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The Phoenix Rises	By : greenwizard11 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 44621 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
James continued to move through the woods toward the castle. He needed to find Sirius before he did something stupid. The man was obsessed with finding Peter, who he believed was still alive. As he came in view of the whomping willow he did a double take. He could’ve sworn he saw Severus Snape head down into the secret tunnel. James couldn’t help but wonder why the little wretch hadn’t learned his lesson yet.

He followed his former schoolmate at a distance so he wouldn’t be seen just yet. As he crept along the familiar tunnel his mind occupied itself with going over every possible scenario he could find when he emerged in the shrieking shack. Most of them were rather unpleasant thoughts.

When he finally did climb up the latter he heard screaming. One voice was definitely Snape’s, but the other… His paternal instincts urged him to race right up there and rip the greasy git’s throat out, but somehow he managed to reign in his emotions. Being too rash wasn’t going to do anyone any good.

As he reached the stairs he heard a loud bang, and Snape went quiet. James couldn’t help but chuckle quietly to himself. With any luck he would find Snape in pieces. With Snape gone Lucius would need comforting and… ‘Now’s not the time to think with your dick either,’ he chided himself.

He was at the top of the stairs when he heard another voice that made his blood run cold. Sirius had been right, Peter was alive. He inched toward the doorway without making a single sound. Peter was pleading with Remus to save him. Fortunately, his old friend seemed to have figured out the truth and wasn’t being sympathetic.

James breath caught in his throat when he saw Harry again. The younger version of himself was standing against the wall with that girl he had been with earlier. On the bed was a ginger haired boy that could only be Ronald Weasley. It seemed that the teenagers were having trouble deciding who to believe.

“Quit your whining,” James spoke forcefully as he stepped into the room. “Your blubbering was annoying back then, and it’s annoying now.”

Peter looked up at him with wide eyes, his face going paper white. A puddle formed by his feet as he literally pissed himself. “James…” he whispered with a raspy voice.

Harry went pale as well, but it wasn’t from fear. “Dad? This can’t be. I…” Harry was in total shock.

“I was wondering when you were going to show up,” Remus greeted him with a warm smile.

James raised an eyebrow and looking back and forth between his friends. “You know, I’ve already been thoroughly confused once tonight.”

“The map,” Remus answered. “I’ve had it in my possession for a little while now. The other night I saw a certain someone sneaking around the castle,” he winked. “Up until then I couldn’t understand how Sirius escaped. But then I saw a little dot with your name on it and suddenly my world made sense again; except for you being here and not, you know, dead.”

“Well thanks,” James said sarcastically. “It’s good to know how much you care.”

“You know what I mean!” Remus snapped back. “All this time I was under the impression that you had been killed.”

“You saw him days ago and you didn’t tell me!” Harry suddenly cried out, finding his voice again. “How could you not tell me? And you…” he turned his attention. “You just ran off and left me with the Dursley’s! How could you just abandon me, your own son?” Hot tears were starting to fill his eyes.

James sighed and averted his gaze down to his feet. “I didn’t want to. I… The first thing you should know is I thought you were with the Weasley’s. Dumbledore told me you were with them.”

“Dumbledore was in on this?” Remus asked, finding it hard to believe.

“It was all his idea,” James answered, a hint of anger and resentment in his voice. “He thought that Voldemort meeting his downfall was going to be a major deal obviously. If it got out that someone had survived one of his attacks things would get out of control. He thought it would be better if everyone thought I was dead.”

“And you didn’t argue?” Remus asked in surprise. “I’ve never known you to lie down and take direction?”

“Your shock flatters me,” James chuckled. “And you’re right, normally I would’ve argued. But I was weak and beside myself.” He turned to meet Harry’s gaze. “Harry, I wanted to take you with me, I really did. But as Dumbledore so bluntly pointed out in that hospital room, I wasn’t fit to raise a child. He somehow convinced me you were better off in a safe place.”

“Tell them James!” Peter squeaked out, suddenly drawing everyone’s attention back to him. “Tell them that I never betrayed you.”

“Oh Peter,” James sighed. “You and I both know better. Though you were probably hoping that I was still in the dark. You see Remus, Sirius here got a sudden attack of paranoia. He didn’t think it was safe for him to be our secret keeper because he was such an obvious choice. So when I went away for the weekend to… visit a friend… Sirius convinced Lily to change Peter to secret keeper behind my back. Lily told me that night when I came home.”

“James, have mercy!” the little traitor pleaded. “The dark lord has powers you could never understand! He was going to kill me! James, please understand…”

“I do understand,” James spoke in a calm and smooth tone. Everyone in the room looked at him like he had suddenly sprouted an extra head. “I understand that you’re a spineless little worm. You were my shadow during school, but not because you held any affection for me. It was my protection you were after. I understand that you pissed your pants and threw up every time I was out of your sight.”

“You don’t just want to let him go do you?” Sirius asked in bewilderment.

James stared at him with a raised eyebrow. “And I thought you knew me,” he sighed. “Don’t worry, the little wretch will get what he deserves.”

“No!” Harry cried out, causing everyone to turn their attention on him.

“Harry, what are you saying?” Remus asked. “Do you want us to just let him go? He is the reason your mother is dead and you were without a father until five minutes ago.”

“I know,” Harry swallowed hard. “But he should be taken to the castle.”

“Oh bless you!” Peter cried out and lunged to embrace him. James caught him and threw him back down on the floor with a soft thud.

“I think I see where you’re going with this,” James said, a small smile on his face. “If he is taken alive then Sirius is free. I like that idea.”

Remus nodded in agreement. “You know James, he reminds me of you at that age, except a lot less psychotic.”

James rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t have me any other way. And this is not the time to get emotional.”

“Well when is?” Sirius asked, wondering why James wasn’t running into his son’s arms.

“I don’t know,” James shrugged. “All these years I’ve imagined this moment over and over again in my head. It wasn’t anything like this. I’m completely lost.”

Just then there was a soft groan from the corner. Snape was waking up. He climbed to his feet looking like he was ready to murder someone. He spotted Harry and charged straight at him. James stepped in his path and stood firm. “If you want to get to him you’ll have to go through me.”

What little color was in Snape’s face drained away, and his knees went weak for a second. “You… It can’t be!” he cried out.

“When will you ever learn that it’s dangerous to underestimate me,” James gave a cocky smirk. “Voldemort continuously underestimates me. One would think one of you would’ve learned by now.”

“But how did you…?” Snape stuttered and swallowed hard.

“I didn’t feel like letting go,” James answered. “Lily wasn’t so lucky unfortunately. She was a clever witch, but not very strong. Still, her death wasn’t in vain,” James sighed as his gaze momentarily wandered over to Harry.

“How did I survive exactly?” Harry asked. He hoped that he could finally get the answers he had craved so much.

“There were several factors,” James started to explain like he was explaining a textbook theory. “First of all, you have to understand that every time a wizard performs an act of magic it drains his energy. Some spells drain you more than others. Of course I put up as much of a fight as I could, and we were both drained. Since Voldemort was never one to admit weakness, he headed for you and your mother once he thought I was taken care of. The killing curse takes a lot of energy Harry, and he was drained even further. Now Dumbledore has a theory that your mother offering to sacrifice herself to save you initiated some sort of ancient magic that protected you. I think he’s partially right. I also had a slew of protection spells on you; every single one I could think of to be perfectly honest. All of that combined was what brought Voldemort to his knees.”

Everyone listened intently and tried to process what James was telling them. “So there really isn’t anything special about him then,” Snape smirked.

“Not in the way most people think, no,” James said as he gave Snape a glare that wiped the smirk right off his face. “But there is definitely something special about him.”

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Harry lunged at his father and threw his arms around him. James was caught off guard, but returned the hug. He felt rather awkward, but didn’t try to move.

“Dad…” Harry whimpered. “I’m still angry that you left me, but I don’t want to waste this time hating you.” Tears were pouring down the younger Potter’s cheeks. He had a father now, he wasn’t an orphan. Surely he wouldn’t ever have to go back to the Dursley’s.

“We should head back,” Remus interrupted them. “Mr. Weasley here has a broken leg. Any chance you could perform your magic James?”

James sighed and looked around the room. “You’re not giving me much to work with here. Let me go downstairs. Snape, come with me.”

“Just a minute,” Snape growled. “If you think you’re going to order me about like the…”

“Come!” James yelled forcefully.

Snape jump and practically ran to follow him. “You’ll have to teach me that trick,” Remus chuckled.

Harry wiped his eyes and moved to sit beside his best friend. Ron, who had been very quiet, was glaring at Peter.

“Things are finally looking up for you,” Remus said as he patted Harry lightly on the shoulder.

“Yeah,” Harry couldn’t help but laugh a little. “It’s about time.”

Minutes later James came back with a sullen looking Snape. The potions master was mumbling quietly to himself while James took a piece of wood and the cleanest piece of his robe he could find and went over to tend to Ron.

He gently took the boy’s leg and popped the bone back into place. Ron howled in pain, but didn’t fight. James then made a makeshift splint for it. Then he pulled Ron to his feet and Ron was surprised to see that it didn’t hurt so much anymore.

“Thanks,” he blushed and hobbled over to Harry and Hermione.

***
- 6
- 7
- 8
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The Phoenix Rises