A Different Ending

Question

They answered all of Harry's questions and showed him to his bedroom. Lily tucked him in and it felt natural like she had lived with him his whole life not just the past couple hours. She walked downstairs dreading the serious conversation they were about to have. Remus had put on tea and there was a steaming mug waiting for her, she took it in her hands and sat on the couch next the James.

"Ok guys. Peter you have somewhere to stay right?" Peter nodded. "Sirius you were living with Remus before but I think Remus you left for a couple of years then moved in with Peter." They both nodded. "So only Pete has a place to stay." The three nodded again. "Remus you and Sirius are welcome to stay here as long as you want." Nobody noticed Harry sneak into the room.

"James we can't intrude like that, you just got your family back." Remus argued where as Sirius was already trying to move in.

"I won't hear it Remus, you will stay here until you find an apartment and we fatten you two up. We had no food for ten years and we look better then you." Lily stood up after that and went to make more tea. Remus turned to Sirius. "I guess we're staying." Sirius jumped up and ran away.

He looked happy and Harry didn't catch the worried look that passed between Remus and James or the silent conversation they had where Remus left to go check on Sirius. They knew what he was doing.

James looked up and Peter had gone to talk with Lily so he was left with Harry. He sat down and rubbed his forehead but stopped when he saw Harry's worried look.

"Are you alright Dad?" Harry crawled over and lay his head and James' lap. A breath hitched in his throat before he could respond.

"Yeah I'm fine just worried, but that is not for me to talk to you about. Do you have any questions?" Harry nodded. "Ask away."

"What... how..." He stopped and thought for a moment which reminded James of Lily. "What were you and Mom like at Hogwarts?"

A roar of laughter escaped him as he recalled his years at school. Harry looked confused but he didn't stop. He needed the rest of the Marauders to explain. Then Lily and Peter came into the sitting room with cups of tea levitated on a platter.

"Now what are you laughing at?" Lily lowered the platter onto the coffee table and passed and mug to james.

"Harry asked what we were like at Hogwarts. Pete care to help me explain while Moony and Pads are 'occupied'?" Peter and Lily smirked at the way he said the word, Harry caught it but didn't understand.

"Sure thing Prongs, would you like to start?" They had their smirks plastered on their faces and Lily look quite disapproving.

"Well Harry," He stood up and Harry sat to watch. "We all met on the train and became very good friends. We called ourselves the Marauders and we were perfect little angels at school, never caused any problems."

Lily snorted into her mug. "If you guys hadn't gone to school there would have been no trouble. Harry don't believe a word of this because your father and his friends hold the record for most detentions in a year. And they broke their own record twice. They ran around the school at night and were arrogant bullies for a long time."

"We were only mean to Snivellus Lily." Peter piped up with James giving him a high five.

"But you were still bullies and you were very arrogant. See Harry i hated your father up until our sixth year, when he cleaned up his act. Then i started dating him in our seventh year."

"You never actually hated me you just pretend you did, you would laugh at our pranks." James tried to defend himself but Peter didn't help.

"What about every time she hexed us for pranking Snivellus? Or when she got caught up in the prank?"

"Were going to pretend those didnt happen, you loved me." She made a small noise but he took it as agreement. "Harry we pulled the best pranks and found all sorts of secret passageways." He had an eccentric look in his, he was excited to pass on the Marauders to his son.

"There are secret passageways in Hogwarts? Where are they?" His eyes were bright and happy. A look he had almost never worn.

James started to answer but Lily stopped him. "James Potter you will not tell our son this stuff. He will not get into as much trouble you did." James looked disappointed and from behind Lily's back he mouthed 'later' to Harry.

"Fine then, when we have Sirius and Remus we can tell you every great story we have. We can tell you all about how to get into the kitchens, and the different passages, and all the secrets places. You'll love it." Lily shook her head but she like watching James bond with their son.

"Well those stories can be save for another time, it's getting late and we've all had a very eventful day and need sleep." All three of them started to complain but she stopped them again. "Peter you can come for breakfast then we can all spend the day together maybe go to Diagon Alley." Harry's eyes lit up and he ran up the stairs to the room Sirius had showed him.

Peter bid them goodbye and it was just the two of them, they went to put Harry to sleep then went to their own room to... catch up.