Chapter 11: Friends No Longer Forgotten

Harry dragged his feet as he followed Hagrid up to the castle. Hagrid had never been pretty fast, but Harry wished his lumbering would slow down for once. His height didn't mean that Hagrid walked fast at all, but he was still was ahead of Harry. Each of his steps was at least five of Harry's and he kept waiting for the boy to catch up.

Harry wished he wouldn't. He wouldn't care if it was just Hagrid, but they were going to dinner with all the other professors there for the summer. Harry hadn't even met all of the professors, not being in the classes they taught. And now they'd all be staring at him, asking him about the Dursleys or trying to awkwardly skirt around the topic.

It wasn't only that, but that they were his teachers. People weren't supposed to see their teachers outside of school, let alone live with them and eat meals with them. Hagrid wasn't a teacher, so Harry was more than happy to spend time with him. With McGonagall, Dumbledore, and the other professors, he might be expected to talk about school and lessons. He wasn't Hermione, he wouldn't be able to talk about classes, grades and spell theories.

He didn't want to be the center of their attention and have to answer all their questions. Harry could not remember the last time he sat down around a table and was actually part of a conversation. He wasn't sure how that was supposed to work.

He was quiet as Hagrid chattered on about the animals he'd been working with that day. The giant man threw open the door to the entrance hall. Harry felt himself lag behind, lowering his head as he shuffled in behind him. Hagrid looked back at Harry again as he reached the opening to the Great Hall.

"Yeh alright there Harry? It'll be fine."

"I know," Harry said after a moment of silence where Hagrid waited for his answer.

"Take yer time, then. I'm gonna get on in." Hagrid passed Harry and gave him a pat on his head strong enough to send Harry into the ground if he hadn't braced himself.

How could you feel lost, somehow here and there at the same time? Harry's eyes were stuck in the same space where Hagrid had been moments ago. How could life at Hogwarts be harder than life at the Dursleys? He'd never had to coach himself through breaths there. Not like now.

One breath, one step. It took hours. Reaching the doors, it got even worse. Harry could see the Professors turning to look at him, one at a time. Sprout, Flitwick, Dumbledore and Hagrid all put on warm smiles. Snape just looked further into his food with a scowl. McGonagall's mouth seemed to twitch at the sides as she nodded at him in greeting. Madam Pomfrey gave him a little nod of acknowledgement as well, but it seemed different than McGonagall's. Harry didn't like the feeling as her eyes were studying him, he could feel himself shifting from leg to leg, his stomach squirming and something traveling up his spine, squeezing at the back of his neck as he tried to keep his head up.

"Come in, Harry, take a seat. As you see, it is rather informal here during the summer," Dumbledore said sweeping his arms out to gesture across the hall. The professors were not sitting on the raised dias they usually did. Instead, it seemed one of the tables the houses usually used was occupied by them. The hall seemed both smaller and bigger at the same time, squeezing in on him as he realized how empty it really was.

"It will just be the eight of us. Most of the faculty have left for their vacations in the past few days. So, over your time here, these will be the faces you dine with, unless one of us must be elsewhere. The rest of the faculty still here prefer to stay and eat in their rooms and offices. And of course, Professor Binns and the other ghosts don't really eat. Now, please sit down, join us."

Harry moved to sit beside Hagrid, at the end of the table. Everyone else was focused on their food, and Harry waited for another moment before reaching for a roll.

"You need more food than that. A roll can't be enough."

"He ate plenty at tea," Hagrid said waving aside Madam Pomfrey's scolding as Harry squirmed. "You not hungry anymore, Harry?"

Harry squirmed again and shook his head. "I don't know what to eat."

"Give him some of that roast, he needs protein."

"Enough, you do not dictate the other student's diets during the rest of the year. Harry can choose his own foods."

Harry looked between McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey, then hesistantly reached forward for the roast, carrots and peas. Madam Pomfrey had sharp senses; he'd learnt that much while he was in the hospital wing after going under the trapdoor. Still, there was no need for her to keep her eyes in on every bite he took, studying the intake on each prong on his fork.

Flitwick waved his wand to serve himself some more potatoes and smiled as Harry watched. "It was just simpler than reaching for it. I suppose that's one of the best parts of Hogwarts, the magic."

"Yeah," Harry said feeling a smile creep onto his face. "It is."

"Everyone seems to miss Hogwarts during the summer, though they don't all miss the classes. But I can't say it is much more exciting here than anywhere else. I believe that this year was an exception," Proffessor Flitwick said.

"I must say, you've caused a lot of excitement around here this past month," Flitwick turned to him with a smile as he cut up his piece of sheperd's pie. Harry noticed there weren't a lot of vegetables on his plate, maybe that rumor about the little man being part goblin was true.

"I suppose it runs in your genes. Potters have a knack for trouble. We haven't had this much excitement since your father was a student here."

Harry paused, finished his bite and swallowed. His eyes looked at Flitwick, not quite wanting to believe that statement was sincere. "You knew my father?

There was a sigh from Dumbledore as Snape suddenly stood up, picked up his food and swished out of the room. He shook his head but turned to Harry. "Most of us knew your parents in some way, shape or form. You already know Professor Snape and your father were students together."

"I started to teach here in your parents third year." Flitwick put down his utensils with a load clattering noise.

"I believe I already told you I taught them both, as well as acted as their head of house. I had the opportunity to know them quite well, if you want to hear about it Harry."

Sprout sighed and shook her head. "It's a pity. I've heard many good things about both your parents, though I didn't have the chance to know them as well as the rest of the Hogwarts staff. I won't be much help if you want a story, though I did meet Lily once at a lecture on healing and potions ingredients."

Harry's eyes widened. "Mum?"

"One of the best students I'd ever had, though quite a bit more relaxed than Ms. Granger," Flitwick agreed. "She was brilliant at Charms, but I believe she had a real gift for potions as well."

Dumbledore chuckled as he looked at Harry. "Yes, I believe you do not enjoy the subject quite as much."

"What about Dad? You said something about him being exciting, professor?" Harry asked looking at Flitwick hopefully. Behind him, McGonagall smirked, happy with the question and expression of any interest by the boy who had been quiet for the previous few days.

"Both your parents were exemplary students, though James did not spend as much time on his studies as Lily, he did quite well. I believe he could have received mastery in transfiguration if not for the war," McGonagall said with a smile. "And if not for the time he spent making trouble."

"Ah yes, but that is the risk of running a school. There will always be students wanting to start something and entertain others. The Weasley Twins recently, before them the Prewett brothers, James Potter and his friends as well. I find them all quite enjoyable."

"Yes, because you have not been teaching and been disrupted by these students for how long now, Albus?" McGonagall said archly.

"And I'm not sure Filius was right with the word excitement. I hope you do not end up in the hospital wing nearly as much as James. Quidditch players."

Harry was looking back at forth between each of the Professors as they continued to talk, speaking about the trouble James and his friends created, and how even Lily had arrived in trouble from time to time. "Mostly fighting, defending her friends. Both her and James were like that. Fought each other for years whenever James or his friends insulted Severus, even when he was nowhere near by, Lily found a way to blame him."

Harry was looking between all his professors in shock as they volunteered information about his parents. The last two sentences flew right over his head as he thought about the trait he shared with his parents, based in love and loyalty.

"James Potter's actions and care for his friends is what led us to creating the Safe Home program," McGonagall said with a sad smile. She had to try hard not to look toward Harry and think about the irony in the statement.

"He was quieter in those actions than Lily, but they had a long-lasting impact on those boys." Harry looked up to his right where Dumbledore had spoken from. Dumbledore smiled down at him.

"Both your parents had a way of inspiring loyalty in their friends and giving all of theirs to them. You have already shown that you have the same characteristic this past year, with Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger. James and Lily would be very proud."

There was a scoff and argument on the other end of the table, but Harry wasn't listening to that. Hagrid sniffled and patted Harry's head, hurting him a bit when the small boy hadn't been able to brace himself for the weight beforehand. "Great people they were. Always came to check in on me when they visited Hogwarts, stayed for a cuppa tea. Never ate as much as you or Ron, though."

"No eats as much as Ron," Harry said quickly then stiffened.

Hagrid chuckled. "Yer right, there."

"He's a young man, they enjoy being well-fed," Madam Pomfrey said with a meaningful look towards Harry.

"What do you mean, you started the program because of my Dad?" Harry asked tentatively, wanting to do anything to avoid Pomfrey's prodding and insistence on him needing to eat more.

"It was not just James, Euphemia and Fleamont were always welcoming, they took in James friends as well. One of them lived with the Potters for quite a while."

"Not just during their time in school," agreed McGonagall. "I distinctly remember arriving at your parents flat to find them running a rest place for several of their friends. Lily was wrapping some of those young men in blankets as James made tea and piled food onto their plate."

"Remus Lupin always needed more food. I'm fairly sure James spoon fed him one month to make sure he was eating enough."

"Do you remember when he actually worked with Lily to defend that poor Stubbins girl from Avery? Horrible that ever happened in the halls of our school."

"Quite a moment."

A grin kept growing with every second as the professors argued the exact circumstances, interjecting with comments as each tried to tell the story. Harry listened carefully, smiling behind his bite of treacle tart. When coming in, he'd been sure this would be one of the worst meals he'd had at Hogwarts. Instead, Harry thought dinner that night was even better than winning the house cup. Each word and sentence made it the most he'd ever heard about his parents.

"Remus! When did you get here?"

"Around four, hope you don't mind me letting myself in."

"Of course, not Moony," James Potter's voice was clear and comforting as he walked forward and wrapped an arm around his wife. Harry couldn't see their faces from his position on the floor. She sipped her mug of tea and leaned her head against his shoulder. "You know our home is your home too."

The man on the couch smiled gratefully. He was scarred and disheveled and looked pale as if extremely ill. Still, there was cheer in his honey-colored eyes and warmth in his bearing, even if he looked sloppy an undone in an oversized sweater and corduroys.

The man reached down to grab baby Harry, who reached for his hair. 'Moony' chuckled as he bounced Harry up and down on his lap.

"Might not want to do that mate, he threw up on Peter last night for doing the same thing," James warned with his own laugh. The man was warm, and Harry felt sleepy lying against him. The adults voices faded into the background as he fell into the feeling of the scratchy wool sweater and warm hands around him, and the even breath of the man's chest smelling like chocolate. It was a few minutes before Harry was looking at anything beside the sweater or darkness, opening his eyes as he heard the rumble of a motor.

"Pafood!" his baby-self yelled, struggling to get out of the warm man's arms. The man laughed and hugged him tighter.

"Nope. You're my prisoner, I'm keeping you here to snuggle. Padfoot's gonna have to break you out if he wants to play."

Harry was grabbed by a laughing Lily. "Play nice, Remus. Right now, Harry's going to have a bath, but then you boys can fight over him all you want. Sometimes, I think I have several babies living here."

"Hey!"

"And by that, I mean James, Padfoot and Peter. Not you." Harry heard Lily's voice yelling as she carried him up the stairs with rocky steps each time she climbed.

"Really? Who do we have to force to sleep and bribe with chocolate?" said a new voice. Harry wiggled in his mother's arms again.

"Pafood!"