They're after my Mother's.
The following morning, he woke up to join the others in the great hall. He was quite hesitant to do so, knowing everyone will be staring and talking about him- but he was Harry Potter. He was shoved into the spotlight the moment he turned one, and so it was nothing new.
He's grown to get used to it, this was not out of the ordinary. Although the circumstances are different, it was all the same being shoved on a stage for people to gawk at like some artefact without any feelings.
It’s all the same anywhere he goes.
He went to the great hall after freshening up and was immediately greeted by the Marauders. Mostly just James and Sirius calling his name loudly and beckoning him to sit next to them.
He thought about refusing, but they’re already keen on prying him open for information. Their eyes gleaming with curiosity that Harry was growing weary of. He decided against provoking them further, Harry did as he was told and was forced to sit between Sirius and James.
"Good Morning, Harry," Remus greeted him, eating his breakfast toast. Trying to act casual, as if he too wasn’t as invested in the whole ordeal and mystery that is one Harry - just Harry.
"So, mind explaining to us what yesterday was?" James asked, not even bothering to hide the pressure he was putting on the boy who haven't even had breakfast yet.
Lily made sure to sit across Harry even if it meant also facing James Potter for breakfast because she was drawn to the young boy and worried over him, she was also weary of the fact she can see how awkward and unsure he looked right next to the older boys squeezing him.
"Let the poor kid eat his breakfast," Lily interrupted, and James' mood suddenly changed. He quickly turned all his attention on her and grinned widely. She did not return the gesture.
"Good Morning to you too my Lily-Flower," James greeted her, which she ignored and just smiled kindly at Harry who returned it hesitantly. "Did you sleep well, my Darling?"
"How are you this morning, Harry?" She asked him and began stacking pancakes on her plate, Remus handed her the syrup without a word, and she thanked him under her breath.
"I'm fine," Harry responded politely. "Thanks for asking."
Lily just smiled and began eating her breakfast, all the while trying to ignore the way James was just shamelessly staring at her, and it was getting harder to swallow her food with such a keen audience, she dropped her fork.
"Aren't you going to eat breakfast, Potter?"
James smirked. "Oh believe me I already am."
Harry just sat there, having no appetite to eat and watching his parents bicker but aside James' pathetic attempts to flirt and Lily's hostile responses he felt happy. He was right next to Sirius and his Dad, while his Mum was right in front of him.
He almost wondered if this happiness was even allowed, if he was allowed this moment of happiness even though it was just breakfast?
McGonagall was made aware of Harry's. . .predicament and have adjusted well to the news, though during class she was a bit distracted by James and Lily's banter even though it happens at least 10 times every day in her classes.
She's begun to see them in a new light, she just found out about their future. Not only were they going to get married and have a kid together, they also died young. Way too young and way too soon.
McGonagall was almost hesitant to see them grow old, wishing they could stay as kids, as her students where they'd be safe within the castle walls and away from the harsh world outside where they are destined to perish in 6-7 years.
It is most heartbreaking to watch her students, full of youth and life - knowing their fate ends in death.
Harry was then introduced as an exchange student, belonging to the Gryffindor house as he was sorted the moment he enrolled in and was adjusting well to his classes, though that would easy considering he already knew everything they ought to teach him. And Dumbledore was quite right, he was able to pay attention to classes now that he wasn't distracted by everything.
And he was doing quite well, all this time he thought studying just wasn't for him, when in reality he was just too occupied by being some hero. Despite already knowing, he found that there was still more he could’ve looked into. He was shoved too early into the spotlight that from the moment he was born, he was already caught up in everything.
Then he had to grow up in a toxic household, attend Hogwarts and try not to get killed every year and win a bloody fucking war.
But right now? He's able to be normal. Just a random third-year attending classes and not worrying about a falsely-accused mass murderer sneaking into his school to murder him in his sleep.
Just a normal third year- "There you are!" Sirius called out to Harry who had just walked out of Potions class, startling the poor boy in the process. Speak of the framed murderer and he shall appear. Sirius grabbed him by his robe and pulled him aside. "You're avoiding us, aren't you?"
"I'm going to classes." Harry responded quickly, being smart about the words he chose to say.
"And you're avoiding us." Sirius pointed out, smirking.
"I'm not," Harry said. Which was not entirely the truth, he's not avoiding them. Just avoiding talking about a certain topic to them because he is quite easy to break - not to mention it's Sirius and James asking. "Just trying to adjust to Hogwarts is all."
"Well, we can help you adjust," Sirius offered with a frown, as if what he was saying was already so obvious. "Then you can explain yourself and satisfy my curiosity."
"Is that why you're so keen to talk to me?" Harry asked, gripping the strap of his book bag.
"Well," Sirius cleared his throat. "That and I want to make friends."
"With me?" Harry furrowed his brows.
"Okay fine, maybe because I'm beyond freaked that you look a lot like Prongs, but that's beside the point, mate," Sirius shook his head. "You feel sort of familiar, and I want to know why."
Harry nodded, knowing how impossible it would be if he full-on lied to them about everything. They were far too smart, observative and determined.
“Are you a distant relative? What's your las-”
"I promise to explain," Harry responded. "Just give me some time."
Harry then walked away, heading for his next class and Sirius stood there, watching the other students pool out the Transfiguration classroom, and was taken aback to find Regulus watching him. He hadn't noticed the younger black watching their interaction, before Sirius could approach him he was gone with the crowd.
"Hey, glad I found you here," Harry looked up from the essay he was writing and met a pair of green eyes that matched his. He smiled up at her and she occupied the seat across her, he was seeking comfort in the library to work on his essays due in a week, but he needed something to do. He needed a distraction. "How are you doing?"
"Fine," Harry replied. "I suppose. Why?"
Lily hesitated before answering, scrunching her nose up and shaking his head but eventually gave in after a short internal battle. "This is going to sound weird but I feel extremely drawn to you- not like that , no worries- but you feel awfully familiar."
Harry then couldn't help the warm feeling spreading in his chest. His Mother was right there breathing and alive and telling him he felt familiar, that deep down inside she recognizes him, and a hope was beginning to grow inside him.
"I - “ Harry shook his head. “Doubt we knew each other before Hogwarts.”
Lily was left little to no choice but just nod at him, she didn't want to pry but whatever the boy said was beyond confusing with the tone he said it with being off, and she was hoping to get some sort of answer by now. She was gonna talk again when someone called her name.
"Lily what are you doing here?" She looked up to meet eyes with a pair of dark ones, Severus had a frown on his face. "Who is this boy?"
Harry turned away from smiling at Lily to frowning at the boy who called his Mother. Then he immediately recognized him, long black hair that seemed to have been stuck to his face with grease and Slytherin uniform.
Harry was surprised. Snape scared him, sent chills down his spine and the familiar look of hatred always danced in his dark eyes when he’d look down at him - but right now, he’s just a boy. Still older, but he did not scare Harry.
His last words replayed in Harry’s mind. How he looked.
"Sorry Severus, I was just talking to Harry here," Lily apologized and got up. "Still want to do our essays together?"
Harry kept staring, not minding if Snape was stealing glances at him while conversing with Lily.
"Yes, if you'd please." Severus replied in a monotone voice.
"Sorry Harry," Lily then began preparing to walk away. "I'll talk with you some more later, hopefully you can finally do the explaining you promised to do."
Harry just grinned, cursing under his breath from the now long list of people expecting him to explain. He was considering conjuring pictures for his nearing presentations, just for visual aid purposes. Like a muggle presentation.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Harry looked up to find Remus beginning to occupy the seat Lily just left. He wondered if he was ever going to catch a break, it was his first day of school in 1975 and he's already been talking to so many people.
"Why not?" Harry asked.
"You look too much like James, I kind of had expected you to act the same," Remus chuckled, mostly to himself. "I'm not calling him stupid, but he's rarely in here."
"The library?" Harry asked and began looking around, a few tables away Lily and Severus sharing a table, sitting close to each other and talking with parchments in hand. They almost looked like lovers, if the thought hadn't made Harry want to vomit.
"Yes, Sirius acts like this place is hell on earth," Remus laughed. "He claimed that this place 'sucks the life out of him'."
Harry smiled at that, it did sound like something Sirius would say.Then Remus pulled out a book, beginning to flip through the pages and finding his bookmark, which was a gift from Lily. It was a pressed daisy chain that she had kept fresh with magic, which he cherished a lot.
Harry let the silence engulf them, he had already finished the first part of his essay and was now just scribbling random doodles he intended to remove before turning his work in as he tried to avoid striking up a conversation with Remus.
His scar was still there, right across his face and very much evident, but he looked so much different. He didn't look like a man who lost everything, his friends. He still had the marauders with him, and he looked visibly happier than he did in the future where Harry met him.
Harry had almost assumed he was a homeless man who sneaked into the train when they first met, it’s not often some man is sleeping on the train to Hogwarts.
But here he looks like just another normal teenager living his ordinary life, and that comforted Harry. He also intended to keep it that way, already coming up with plans to destroy the horcruxes before the first war can even begin.
Dumbledore is with him and there was no need for the man to die, he'd save them all. He refused to watch them all die again. Not when he's given a chance to undo it all.
"You look like you're in deep thought," Remus spoke up breaking the silence and Harry neglected to respond, unsure of what to say. "You know, talking about it to someone might help ease the burden somehow."
Harry hesitated.
"I'm not sure I can share this one with anyone just yet."
"Do I not look trust-worthy?" Remus asked, and it made Harry shake his head violently as a response, and he chuckled. "I was just messing with you. You're free to keep your secrets to yourself, Harry. All I'm saying is, if you need someone to listen, I'm right here."
Harry stayed quiet. "I know we only just met but venting your problems to a stranger might prove to be helpful," Remus then showed his pinky finger. "And I promise I'm not only offering because the two tossers suggested I should try and pry the truth off you."
"They did that?" Harry frowned.
"Yes," Remus replied slowly. It wasn't out of character but was still perplexing to Harry. "But doesn't matter, you can even make me swear on it."
Harry shook his head no. "You don't have to swear on anything," He told him. "I believe you."
"Merlin, it's really uncanny how you look so much like him," Remus cleared his throat, shutting his book closed and placing it down. "But your eyes are the only thing different."
Harry smiled. "They're after my Mother's."
Remus' brows shot up, he felt like he just found out something important, but was quite unsure what exactly it is. hen he had an epiphany- but it was a bit too impossible, but it make's sense- but also it doesn't?He had full confidence that Harry was a puzzle he could solve, unlike his friends - but on the contrary, they are all failing to decipher him.
"You okay?" Harry asked him when he realized how it's been minutes since Remus turned the pages of his book and was taken aback to find the older boy just staring at him in a daze.
"I'm fine," He replied and looked down, turning the page and pretending to read, but his thoughts just continued drifting back to Harry. Why does he feel like knowing he had his mother’s eyes was some great discovery?
But soon he actually managed to pay attention back to his book and began reading through it like he intended, forgetting about Harry's possible truth, and finished in an hour. He looked out the nearest window to find the sun was setting.
He turned to Harry who he hadn't noticed had fallen asleep on the table. His essay neatly set aside while his book remained open and his face pressed flatly to a page with his arm spread out on the table.
Remus smiled.
He was happy to know that the boy felt comfortable enough to sleep in his presence. He was quite different, he was so unsure coming into Hogwarts. He found it hard to sleep during the first few days, he spent nights just listening to the other boys sleep. During his staring session, he noticed something. A scar, shaped like a lightning bolt, and frowned. What could have possibly happened to him to mark something like that?