Perfection Lost

Chapter One- Ten Years Later

***HP***

It was a mild day outside. A gentle breeze fluttered through the leaves of the tree where a dark haired, green-eyed boy sat on the deck of the tree-house he and his Uncle Vernon had finished building just last week. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes with a gentle smile playing upon his lips. It had been a good summer so far. Today was his birthday, and he would be eleven years old.

"Are you ever going to come down from there?" was hissed in amusement by a small, green snake that was slowly slithering its way up the tree.

"Why should I?" The boy hissed back, glancing down at his friend.

"Your humans are home," the little snake, which Harry had named Kai, short for Malachite, hissed as he wrapped himself around Harry's leg. "Isn't it your hatch day?" Harry giggled as Kai continued to slither his way up Harry's body until he was coiled comfortably around Harry's shoulders.

"They're home?!" the boy asked excitedly as he jumped down from the deck of his tree-house. He didn't bother with the ladder that had been nailed to the tree trunk. He simply waved his hand and floated himself down. He was so very excited. He couldn't wait to see if Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had gotten him the newest game console, the Super Nintendo. He'd been dying to try it ever since he'd seen the advertisement on the telly. He was hoping that Remus and Sirius would come to visit too.

Harry quickly made his way to the back door. After toeing off his shoes, he padded in his socks to the kitchen and entered the living room just as his uncle opened the front door. Both, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, were loaded down with shopping bags from different stores. Harry thought he could see the game store's logo on one of the bags. He was bouncing on his toes in excitement.

Vernon Dursley, a tall, blonde man who was rather large, looked up and saw his nephew and couldn't stop the grin from blossoming on his face, his handle bar moustache twitching in amusement. The boy looked like he was on a pogo stick because he was bouncing up and down so much. Vernon chuckled as he set down the shopping bags and turned to his lovely wife, Petunia, with a raised brow.

"I think he's going to bounce away at this rate," the large man said teasingly.

"Oh, I hope not," Petunia giggled. "It would be a lot harder to catch him now than it was when he was three. Do you remember that Vernon?"

"Of course!" Vernon chuckled. "The poor thing had climbed out of his crib and landed with a bounce on the floor before bouncing down the stairs. It was a good thing you were waiting at the bottom, Love."

"Oi!" Harry called out with a bright blush staining his cheeks. "I thought we weren't going to bring up my weirdness anymore!"

"Oh, Harry," Petunia sighed in exasperation, "You are not weird! You are magical. There's a difference. Your mother and father would have been so proud of the power you can use without effort. Maybe even a bit jealous."

"Yeah, yeah," Harry responded with a grimace. He had stopped bouncing on his toes and was leaned against the door jamb between the kitchen and living room. "I'm special. I know. I just don't like everyone else knowing. They all think I'm crazy anyway."

"You are not crazy," Petunia stated firmly. "That's enough of that kind of talk. Now, come help me put away the groceries while your uncle sets up your birthday gifts." With that, Petunia grabbed up her grocery bags and made her way to the kitchen with Harry following behind slowly. He was hoping to see what Uncle Vernon had in the bags he had started to unload.

Harry had just entered the kitchen behind his aunt when there was a loud knock on the front door. He stopped to see who it could be.

"Ah, right on time!" Vernon said happily as he turned from the many bags he'd been opening to answer the door. "Come in, come in. It's so good to see you again, Remus!"

"Moony!" Harry shouted before barrelling into one of his father's best mates from school. "I wasn't sure if you would make it. Is Siri coming too?"

"Of course, I made it!" Remus answered with a smile. "I wouldn't miss my cub's birthday!"

Harry noticed that Remus didn't answer his question about Sirius. He couldn't help feeling a bit let down that his godfather probably wasn't going to make it. Even though Siri had never missed his birthday before, Harry just had a weird feeling. He decided to ask again. Maybe Remus just didn't hear him?

"What about Sirius? Isn't he coming too?" Vernon asked curiously before Harry got the chance.

"Oh, um, well you see-" Remus mumbled. He didn't know what to say about Sirius. He hadn't heard from the other man in over two weeks, which in itself was odd.

"It's okay, Moony," Harry mumbled as he turned to go help his aunt in the kitchen.

"Harry, wait-" Remus began to say as a loud knock came from the front door. Harry stopped in his tracks and turned around hopefully.

When Vernon opened the door again he froze. His eyes were so wide that Harry thought they were going to pop out of his head, and his mouth had dropped open. "Uh," Vernon grunted. He was so surprised he couldn't speak. He slowly turned his head from the people standing on his front step to look at Remus.

"What is it, Vernon?" Remus asked worriedly. He couldn't tell who was at the door because he couldn't smell them. Why couldn't he smell them. Remus hurriedly went to stand next to Vernon to see just what had the larger man so stunned. He'd never seen Vernon quite so surprised.

"Oh. My. GODS!" Remus screamed as his eyes landed on the two man waiting on the steps. He simply couldn't believe it. It had been ten years since he'd last seen one of them. "Siri, is he real?"

Sirius barked out a loud laugh and couldn't contain the grin that split his face wide open. "Oh, Moony! Yes, he's real! I finally found him!" Sirius exclaimed as he wrapped an arm around his companion's shoulders.

"Moony? Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked curiously as he walked up between the two men. "Siri! You came!" Harry pushed between Vernon and Remus and tackled Sirius, knocking him and the other man to the ground laughing. He was so happy that his godfather had come for his birthday that he didn't even glance at the other man until Vernon and Remus had come outside to help them untangle from each other.

"Why don't we go into the house, and Siri can explain," Remus suggested as he pulled Sirius' companion to his feet.

"Yes, yes," Vernon said, "that would be a good idea."

The five of them entered the house but were brought to a sudden halt when they heard a woman gasp. Petunia had come out of the kitchen to see what all the ruckous was about and now stood there like she'd been frozen solid. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was slightly open. Harry thought she looked like she'd seen someone risen from the dead.

"Aunt Petunia?" Harry asked softly. He'd never seen his aunt act that way before. He walked over to her and reached up to softly pat her on the cheek, much like when he'd been a baby, but Harry didn't know that.

Petunia looked at her nephew and smiled. "It's okay, Harry. I'm fine." Then she turned back to the men standing in her living room. "James?" she whispered. Could it really be him?

"James?" Harry asked. "James, as in my dad, James?" He slowly turned around to take a good look at the man who had come with his godfather. He took in the messy dark hair, the hazel eyes, the glasses. This man looked like what Harry figured he'd look in twenty or so years. "Dad?" he asked. He didn't dare to hope. He knew that his dad had been missing since the night that they'd been attacked in their home when his mother had been murdered. Although, that's all he knew. He had no idea what the whole story could be. Siri said he'd tell him before he went to Hogwarts. Now, standing here before him, was a man who could definitely be his father.

"Harry," the man whispered in awe. He'd thought he'd never see his family again. He quickly walked across the room and grabbed his son in a bear hug. "Oh, you're so big! I've missed you so much!"

Harry didn't know what to do. He was stunned. This was his father. Really. His real father. Before he realized what was happening, he was wrapped in the arms of the man. Could it be true? His dad was alive? He'd thought that Sirius and Remus had given up looking for his dad, but apparently he'd been wrong. If this was his dad, then where had he been? Why hadn't he come before now? What kept him away? Did he even care that he'd missed almost all of his son's life? These questions were spinning madly in Harry's brain as he stood still as a statue while his dad held him tightly. His dad. His DAD! His DAD WAS BACK! Even though Harry was a bit upset that it had taken so long for his father to return to him, he was also ecstatic that he was even here at all.

"DAD!" Harry cried out and wrapped his arms tightly around James. "Wha-wher-why?" Harry stuttered out. "Where have you been?"

"Harry, Harry, Harry," James murmured into his son's hair never loosening his hold on the boy. "I can explain everything, but for now, I'll just say that your godfather is one stubborn dog. He saved me, Harry. He came for me. I'm so happy to see you again!"

"James, it's really you," Petunia whispered loudly. "I-I'm so glad you came!" She reached out and patted James on the back since he'd still not let go of his son. She couldn't blame him for it all. If her Dudley showed up after so many years, she wouldn't want to let him go either.

"I think we need some explanations," Remus said soberly as he stared at James. "Where the bloody hell have you been Prongs?!" As happy as he was to see his best mate again, Remus was wary of this man. Something seemed off. James didn't smell right. For that matter, neither did Sirius. "You two don't smell right. Who are you?" Remus asked as he pulled his wand. "Get away from Harry now," he growled, his eyes turning amber.

"Whoa, Moony!" Sirius called out as he pulled his own wand. Instead of pointing it at Remus, he pointed it at himself. "I put a scent repression charm on us so that we could surprise you. Just put down your wand, and you'll see what I mean in just a moment." With a flick and curled arc of his wand, Sirius removed the charm from himself and James. "See? All better?"

Remus inhaled deeply until he caught the scent of his best mates. When James' scent reached his sensitive nose, Moony took over. Remus wouldn't have been able to stop his wolf inside even if he'd wanted to do so. He had his pack back. His pack! "Prongs!" Soon, James and Harry were wrapped in a crushing hug from Moony. Harry felt something wet dripping on the top of his head and looked up to see tears flowing down both Remus' and his dad's cheeks. It wasn't but a second before Sirius was joining in the group hug. As much as Harry loved this, he was beginning to feel suffocated.

"Okay, guys, get off! I can't breathe!" Harry laughed out as he tried to disentangle himself, but his dad wasn't letting go.

"Perhaps we could all sit down and know what's going on here," Vernon suggested with a smile. He'd never seen Harry so happy before. Not to say that Harry wasn't happy, but right now, he was glowing. Vernon knew it was his magic reacting to his emotions, but he was still stunned when Harry turned to look at him. The boys eyes were such a brilliant green that Vernon was surprised there hadn't been any accidental magic yet.

"Yes, I believe that's a very good idea," Petunia agreed as she sat in an armchair near the fireplace.

The Marauders and their cub all squished together on the sofa. James still hadn't completely released Harry. Vernon shook his head at the four of them before he took a seat in the matching chair to Petunia's own.

"So, it happened like this..." James began his tale.