James, Lily?
At the sound of Sirius's voice, Harry's heart gave a violent lurch.
Could it be…?
Had this gem summoned his parents back?
But that couldn't be right. Hadn't he been thinking of having a healthy Anne appear in this room? Why would it bypass his thoughts entirely…?
Yet, if it were true, it was honestly pretty great. Harry even felt a flicker of secret joy in his heart.
No one noticed the satisfied, slightly relieved smile that spread across the face of the Lady of Death behind them.
No matter what wish Harry voiced aloud, it could never deceive his heart.
Just as it had been with the Mirror of Erised, what Harry desired most deeply was his parents.
As a child who had lost their love from a young age, no one could truly understand the ache in his heart or his longing for family.
But…
Sirius, meanwhile, had run into a problem.
"Who are you? Why are you in my house?"
The clear, lilting voice rang out again.
"I'm…" Sirius was laughing and crying at once, his usual composure abandoned. Tears streamed down his face as he sniffled and choked out, "It's me—Sirius, Padfoot… Have you forgotten me, Lily? James?"
"You say you're Padfoot? Impossible!" Lily's voice carried a note of disbelief. "Don't try to fool me. Padfoot just left our house…"
Before Lily could finish, James cut her off.
"No, Lily," James said warily. "He may look a bit older, but he does look an awful lot like Padfoot… Could it be some kind of Polyjuice Potion?"
"I am Padfoot!" Sirius wailed, bursting into tears. "It's 1994! Isn't it normal that I look a bit older?"
Merlin's saggy trousers, this was maddening!
At the mention of the date, James and Lily exchanged a glance.
"Lumos!"
James's wand flared to life, and he carefully surveyed the room before turning to Lily. "This doesn't look like our house. Maybe… we've somehow ended up somewhere else. You say you're Padfoot—prove it. He's an Animagus. If you're pretending to be him, you'd know that."
No sooner had he spoken than Sirius transformed in a flash, becoming a large, bear-like black dog.
"Woof!" Sirius barked, grinning widely, his tail wagging like a propeller, thwacking the floor with enthusiastic slaps.
It was clear he was overjoyed.
Though he didn't understand the mechanics of it, his best mates were back, and that was reason enough to celebrate!
Moments later, Sirius transformed back into his human form.
"That doesn't prove you're Padfoot," James said, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey, Prongs!" Sirius snapped, exasperated. "You once told me that Lily wasn't as… fiery as…"
Since he was speaking in English, he didn't get to finish before James interrupted him.
"Alright, Padfoot, I knew it was you," James said with a laugh. "I was just having a bit of fun!"
His laughter was awkward but polite, especially under Lily's sharp, piercing gaze.
Their attention, however, was soon drawn to the crowd at the door.
Harry and Veratia appeared in the doorway.
"This is your son, Harry," Sirius said, striding over to Harry and clapping him proudly on the shoulder as he introduced him to James and Lily. "Look at him, he's grown into a fine young man."
"Dad, Mum…"
Harry's eyes shimmered. He had never imagined he'd one day be reunited with his parents.
Nor had he expected the reunion to be so sudden.
He felt lost, bewildered, and above all, incredulous.
James and Lily were clearly shaken by the news as well. When they'd left, Harry had been just a one-year-old baby…
And now, in the blink of an eye, he was this grown? It was a lot to take in.
The revelation was so overwhelming that Lily didn't even notice Veratia standing behind Harry.
But they were thrilled, too. Harry was alive and had grown so much, which meant Voldemort must have fallen. At the very least, he was no longer a threat to Harry.
"Let's sit down over there," Sirius suggested. "We can catch up on everything that's happened… Moony?"
"Lupin's out," came the voice of Lady Perenelle from nearby. "He seemed in a hurry—probably off to the loo."
"Right, thank you, ma'am," Sirius said politely.
When it came to respecting elders, Gryffindors generally did alright.
At least they didn't go around punching orphans at Wool's or kicking toddlers in Godric's Hollow Kindergarten, leaving everyone over ninety or under nine trembling at their name, like a certain someone.
They made their way to the sitting room of Mr. Flamel's alchemical study, gathering around a table.
"I sent Fiona to fetch Dumbledore," Veratia whispered in Harry's ear. "He'll be here soon."
Seeing Harry so close with such a striking girl, James's face lit up with a gossipy grin.
Lily, meanwhile, furrowed her brow slightly. She felt like she'd seen this girl before but couldn't place her.
It wasn't her fault for not recognizing Veratia. The girl had changed her look entirely and was dressed in Muggle clothes. No one would connect her to the Slytherin girl from the portrait.
Besides, in Lily's memory, Veratia was always in the portrait. No matter how hard she tried, she wouldn't have guessed this girl was the same one who'd taught her ancient magic in the Map Chamber.
After Veratia left, James immediately gave Harry a whistle.
"Not bad, Harry," James said, his face beaming with a "that's my boy" expression. "You've landed yourself a real catch. You've definitely inherited my charm…"
But before he could finish, Sirius doubled over, unable to hold it in.
He clutched his face, groaning in agony. "Don't say it, Prongs—I've failed you!"
Sirius's outburst left James stunned.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, confused. "What do you mean you've failed me?"
"That blonde girl," Sirius said, fuming, "she's a Slytherin! An evil Slytherin! Mark my words, Harry's going to be corrupted. I knew Slytherin girls…"
To Sirius's surprise, James didn't get angry. Instead, he slammed his fist on the table.
"Who says Slytherins are no good? Slytherins are bloody brilliant!" James exclaimed, eyes gleaming. "What was that old Gryffindor slogan? 'Let Slytherin girls carry Gryffindor babies!'"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lily's hand came down with a sharp thwack on his head.
"You'll corrupt the boy, James!" she scolded.
James rubbed his head but didn't miss a beat, continuing to praise his son. "Anyway, well done, Harry! That's my boy!"
"But…" Sirius tried to interject. "They're not right for each other. Miss Grindelwald is just… too cunning. I'm worried she'll have Harry wrapped around her finger…"
He clung to a last shred of hope, banking on Lily's maternal instincts.
No mother would want to see her son manipulated by a bad woman, especially not a Gryffindor like Lily.
"Wait, what did you say her name was?" James asked, frowning. "Grindelwald? As in the Grindelwald locked up in Nurmengard by Dumbledore?"
"Yeah, that's her brother," Sirius said with a shrug. "It's a long story, but—Lily, you've got to talk some sense into Harry. I think that Hufflepuff, Miss Sweeting, would be perfect for him…"
By now, Lily had pieced it together. No wonder that blonde girl looked so familiar.
It was her—Miss Grindelwald from the Map Chamber!
But wait…
Back in the Map Chamber, Veratia had taught her everything, acting as both mentor and friend.
And now, somehow, her teacher had stepped out of the portrait and was… getting cozy with her son? Practically on the verge of becoming his girlfriend?
Even if they weren't there yet, it was close enough.
Lily was a woman, and she understood women.
Which meant…
Her teacher was about to become her daughter-in-law?!
Under Sirius's shocked gaze, Lily turned to Harry with an approving look.
"Well done, Harry!" she said, giving him a thumbs-up. "That's my boy!"
Sirius clutched his head, staring at James and Lily in disbelief.
What was this? His mates, his best mates?!
That was an evil Slytherin they were talking about!
How could they be okay with a Slytherin becoming a Potter?!
Weren't they supposed to hate Slytherins?
Just then, Veratia walked back into the room.
Lily looked up, meeting her gaze.
"Long time no see, Veratia," she said.
"Indeed, it's been a while," Veratia replied, nodding in greeting. "Lily."
Sirius stood frozen, utterly flummoxed. He couldn't believe it—this evil Miss Grindelwald knew Lily?!
And they seemed… close?
"You two know each other?" James asked, intrigued.
"Of course we do," Lily said, smiling at James. "Remember I told you about the Map Chamber?"
"I do," James nodded. "Ancient magic, right? Professor Rackham, Professor Rookwood, Headmistress Fitzgerald, and… Miss Grindelwald…" He gasped, sucking in a breath.
"My sweet Merlin…" James stammered, pointing shakily at Veratia, then at Lily. "She… you… she's the one from the Map Chamber…"
But James took it in stride. He'd already experienced time travel—what was a portrait girl stepping into the real world compared to that?
Besides, having Grindelwald's sister as a daughter-in-law? That made James feel like he was walking a foot taller than everyone else.
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