to get a book from her?"

"Oh, yes," Lily grabbed Harry and kissed the crown of his head. "I'll be right back. It won't take more than a few moment. I promise."

An awkward and heavy silence settled over the Potter head and heir. Harry really did like his mother, but he couldn't stand the way she…cared so much. Slowly Harry began to hate her over protectiveness. Harry didn't mind it when his companion became overprotective or possessive, but only Harry's companion was allowed to be that way. After all, his companion's life was in the balance, his mother's wasn't. Harry would protect his companion no matter what; even if Lily was helping him in that endeavor Harry was still severely annoyed with her behavior. A thought popped into Harry's mind. His companion was laughing about the reaction his mother would have if he was sorted into Slytherin.

"Dad," Harry said trying to suppress chuckles of his own, "what will you and mom do if I'm sorted into Slytherin?"

James sighed, "Well, the Potter family has never been a single house kind of family. We've had members of all houses in the family. Most frequently Ravenclaw, we have had about the same amount of Slytherins and Hufflepuffs, and we have had quite a few Gryffindors. The last five or so generations of Potters have been in Gryffindor. The men at least.

James laughed, "A lot of the women in the Potter family seem to be partial to Ravenclaw. One of the most famous Potters was actually a Hufflepuff, actually, and your great-great-uncle was actually a Slytherin, and he was a fine fellow. I think that any house that you get in will be proud to have you. Of course, I would like to see you in Gryffindor, so I can continue to cheer on the Lions at Quidditch matches, but I'll be proud no matter what house you go into, and so will your mother.

"It's not the house that makes the wizard a good or bad man, it's the wizard that makes the man good or bad. The Marauders and I weren't your everyday daisies, but we still turned out okay. As a parent that's all I can hope for you. Eventually, you'll need to make a choice about the person you want to be. I'll do all I can to support you. Just know that your mother and I will always be proud of you."

Harry was genuinely surprised by his father's response. Harry was also secretly pleased with his father's answer. Harry duck his head to hide his smile. Harry could feel his companion poking at his conscience in pleasure from Harry's happiness and to tell him that he agreed with his father. The smile grew when Harry felt that poke, and the faintest of blushes spread across his cheeks.

"Thanks," Harry said more to his companion than his father. Lily came up to the pair once more. "It's almost time for the train to depart. I'll write as often as I can. Don't worry mom, you'll see me before you know it."

Harry hugged his parents and before Lily could say anything, he darted off to where he knew the twins would be. The two were waiting toward the back of the platform. Both were lounging effortlessly against a tall lamp light. George had a book in hand, while Fred was playing with a snapping kumquat turtles. Harry watched with amusement while Fred squashed and squeezed the juice out of the candy turtle.

George noticed Harry first. The younger twin pulled on the elder's black Slytherin robe. Fred looked up and became effectively distracted, and the candy turtle snapped down on his finger. Fred crushed the little turtle head between his fingers and popped it into his mouth.

"Harry, what took you so long?" the third years asked him at the same time.

"What do you think took me," Harry said rhetorically. The twins smiled at the same time and draped an arm on either side of the eleven year old.

"The old woman giving you some problems, then?" they asked with mock concern.

"Have you ever considered just cutting her off?"

Harry gritted his teeth. The two of them both knew that the thought had crossed his mind a few times in the past. Several times Harry had dreams of running away to find the rest of his companion and joining him. His companion said several times that he was probably in no condition to look after him and that he had to wait for the right time. Harry dreamed of the right time; he knew that the twins dreamed of that time as well. The three of them had been waiting for that moment for nearly their entire lives.

"You know that I can't," Harry sighed.

"But you already have," the twins started together.

"Think about it, you're going to be at Hogwarts-" Fred started.

"She won't be able to watch you twenty-four seven," George continued.

"She won't be able to stop you from doing anything you want-"

"There's no stopping you from getting involved with your companion's friends," the two finished together. Harry laughed. The three of them had planned on his entry to Hogwarts for sometime. They had even had some helpful input from Harry's companion. The only problem was the fact that Harry wasn't already sorted into Slytherin.

For their plans to run smoothly he would have to be placed in the house of snakes, and like his father said, the Potters have been an unpredictable family to place. They just weren't like the Weasleys or Longbottoms who rarely had family members outside of Gryffindor. The twins and Harry's companion seemed very confident that he was going to be in Slytherin, but Harry still had his doubts.

"Don't worry about it Harry," George said with a mischievous smile. "The sorting process is actually quite easy. It's nearly harmless."

Harry let out a small laugh and climbed onto the train before his mother could find him with the twins. She had considered them a thorn in her side from the time the two of them put a broom stick in Harry's hands. James actually got quite upset when he found out, because he wanted to be the first to take Harry up to the sky.

The twins followed Harry onto the train sometime afterward. Although Harry had found Neville and Susan. The twins would have to sit somewhere else for a while. Harry looked to his two oldest friends. They had been his playmates from the time they were in cribs. Harry absently wondered if he would have to fight them one day. Eventually Harry came to the conclusion that he would have to fight them in the future.

The battle between Susan Bones and Harry Potter was one that would resonate within the wizarding world for centuries afterward. It would have been the turning tide for both sides of the war.