The Alternate | A Harry Potter Original Fanfiction by Ameliapondicus

Chapter 6

"James, you'll wear a hole in the rug."

James was pacing up and down the living room in front of the Muggle television set Lily had insisted on buying. She had a program on, something about a police box and all of time and space, and was watching from behind her knitting.

"What will happen to him?" James pondered, raking his fingers through his sticky-uppy hair. "What if the other kids pick on him? What if he talks about what his dad does?"

Lily dropped her knitting to her lap and huffed at James. "He is five-years-old, James. Five-year-olds have imaginations. His just might be a little... wild."

James stopped right in front of the telly. "I'm just worried, is all." He sighed, and flopped beside her on the couch.

Lily ran her hands up and down his thighs. "I'm nervous for him too. But its noon now, and Harry has been at school for half a day and we haven't had any call from the school."

James smiled and grabbed her hand. "When does he come home?"

"Three-thirty."

James looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. The hands read 12:25. He threw his head back with a groan. Lily smiled.

An owl tapped on their kitchen window, and before Lily could react, James had bolted off of the couch and had opened the window. The owl stuck out its leg, and James quickly removed the tightly rolled scroll before it flew back out of the window.

"What is it?" Lily asked him. He was reading fast, his eyebrows coming closer and closer together. "James?"

"I have to go," he said suddenly, and placed the letter on the counter. "Sirius needs me."

"James!" Lily cried, as he ran up the stairs to their room. "What is happening?"

Getting no response, she picked up the letter from the counter.

James, if we want to act, we have to do it now. Dumbledore just owl-ed me saying that Peter was sighted in the Forbidden Forest. We're to meet him in Hogsmeade, and then we'll Apparate in.

I'll be there when you get this. Come as soon as possible.

~ Sirius

"Lily, I'll be back as soon as possible," James came around the counter in his robes. He was just tucking his wand into his sleeve when he saw Lily reading the letter. "Lils, I have to go."

She nodded sharply. "No, I know." Her voice shook, and her hand trembled.

James swept her into a hug. "I'll be back." He said. "I promise."

********

"Harry! How was your day?" Lily asked her son as she held his hand across the crosswalk. Other parents with their kids surrounded them.

"Good." Was all Harry said.

"Who did you play with?"

"My friends."

Lily frowned. "What are their names?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. My friends."

Lily knelt down to Harry's level when they reached the sidewalk. "Harry, tell me. Are you alright?" She had hoped he would be a little more enthusiastic about his first day of primary school.

"Yes, Mum." He mumbled, eyes crossing slightly.

She smiled, understanding a bit more. "Do you need a nap when we get home?"

Harry nodded, somewhat subdued.

"Well then. Lets get you home and have a quick snack before into your warm bed. Perhaps Dad will come and join you for a little bit."

Harry nodded again, and slumped against his tall mother. Smiling gently she wrapped her thin fingers around his small hand and led him home.

*********

James appeared with a pop in the foyer of their quaint house. His robes were covered with muck and his shoes made wet squish's against the floor. "James?" Lily called. "Is that you?"

"Yeah," he replied. "I'm a mess right now, though."

She came around the corner, pulling her wand out from the Gryffindor sweater she was wearing. James grinned. Lily always loved stealing his clothes. "Here," she muttered. "Scourgify."

"Thanks, Lil." He said, slipping off his shoes. "How's Harry?"

"Sleeping." Lily wound her long hair up into a knot on the top of her head. "He's completely tuckered."

James wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a kiss. "Did he enjoy school?"

"I think so," she rested her head on his firm chest. "He was mainly exhausted. I think he played all day."

James laughed. "That's good."

Lily looked up at him. "I think he's waiting for you."

"Nice." James grinned. "I'm just going to get these robes off."

"How'd they get so dirty?' Lily asked.

"The lead we had on Peter led us into the Forbidden Forest." James said. "It got mucky."

"Did you find anything?"

James shook his head. "He's disappeared again. Sirius is nearly going crazy." He rested his chin on Lily's head, moving his hand in soft circles on the small of her back. "It's going to kill him."

"Sirius will survive." Lily said simply. They stood for a while, letting the silence of the house wash over them.

"I should go and get changed," James said, giving her a quick kiss on her forehead.

"If he's completely out, don't wake him up!" Lily warned him.

"Yes, Lils!" He said, dashing up the stairs to their bedroom.