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Chapter Text

James blearily rubbed at his eyes, waiting for Dumbledore to arrive. For some reason, the old codger only wanted him, so Lily was back in bed, sleeping as everyone should be at 2 bloody AM. James was indeed snuggled up in his lovely warm bed next to his lovely wife. Of course, until ten or so minutes ago, ol’ Dumble’s phoenix patronus had arrived with the message that James was urgently needed, and that he would be on his way to pick him up. James had immediately checked with all their friends, even Mum and Dad, but everyone was safe and had grumbled over being woken up so early. Wormtail was on a mission for Dumbledore, so he would be off the grid for another few days. Neither Padfoot nor Moony had responded, but he wasn’t worried. A few months ago they hadn’t responded immediately, and James made the mistake of apparating over to their flat to check on them. They were more than fine, but James had seen things even the strongest ‘obliviate’ couldn’t make him forget.

He hadn’t the foggiest clue what in Merlin’s name was going on, Death Eater activity is on an all time low after a successful counter attack a week ago. Dorcas had been incredible in that fight, taking down double the amount of Death Eaters than James had. The order had done recon for months beforehand, which ended up paying off in their success. No matter how powerful You-Know-Who is, no one would be able to regroup his forces so soon after such a big blow. The war was far from over, but the Order had done a lot of damage that night.

The sound of Dumbledore cracking into existence shook James from his thoughts. “Morning, Mr Potter.” He seems amused, and in good spirits for someone to be awake this early. “Yeah, yeah, let’s get going,” James grumbles in response, “Sooner I can get back to bed the better.”

Dumbledore chuckled, “Your friends are much better at being conscious in the early hours, I must say.” and with that, James’ ears perked up. “Which friends?”

His expression switched from the ‘merry old man’ persona he hid behind so often, back to the true face of Dumbledore James had gotten to know throughout the war. “Yes, well, back to business,” he clasped his hands together, “Remus and Sirius have already reached our destination by now. Some members of the Order came upon a strange occurrence during their rounds, an extremely strong magical signature, which no one is able to recognize, and two unconscious teenage boys found in the area.”

“Boys?” he asked, confused. “What’s this got to do with the order?”

Chapter Text

“What in the bloody hell…” All the colour had drained from James’ face.

Standing beside him, Sirius and Remus weren’t faring much better. Dumbledore had told them that the Order had found some boys, but what that old coot had failed to mention was how bloody recognizable they looked. One of the boys was a dead ringer for James, had James been a few years younger. Same jet black messy hair, glasses, facial features. The boy beside him, on the other hand, looked aristocratic, vaguely resembling Sirius. He’s wearing expensive posh robes, hair gelled down perfectly, nothing out of place. Ignoring the fact that he’s unconscious and tied up, he looks like he would be the type to yell slurs at muggle borns.

“James…” came Sirius’ hoarse whisper. James looked over to see him clinging onto Remus, Remus still staring through the window at those boys. James cleared his throat, gaining Dumbledore’s attention. “Who in the bloody hell are these wankers?” Sirius interrupted James before he could speak, the same sentiment, although a little more ineloquently than James would have put it.

“No one knows. We’ve checked for every form of disguise there is. No polyjuice, not transfigured in any way, as far as we can tell their appearances are not magically altered whatsoever.” Moody replied.

“How is this Order business?” James found his voice.

Dumbledore pointed at the blonde boy's arm, where they all immediately recognized the edges of a dark mark they had previously glossed over.

“And the Potter looking kid?” Remus joined in.

“No dark mark on him. James, are you aware of any relatives that this could be? Or perhaps anyone around that age who was disowned, or had gone missing? There is little doubt in my mind that this is a Potter. Defensive wounds on both of the boys, as though they had been fighting. Not with magic, wands were not found, but brawling.” Dumbledore explained.

“No… I have an uncle, but he’s gay. No one else in the family.” he shook his head slowly. “And so who the hell is that other kid? He looks like if me and that blonde Slytherin arsehole shacked up.” Sirius burst out, Remus then putting a comforting arm around his shoulder. Dumbledore was about to respond, when shuffling noises and groaning came from inside the makeshift interrogation room. “They cannot hear or see us,” Moody muttered quickly.

“Malfoy?” the ‘Potter’ kid muttered, kicking his companion in the shins. “Malfoy you bloody git, wake up,” he hisses as he takes in his surroundings. “Merlin, do you ever shut up?” the blonde boy moaned. ‘Potter’s eyes widen as he realizes the predicament he’s in. “MALFOY!” he screams bloody murder, “I’M GOING TO KILL YOU! WHERE IS HERMIONE?”

Behind the glass, the marauders exchange worried glances. Malfoy? Hermione? What is going on?

“HERMIONE!” he screams at the top of his lungs, “IT’S OKAY, I’M COMING! YOU’RE OKAY!” Until finally, ‘Malfoy’ has had enough. “She’s probably already bloody gone, Potter, shut the hell up!”

James chokes on air, Remus buries his face in his hands. He is a Potter, after all.

“I’m going to strangle you, I don’t even need magic for you, then I’ll go and kill everyone else in this goddamned manor, I’m getting Hermione back, we’ll find Ron, and then we’re going to kill Voldemort, and piss on your graves,” ‘Potter’ threatens, but ‘Malfoy’ isn’t phased. Dumbledore’s eyes seem to sharpen at the blatant use of You-Know-Who’s name, even James is taken aback. This kid has some serious balls on him.

The two boys fall into bickering and threatening each other, so Moody speaks up. “Who wants the honour of dealing with some angry pubescent teenage boys?” Before James can even react, Remus and Sirius immediately grab their noses and duck down, “DIBS OUT.” “Merlin’s balls, mates,” James complained, but twisted the door handle and entered the room anyway.

As soon as he even touched the door, the fighting inside stopped, he heard ‘Malfoy’ utter a very distressed sounding “Bollocks!”, but as he faces them now, there is total silence. He’s surprised at how the Potter kid is looking at him, with pure, fiery hatred.

“Er, hello,” James starts off. What in the bloody hell is he supposed to say? Put James in front of a captured Death Eater, and he’ll get more information out than anybody (except Moody, but James doesn’t torture), put him in front of some kids and he’s useless. “What are your names?”

The boys stare at him, until finally Potter looks down and spits at James’ feet, before immediately turning to Malfoy. “I don’t care which of your relatives is playing dress up, I’m going to destroy them.”

Chapter Text

Standing around, not knowing what to do next, James feels useless. He left the room, hoping the boys might talk some more, but it’s been complete silence.

Dumbledore and Moody are standing in the other corner, trying to figure out a plan.

“Padfoot,” he started, trying to sort out his thoughts. “Wait, listen!” Sirius interrupted, pointing at the boys.

James strained his ears, managing to start picking up bits and pieces. Malfoy seemed to be arguing with Potter, who still looks like he wants to burn the world down. “This isn’t my family. You think we’re that bloody thick to think something like this would work?” Potter shook his head, seething, “Piss off, bastard. Hermione’s upstairs being tortured, but you’re always right and your family isn’t fucking stupid enough to imitate my dea-” “Shut up, you wanker! My family’s fine!” Potter scoffed loudly in fake amusement in response.

James exchanged a look with Remus as the boys keep bickering. They’re obviously not friends, although that isn’t a surprise judging by how one’s a Potter and one’s a Malfoy.

“Maybe if we can tell them no one named Hermione’s being tortured upstairs, maybe they’ll calm down some?” Remus thought aloud, but Sirius wasn’t convinced. “They obviously don’t know where they are, they think they’re somewhere else. Even if this Hermione isn’t being tortured upstairs in our house, it doesn't mean we can guarantee her safety.” James paled beside them, “Considering they look barely of age, it’s easy to assume that Hermione must be around the same age as well. Being tortured by Malfoy’s, at 17…”

After a moment of horror, Remus spoke up again. “Right, new plan, we go in and tell them that we want to rescue Hermione. Surely that would provide an ounce of goodwill, not to mention they’d have to give us more information so we could go through with our rescue.” Both Sirius and James nodded along, before Sirius broke from their little circle, and burst into the room before anyone could object. “Fuck, Padfoot!-” Remus hissed, but it was too late. The two slipped into the room behind Pads, hopefully to do some damage control.

Potter looked downright murderous, but Malfoy looked confused. “Potter, isn’t Lupin ali-” Remus twitched beside James. “Yes. He is. And shut your buggering mouth, don’t tell them anything.”

Remus paused beside them, at a loss. “You, you know who I am then? We’ve met?” The boys just stared at him. “Would you care to tell me your names, I seem to have forgotten.”

Malfoy sucked in a breath, “I take back what I said defending my family,” but Potter ignored him, an ugly snarl taking over his face. “So here’s what’s going to happen. You three are going to cut the games, and take me to Hermione. Malfoy can bugger off, let him have some quality time with the dementors for all I care.”

“You are a Malfoy, then,” Sirius cut in, addressing the blonde boy. “We’re family.” Malfoy looked horrified, but that seemed to ease some tension in Potter who burst out laughing. “Bella can rot, but she does have a sense of humour. Remind me to thank her for putting us in the same torture cells, at least before I rip her to shreds for what she’s doing to Hermione.” his face darkening as he finishes his sentence. James cast a sharp look at his mates, and they knew exactly why. It was one thing to offer a rescue mission, but saving someone from Bellatrix Lestrange is another deal entirely. “Piss off, Potter. My family wouldn’t torture me.” Malfoy grumbled, but Potter only smirked and glanced over at Sirius which seemed to break some of the blondes' forced coolness. “I dunno mate, you did fail Voldemort last year, and Snape had to save your arse.” Potter continued, with a sort of sadistic glee.

They know Snape. Malfoy seems to be a Death Eater, which Potter isn’t, still, they seem to have a sort of familiarity about them.

“Fuck you, Potter, I hope they bring in Pettigrew next-” Malfoy tried saying until he was interrupted by Potter’s incoherent screaming and kicking, and the Marauder’s heads all swivelling together. “They know Moony, but they won’t talk to him, what if we bring in Pete?” Sirius suggested, until Potter heard what he had said. “YOU BRING THAT WORM TAILED (“Worm tailed?” Malfoy muttered) BASTARD ANYWHERE NEAR ME AND I WILL SEND HIM STRAIGHT WHERE HE DESERVES TO GO! RIP HIM APART MYSELF, I WILL–""Hold on-” James interrupted, and Potter ended his tirade, although still red in the face. “You, you know about Wormtail..” “Piss off, of course I know. I know all about Wormtail, Prongs, Padfoot, even Moony’s furry little problem.” he glared. “What happened between you and Wormy?” Remus interjected, brows furrowed, who seems to have decided to completely ignore that this boy knows his deepest secret.

Potter’s face flushes deep red in anger, as Malfoy begins giggling. “Shut up, Malfoy, this isn’t fucking funny!” he barks, only making the blonde laugh harder. “No, but Potter, think about it…” Malfoy wheezed, “This is the worst bloody interrogation technique I’ve ever witnessed. Pretending to not know what Pettigrew did? How does that help them? It’s common buggering knowledge, what do they have to gain by acting clueless? This isn’t Bella, or anyone from my family.”

As these words settle down to Potter, he seems to calm down for one second, until he starts thrashing about and screaming even louder.

“Bollocks,” Malfoy hissed, ducking his head away from the feral boy tied up beside him, wincing from his volume. James plugged his ears, squinting to see his mates covering their heads as well. Pads fished his wand out of his pants, and shot a quick silencing charm on Potter. “Merlin’s saggy left ball,” Sirius groaned, rubbing at his eyes. “Is he always like that?” James asked Malfoy jokingly. “Loud and pretentious? What can I say, Potter, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Malfoy responds, eyes twinkling, as Potter tries his best to strangle him (which isn’t going well, considering Dumbledore tied them both up).

Chapter Text

James pauses. “What do you mean?” genuine confusion in his voice, but Malfoy only gave him a strange look.

Intercepting the awkward moment, Sirius steps in. “So, who are you anyways?” to which Malfoy leaned his head back, letting out a chuckle. Bringing his head back down, he meets Sirius’ eyes and stares. Sirius shifts uncomfortably, still waiting for a response.

Remus speaks up again, presumably trying to lead the conversation onto a more productive path. “You’ve mentioned that you want to rescue Hermione, most likely a friend of yours?” When the only response he’s met with is two sullen teenage boys glaring at him, he continues, unperturbed. “As a gesture of goodwill, we’d like to help you rescue Hermione. Do you know where she is currently located?”

Thank Merlin for Moony, James silently prayed, finding himself to be appreciating his friend's level head once again.

The silencing charm on Potter is still active, but his face grows red once more, steam bloody damn near blowing out his ears. Malfoy only throws the three of them another calculating look, before he speaks in what seems to be a well practiced tone of voice.

Well, James thinks, if he really is a Malfoy, no doubt he would’ve been trained in negotiation.

“I’d like a moment alone to speak with my colleague. Please exit, the door is right there.”

“Okay,” Remus agrees before Sirius can open his big fat yapper, then grabs and drags both James and Sirius through the door. Pads quickly shoots off a “Finite!” at the Potter boy, ending his forced silence just before the door slams shut behind them.

“Right, well, I’ve known you for years, Malfoy, I know what you look like when you’re scheming.” Potter injects a healthy amount of venom into his voice.

“If you’ll calm your tits for one moment, I’d like to run something by you.” Malfoy sounds exasperated, and James doesn’t blame him. “Fine.” Harry agrees stiffly.

“If this were my family, or the Dark Lord, you’d be dead already. Alternatively, if these were Snatchers, they’d have delivered you-""Don’t forget about how you betrayed Voldemort when you wouldn’t ID me at the manor, you’re practically a muggleborn in his eyes now. Don’t be shy about including yourself in whatever my fate might be!” Potter interrupts in a sing-song voice, making Malfoy’s eyes narrow. “Moving past that right now. Either way, you’d have been delivered straight to the Dark Lord by now, and be dead.” “These two options are sounding awfully similar.” “Exactly, which makes the fact that you’re still alive, even stranger.” Malfoy concludes.

“My face isn’t even swollen this time, there’s no way that I’d simply been unrecognized.” Potter muses.

“You’re just proving my point, Potter, almost as if you admit my brain is flawlessly brilliant.” Malfoy preens, to which Potter wheezes. “Malfoy, you fed lies about my friends and I to a beetle for almost a year, and didn’t even notice when your little publisher went missing. You’re dumb as a sack of cow bollocks.” Malfoy whipped his head around, “It was you! Of course I noticed you nimwit, I just don’t make it a habit of telling my enemies what I’m thinking. I don’t even want to know what you did to her.” he shakes his head, disgusted. “Hermione carried her around in a little spell locked jar in her bag for months!” Potter explained gleefully, obviously proud of his friend.
James locked eyes with Remus, who mouthed Beetle?. James could only respond with a shrug and his brows furrowed, because who knows if these boys are even in their right minds. It’s not often that magic can fool Dumbledore, but it’s probably not impossible.

“Granger is insane,” Malfoy starts, until Potter cuts him off. “Yeah, yeah, you’re just mad that she sacked you right in the face, and you just stood there blubbering like an idiot!” Potter sighs contentedly at the memory.

James is vaguely aware of Dumbledore sending out a Patronus, most likely to McGonagall, asking about any teenage witches named Hermione Granger.

“You’re mates with the most unhinged bastards I know,” Malfoy snarled, but Potter only scoffed. “Oh no! I’m friends with muggle borns, and I don’t give a damn about buggering blood purity! I should go befriend the children of literal terrorists–” “Piss off! At least my friends aren’t a danger to the school!” “Right, as if you didn’t just invite a horde of Death Eaters right into the school last year-” “That’s different and you know it! You’re friends with a literal werewolf–” “Who has never hurt anybody!” “You’re also friends with a bloody fucking half-giant, who tried to murder me, if you’ve forgotten!” “That was your fucking fault and you know it! He told us all explicitly not to insult the hippogriffs, and your buggering bollocks immediately go and do the thing you’re not supposed to do.” “So did you, or did you not, help an escaped convict avoid the law officials who were trying to send him back to Azkaban?” Malfoy challenges, and Potter immediately shuts his mouth.

James, Sirius and Remus all exchange a shocked look. What the fuck? These kids are obviously ensnared in some pretty serious situations.

“Now, if you’ll shut the fuck up for one bloody second, I have more I was going to say.” Malfoy waited a second for a response, and when none came, he continued. “I know you’re going to immediately shoot down my theory, but pull your brains out of your blooming arse and think about this for a second. What if this is the Order?” “And how would that work?” Potter guffawed. “I have the fucking Dark Mark on my arm, you don’t think they’d throw you in here with me just to trip me up?” Malfoy hissed, an angry look passing over his face. “Listen, I know I’m a great actor, but this is a bit much even for my talents.” “Oh, bugger off, you’re a shite fucking actor.” Malfoy groans, but Potter’s face only takes on a look of unmistakable joy. “Remember second year–” “I don’t want to fucking know, Potter.” Malfoy growls.

“Lupin’s not dead, correct?” Malfoy asks, the frustration evident in his tone. “Yes, yes, he’s alive, so what?”

Both James and Sirius both turn to stare at Moony, who’s still looking at the two boys with an unidentifiable emotion on his face.

“Hear me out. Have you pissed him off recently?” Malfoy grins at Potter’s silence, plowing on, “That’s a yes. What if Lupin found me somehow, captured me, thought the best way to get information out of me would be to confuse me, trip me out, and so he threw your buggering arse in here with me, without telling you the plan. He gets some of his mates in on this, gets them to Polyjuice up as some old dea-""Nope. He doesn’t have any mates.” Potter whispers, “and Kingsley would never approve of this.” Malfoy seems to think for a moment, then his shoulders slump. “I guess you’re right. All of Lupin’s mates are six feet under. So, we’re back at square one.”

“How do they know you?” Sirius whispered in a broken tone, with an expression that broke James’ heart. “I think they know all of us, and for some reason, they think you’re dead.” Lupin replied emotionlessly, eyes blank.

Chapter Text

“What’s the last thing you remember?” James vaguely registers through the ringing in his ears. Those boys know who he is, and they believe that he’s dead. No, they don’t just believe it, the two boys are certain he’s dead. They seem to recognize all of them, even enough to know about Moony, yet they’ve hit a dead end on the identities of the boys themselves.

McGonagall responded a few minutes ago, with an update that there has been no witch named Hermione Granger who has attended Hogwarts in the past hundred years. Although, she is still checking in with her sources about any witches who might not have attended Hogwarts, whether she had been homeschooled or went to another magical school such as Ilvermorny.

“Dobby… Dobby appeared and saved me, sent me and Ron through a portal.” Potter’s face scrunched up as he thought. His eyes pop open, “You bastard! You were there! Ron went through first, but you grabbed onto me and I accidentally dragged you through!” he accuses.

“Right, now who the hell is Dobby?” Sirius asks, frustrated.

Malfoy’s eyebrows furrow and he seemingly tries to recall these events, “Fuck, Potter, you’re right. Now the question is, where’s Ron?”

“If Ron were here, no doubt our kidnappers would have tried to use him against us already. We’re on our own.” Potter thinks out loud, before his eyes brighten. “Which also means we’re not at the manor! I don’t know why they would dress up as my dead, whoever they are, but maybe they do want to help Hermione.”

His dead?

Malfoy snorts, “If they wanted to help you or your mates, why are we tied up? Not to mention, not only are they dressed as your family, but they’re pretending they don’t know who you are.”

James freezes, and he sees his mates glance at him out of the corner of his eye. Family?

Potter snarls, apparently not appreciating Malfoy’s words as he once again starts attempting to break the ropes.

Muttering under his breath, no doubt complaining about his current roommate, Malfoy’s eyes suddenly widened dramatically. “POTTTTTTTERRRRR!” he screams.

“Argh, fuck, Malfoy!” Potter groans, leaning away from him.

“ARHBSAJFKEIBSHFBSKJFAFKJBFJHHOA!!!” He continues screaming bloody murder.

Remus casts a concerned glance at the boys, before reaching for the door, Sirius and James at his heels.

Before Moony can even speak, Malfoy cuts to the chase. “Potter, let’s consider that whoever these men are, they are genuinely who they look like.” “Piss off–” “Ask them something only they could answer.” Potter falls silent, looking at the ground, and James uses this opportunity to speak.

“I promise we are exactly who we appear to be, my name is James Fleamont Potter. We would be happy to comply with your methods of proving our identities.”

“Fuck off,” Potter growls, refusing to look at him.

“Ask him!” Malfoy urges, looking as though he’d love nothing more than to strangle Potter.

“What would I know about them that the Death Eaters couldn’t have found out?” Potter snarks right back.

Malfoy’s face falls back into a look of sympathy. “There has to be something, I know for a fact you had some years–” he shuts up at the glare Potter shoots at him.

Looking back up (at Sirius, still seemingly ignoring James), he speaks. “Alright, I know how you can prove who you are. I want to see Padfoot and Prongs.” “What?” Malfoy shakes his head, but Potter ignores him.

James casts a wary glance over at Sirius. After years of perfectly their own nonverbal look-based language, he knows that Pads is thinking exactly what he’s thinking.

“Listen, mate, we can’t do that for you–” Sirius starts, before Potter interrupts. “So you’re not who you say you are.” his eyes narrow, “Or, you can’t show me because there’s someone else watching.” James shifts uncomfortably, just for a moment before Dumbledore walks in.

“Fucking knew it.” Potter sniped.

“Apologies, boys, we were hoping to uncover your identities,” Dumbledore apologizes.

Potter only spits at his feet, before replying “Get fucked.” James notices that Malfoy is determinately looking anywhere but at Dumbledore, looking a bit pale in the face (at least, more than usual).

Suddenly, Potter is thrashing in his binds. “SNAPE! YOU FUCKING TWAT!” he howls.

Everyone, except Dumbles, is looking at him in alarm. “Snape?! We’re fucked!” Malfoy hisses.

“You’re a coward!” Potter continues, before finally calming his thrashing. Squinting his eyes, he mutters a quick “Fuck.”

Malfoy’s face loosens in understanding. “How good are you at occlumency?” he quickly interrogates, panicked. “Utter bollocks at it, we’re fucked.” Potter mutters, face etched in anger.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Malfoy seems to be genuinely distressed. “He’s going to kill me.”

Potter only snorts. “I told everyone who asked that you lowered your wand. We have bigger things to worry about than your failed assassination.”

“I’m afraid I’m a bit lost, although I can assure you, I harbor no ill-will towards you.” Dumbledore addresses Malfoy.

“Exactly what Snape would say.” Potter cuts in, voice as sharp as a blade.

“You think that I would willingly work with fucking Snivellus?” Pads complains. Potter spares him a glance, before Malfoy speaks. “You know, he has a point. Even if no one here is real, no one would ever believe that Snape and Black would work together.

“You think your godfather would dress up as the man he oh so notoriously murdered just to pull one over on you?” Potter snorts.

Chapter Text

Dumbledore suddenly spoke up, eyes twinkling. “My boys, if I could bother you by asking, what year is it?”

James gaped, head swiveling back to stare at the two boys.

After a moment, Malfoy was the one to respond. “What’re you playing at?”

“Today is March 27th, 1979.” Dumbles continues, and James knows that both of his mates are also gawking at the old tosser. Has he gone senile?

Wait…

“Fuck, that could be Narcissa’s spawn,” Sirius muttered under his breath.

Which would mean…

Fuck.

“You’re barking. We’re not that fucking dense,” Potter spat.

THAT’S WHY HE HAS GREEN EYES.

HIS EYES.

“Fuck, James…” Moony whispered, seeming to have caught on to his internal crisis.

“I…” he began hyperventilating, his legs giving out causing him to collapse on the floor.

Looking up, tears filling his eyes, he asks a single question, although it’s more of a statement. “I’m dead.”

Sirius immediately rushed to his side, but Moony seemed frozen in place. “You know the future. I’m the only one still alive.” he stated, addressing the boys.

“That coward Pettigrew is still ali–” “No, he died. Just before we left.” Potter interrupted, in a monotone.

“What did Wormtail do?” Remus asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Potter looked at him strangely, before taking a deep breath. “Peter Pettigrew is a Death Eater.” Pads whimpered. “He sold my parents out to Voldemort, on Halloween of 1981.”

James abruptly stood up, and reached out for his son, only to feel his heart crack in half when Potter flinched away.

Fuck.

Fuck this.

Inhaling sharply as he looked behind him to share a meaningful gaze with his best mates, he nodded. Hoping that was enough to convey his current emotions, he transformed into Prongs. Potter’s breath hitched, “Dad?” he called out in an unsteady voice. Emotions were so much simpler in his animagus form. He knew, deep down in his heart, that this dark-haired, stubborn boy in front of him was his. His son. Completely forgetting about everyone else in the room, he walked the few steps up to his son and nuzzled into his face. His face is wet, why is his son’s face wet? It’s okay, he’s here now.

Hearing a hearty bark, Prongs looked behind him to see Padfoot, tail wagging and tongue hanging. Bounding up to the boy, he jumped up onto his lap and began licking his face enthusiastically.

His boy was sobbing now, all the fight clearly been drained out of his body.

Malfoy just looked confused, but he didn’t matter right now, nothing else mattered.

Suddenly, the ropes restraining his boy disappeared, and he immediately wrapped his arms around Padfoot. Turning human once more, James rushed to his boy, and embraced him in a tight hug. He felt arms wrap around all three of them, knowing immediately that Remus had joined in.

“What the bloody fuck?” Malfoy interrupted, clearly not caught up on recent events.

“As heart-warming as this has been, I believe we have a few matters to discuss.” Dumbledore’s voice cut through the mild tension. His son nodded, and wiped his face, while still holding onto Pads who curled up in his lap.

“Mr Potter, are you willing to vouch for Mr Malfoy here?” Dumbles lazily pointed his wand over at the blonde, who looked like he was about to be sick from the old headmaster acknowledging his existence.

“Yeah, he’s a blooming wanker but he’s not dangerous.”

“Shut the fuck up, Potter…” Malfoy muttered under his breath, although James thought he looked quite relieved. His restraints vanished, and he rubbed at his wrists.

“What’s your name?” James asked softly, scared that if he spoke too loud it would shatter this cloud they’re in. His son looked up at him cautiously, before responding with an equally as soft “Harry. Harry James Potter.”

James couldn’t find any words, so instead, he wrapped his arms around his son, Harry, once more. Moony placed a hand on his shoulder, always seeming to know when James’ overwhelmed. “It’s nice to meet you, Harry.” he sniffles, and that’s how James knows that all four of them must be crying.

“Hermione’s gonna be so mad,” Harry chuckles through his tears, “we were so careful all those years ago, and now I’ve just gone and fucked with time.” James laughed along with him, not caring enough at the moment to question it. Malfoy, it seems, has no qualms about harassing his son. “Potter, what the fuck? What the bloody hell do you mean, ‘we were so careful’? You fucking wanker, you’ve gone through time before?” he screeched.

“That’s a story for another time. Harry, let’s go find your mother.” James suggested softly, holding his hand out.

Dumbledore spoke up, “Ah wait, Mr Potter’s, I’m afraid–”

“I’ve been fighting an entire fucking war for you. You left me with the Dursley’s for sixteen years. You let my friends and I go up against Voldemort alone, on multiple fucking occasions. You manipulated everyone, we were only pawns in your chess game. You knew everything, yet you kept it all from me. You let my parents be killed. You let Sirius be killed. You used Lupin for his entire life, guilting him into following your every order. I never thought I’d say this, but you even fucked Snape over. Not to mention Regulus Black. And that’s not even getting into that whole mess with your sister.” Harry spoke, deadpan. James had thought Dumbledore having a sister had been some sort of joke, until he saw his Headmaster pale dramatically. “Just because you renounced your first love, and act so angelic, doesn’t make you a good person. Even now, I bet they,” he gestured at James, Remus and Sirius, “don’t know about the Horcruxes.” James has no idea what Harry is going on about, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel proud of his son for being able to take Dumbledore down a peg.

Remus grabbed Sirius’ hand, and grinned. “Well, that’s that.” and walked out. Harry looked up at him, “I want to see Mum.” “Agreed.” James smiled.

Ignoring Dumbledore as they pushed past him to leave, chatting quietly about plans for the future, they left. (Malfoy runs out with them, obviously not wanting to be alone with the Headmaster.)