"You are good !" Came James' joyful voice when they reached the ground. "Shame I won't have a match against you or with you." He was looking at Harry - still in the air searching the snitch - with wonder and pride.
The game had been a bit improvised. Sirius, who was not on the Gryffindor' team, had accepted to play. However, Remus didn't enjoy flying, Dahlia liked watching but wasn't so keen on playing, so they were lacking players to make a real game. They still came up with some rules. Fred agreed to be the Slytherins' chaser with Theo, Marcus kept his beater post, and Mary was their seeker. George flipped their positions to make it fair to Fred. James and George were chasers, Sirius the beater and Harry the seeker. Both teams were missing a chaser, a beater and a keeper.
"I think they saw it." Flint asserted when he saw sudden movement in the air. Harry and Mary were indeed racing toward the clouds perfectly synchronized. She loved being on a broom and racing Harry. There was an edge to it, to the turns, knowing you could fall, but with a good grip and with the right techniques, you were standing, and the speed added a freeing sensation.
Mary and Harry disappeared in the clouds, it was no more than a minute, before they were diving toward the ground. The two were all smiles when their feet touched the ground. Even their smiles were the same. Mary went toward Theo and opened her hand playfully showing him the snitch.
Harry joined his father, godfather and Remus. His smile grew when he saw his father beaming face. Sirius gave him a nice shoulder squeeze.
Remus whispered something at Harry while looking at Mary. She was seeking Theodore's approval with the snitch. Surprisingly, the pureblood heir seemed to care about her ; his posture was cold and stiff, but his eyes were soft. Remus thought something about this silent and discreet exchange was warm. Despise the sweetness of it, Remus hoped for the girl that whatever this was, it was going no further. Indeed, no sacred pureblood line, such as the Nott, was going to approve of a muggleborn.
Harry looked at the others, checking that nobody else had witnessed the brief moment, reassured he winked at Remus. Harry caught Marcus eyeing him and felt himself blushed. He quickly looked away but still had time to see Marcus' satisfied smile.
Harry looked at Mary for a few moments before wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Love playing with you." His words were muffled, but when she heard them, she slowly wrapped her arms around him.
"Should we go back inside ?" Asked Greengrass bored now that the game was finished.
Remus looked like he wanted to say something, but was cut short by James's delighted tone. "Yes, we could go back to the common room, and discuss. I want to know more about Harry."
"I would rather avoid common spaces." Remus spoke softly, looking at his feet scratching the ground. He felt his friends' questioning gazes on him and hide his hands in his robes' pockets. "Didn't you pay attention during the meal ? Everyone knows about me." He looked away from Sirius, to James. From the looks he received, his friends clearly did not pay too much attention to this particular revelation throughout the memories. However, students did, and from the tension and the glares he received, they were not ready to share classes and hallways with a werewolf.
Harry was whirling towards Remus, anger thundering his features. "Who cares ? They can't do anything about it, Dumbledore authorized you at Hogwarts." He never understood how people could be so easily blinded by prejudices. Remus had been the best Defense teacher they had, and at the time, the vast majority of students had agreed to that statement. As soon as Snape had let Remus' fury problem out, 90% of this same majority refused to have him as a teacher. Harry was certain the evil glare and whisper Remus would receive would come, to some extent, from people he knew and probably liked.
"Still, I don't fancy common spaces." Remus stated, living no room for argument.
"That's okay, we can use the dorm or the Come-and-Go Room." Came Mary sweet voice, she knew this could lead to a petty argument. Harry had a grief against the Wizarding world and its view of werewolves. Remus would have been a fare more competent guardian than the Dursley. But prejudices prevented Remus from taking on this role.
From the corner of her eyes, she saw James' angry face. Like father, like son she thought.
All traces of argument were silenced as footsteps approached. MacGonagall was marching toward their small group. "I'm to lead you to the Headmasters' office. We need to establish your timetables." She informed them in her usual strict tone. She looked at the twins disbelieving faces before pursuing. "Being time-travellers won't prevent you from receiving an education. Follow me please." She turned around, going back inside without waiting for them. The Slytherins followed in her footsteps. The twins, Harry and Mary waved at the Marauders and brought up the rear.