The Silver Sword

Chapter One: A Change In The Past

By: Quill

Eleven-year-old Harry Potter flew on his dad’s broomstick in the back yard of the small house in Godric’s Hollow where he lived with his parents. His dad was smiling on the ground, holding a Muggle stopwatch.

"C’mon, hurry, you won’t make it." James Potter said through clenched teeth.

Suddenly, Harry dived, and came out of it holding his hand up in the air.

"Dad!! I got it!!" James had stopped the watch. Three people came out of the house running, holding hot dogs, and sodas.

"What did we miss?" said the shortest one, a fat, balding man, with small, watery eyes. The second tallest smiled very weakly. He had sandy hair, and was pale and frail looking. The third man, the tallest of the three, was as tall as Harry’s father, he had gray, twinkling eyes, and long, neat black hair.

"He got it, and in record time he did. I’d bet he’d make the Quidditch team for Gryffindor in his first year, if it wasn’t against the rules." James said smiling. Harry got down, and clambered off his broom, and walked inside.

"Hey, Harry, what’s the matter?" the black haired man called.

"Nothin’ just tired." Harry called back. The short man had to go, and he left. James went in to find Lily and Harry eating hotdogs. Harry was on the phone.

"No way!! You’re kidding? Why would he do that?"

"Who’s he talking to?" James asked Lily.

"Ron." Lily mouthed back.

James sighed, and almost went back to his dinner, but Sirius tapped him on the shoulder, and he kept listening. They all listened intently to what was going on in Harry’s life. Harry ignored them and acted as though they weren’t invading his privacy.

"Why?? Wait, what did he say? ……. No, last time he talked to me was at Quality Quidditch Supplies." There was a pause. "Oh, he was going on about his ‘new broom’ and how he was going to beat you if you guys ever raced again…. No, no, I said ‘go shove it you sick little freak."

Sirius, and Remus, and James started sniggering. Whoever had said anything to Harry about his best friend would get. And get it bad. Harry had grown up having confidence, not big headed, or spoiled, but he learned that if you had to say something, speak the truth, even if it means being rude and sarcastic. His parents said he would get himself in a spot of trouble if he didn’t stop, but they couldn’t help laughing when he was mocking someone who deserved it. Of course, he only used that when talking to people he disliked, and it had gotten him into a spot of trouble with the Malfoys once or twice before.

"I mean, he is a total idiot, did you hear him talking to what’s his name?" There was a pause. Everyone in the room was listening to what Harry would say next, kind of a nosey adult type of thing. Harry didn’t seem to notice. "Yeah, yeah… no, then he kept going on and on about his top of the line something or other…. Yeah, I was so sick of him by then I could have punched him…. I swear, all he talks about is what he has that other people don’t…. Yeah, I know. You didn’t? Ron, one of these days, you are going to get into so much—look, let’s get one thing straight, I do not sound one bit like my mother. No, no, that would be wrong. I do not! Like I said, that‘s sad. Just plain sad."

Lily gave James a look that said, "he’s your son too you know," which made James, Remus and Sirius laugh more. Lily told them to be quiet, and Harry continued.

"Anyway, then he said something about your house, so I punched him, and his dad came over, screaming and swearing like a sailor, so I told him to shut up and to get off the weed long enough to see that his kid is just as much of ******* ****head as he was—"

A lot of things happened at once. Remus and James tried not to laugh, Sirius burst out laughing, and Lily gasped and hit Harry on the arm, hard, saying, "don’t talk like that!" Harry accidentally hung up on Ron, James pulled himself together to get Sirius, and the now laughing Remus back into their chairs because they had fallen out, and Lily was going on about spending to much time with "those pranksters", probably referring to Remus, Peter, Sirius, and James.

James looked shocked as he turned to his wife. His eyes flashed slightly in surprise.

"We don’t talk like that! Especially not around Harry!" Lily went out of the room, throwing her hands up in the air, muttering about bad influences. Sirius calmed down, bringing Remus with him. He leaned over the table and in a low voice said to Harry,

"We should yell at you, especially about swearing around your mother, so, just don’t do that again, but, anyway, who were you talking about?"

Harry was relieved. After all, he had just been telling Ron exactly what happened, like he said so. And he had a feeling his family wouldn’t start yelling at him, they never had. He had been grounded once in while, but nobody really ever yelled.

"Oh, I was just telling Ron how Draco Malfoy kept going on about his new broom—"

"Wait, wait, wait, let me get this straight, you said that to Lucius Malfoy? Big scary, mean, knows more curses then the devil himself’ type off guy?" James said in disbelief. Harry nodded like it was no big deal, and Remus, James, and Sirius rolled on the floor, howling with laughter. Harry smiled weakly, hoping Ron wasn’t mad about being hung up on, and wondering what his mother would say. He hadn’t really meant to say it in front of his parents, but it had just come out. He was so happy about teaching Ron how to use a telephone that he just got absorbed in his conversations once in a while.

"I would have loved to have seen the look on his face!" Remus said, barely breathing because he was laughing so hard. Harry smiled, getting back to the phone. He called Ron back, telling him he was sorry for hanging up on him, and telling him what had happened since. Ron himself started laughing. ("You said that to Lucius Malfoy??")

"Here we go again." He left the phone on the table, with Ron still laughing his head off, and his father and friends still laughing on the floor. Harry went to bed. As he walked in front of his parents room his mother called him inside. She had been sitting in bed, reading a book. She lowered her reading glasses, and put her book down.

"I’m not surprised your father didn’t yell at you, and I had a feeling that your godfathers wouldn’t either, although you deserve it. So, I won’t either. Goodnight."

"Goodnight mum." Harry turned and left. As he reached the door, his mother called to him.

"Oh, and Harry, next time you run into that Malfoy character, try using these words—One sweet little phrase: "Too stupid to fly that broom, let alone shut up about it." She smiled.

Harry laughed, and went to bed also. He tried to sleep, but something was on his mind.

"Maybe my parents aren’t so bad after all. I mean, they are kind of cool at times." He said out loud to himself. His dad was always acting like a big kid, and was awesome to hang out with, but he knew when to be the father also, and was always there to help Harry when a problem arose. His mother was fun at times also, she had a beautiful laugh, and when she laughed it was like no magic a wand could produce. It was in her nature to be sweet, and kind, but she was also a worrywart, because James and Harry meant everything to her.

It did get a bit annoying; at the first sign of a headache, Harry got his temperature taken. His parents were young, only in their early thirties, but they seemed so old and wise, when he needed advice or someone to talk to. He then thought of Sirius. He was strong, and loyal, and laughed often. But, when it came to things like dark arts, he was more of a worrier then Lily. Remus was the same way, and knew a lot of magic spells, useful little tricks he had picked up in his travels. Harry felt better going to Remus, Sirius, and his parents then anyone else. Peter, however, he wasn’t so sure. There was something about him, something in the way he seemed to smirk when something happened. Harry never got very close to him. He was glad his godfather was Sirius, and second godfather was Remus, and that peter wasn’t involved in any way. Harry fell asleep, thinking of his family.

"Harry! Get up!" His father called to him. He didn’t move. He was too tired. He heard someone come into the room. He then felt himself being picked up, out of bed. He looked up, and grasped his glasses. "Mornin’ sunshine." His father said in a southern United States accent.

"Hi dad." He was dropped lightly on the bed.

"Get up, today, we are going to meet the many Weasleys for a nice walk down Diagon Alley." Harry sat up, and his dad left, grinning. Harry went down to breakfast, and saw his mother making bacon sandwiches. He kissed her on the cheek, and sat down. There wasn’t anything on the table.

"Mum--?"
"We’re late! We’ll eat when we get there. Did you sleep well dear? Do you feel alright?" She asked. Harry didn’t have time to answer, because someone whooshed by, saying loudly, "Lily, he’s fine! C’mon let’s go!" His dad was in such a hurry, he almost forgot the Floo powder.

They made it alright, and met the Weasleys in the Leaky Cauldron. Harry said hello to all of the Weasley’s in turn.

"Hullo, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Hello Percy, hi Fred, hi George. Hey Ginny. Hi Ron." Ron laughed at Harry’s expression when he was done. He had said all that in one breath.

Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Weasley let the kids go wherever. Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley talked about "the problems with the Ministry today" after reading copies of the Daily Prophet. Harry and every Weasley but Percy got their school things together, Percy was busy talking to other prefects he met in one of the stores.

The twins left to find a secret way into Knockturn Alley, and Ron and Harry sat eating ice-cream at a table outside Florean Fortescue’s.

"I hope I’m in Gryffindor." Harry said out of the blue. Ron laughed.

"With parents like ours, we should sue if we aren’t in Gryffindor." Harry laughed at that too. That night, instead of staying at the Leaky Cauldron, the Potters went home. James said that he would Apparate first, not to waste Floo powder. He was gone. Ten second later, Lily had just thrown a pinch of powder into the fire, when James returned, pulling her out of the flames first. He lightly pulled her out, by lifting her up and into a chair. He also pulled Harry away from the fire before putting it out with a wave of his wand.

"James, what the—?" James looked angry, and proud, and brave all at the same time.

"Lily, we have to leave Harry here with the Weasleys tonight." Harry wondered why. Lily searched James’ face, looking for an answer. James stared back at hers, as if to say, "we need to talk."

"James, what’s wrong?" Lily asked looking into his eyes, worried. More worried then she had ever been. She had only seen him like that once before, his eyes glaring, as though he wanted to protect his loved ones, and break down and cry at the same time. Lily had been sitting in Professor Dumbledore’s office, in fifth year. James, her boyfriend at the time, came charging in, with that same look on his face. Lily tried to ask him what was wrong then also, but he just said, "Lily, could you please wait outside for a few minutes?" She, of course, left. When James came out, he told her that his father had been murdered by Lord Voldemort, and his men.

James didn’t answer. He turned to Harry. "Harry, stay with Ron okay?" Harry looked up at his father, who was much taller, and much stronger then he was.

"But Dad, maybe I can help—"

"No, you stay here. That’s what I need you to do." His parents took him to Ron and the twins, and then went to talk to Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. They came back with three owls. Harry’s own Hedwig, Errol, the Weasley’s owl, and his father’s trusty pet Apollo. His dad bent down over a table, and scribbled a note to someone. His mother did the same but her hands were shaky, as though she didn’t want to say the words, or write them.

James attached the first letter to Apollo.

"Fly fast, my feathered friend, Sirius needs to get this as soon as possible." Apollo was very large, and flew from James’ shoulder, out the window. Lily wrote another note, and told Errol to go to Remus. Hedwig had the third. Lily whispered, but Harry could hear.

"Take this to Dumbledore, Hedwig. Hurry dear, this is probably one of the most important notes you’ll ever take." Hedwig cooed, and nipped Harry’s ear affectionately, before swooshing off, Errol close behind. Lily and James both looked worried, and Lily looked scared, but James was brave.

"Mum—?" Harry asked.

"Now Harry, don’t worry, you just stay here, and think about…Hogwarts, and when you think you’ll make Quidditch. Okay? Whatever you do, don’t leave Ron and his parents, for anything, alright? I love you," she said warmly but sternly.

Harry nodded, "I love you too, Mum."

Lily put a long shawl over her shoulders and hugged him. She thanked the Weasleys, and waited for James to say goodbye to Harry.

"We’ll be back when this is all taken care of. It shouldn’t take more then a few hours, but if it does, the Weasleys will take care of you. ‘k? I love you. So, stay here, and get some sleep, don’t worry, let me handle that." He gave Harry a big hug, and Harry told him he loved him, and they were off, with another thank-you too the Weasleys.

Harry sighed. His family knew something that he didn’t, that was important enough for him to have to stay with the Weasley’s all night. Harry and Ron went to their rooms, both guessing why Harry’s parents had got everyone they could trust together to do something, or other at Harry’s house, which he wasn’t even sure was where they were.

He sighed again, and fell asleep, laughing at Ron’s suggestion of, "Maybe they got called away to murder Malfoy, I mean, they would need a lot of powerful wizards like Sirius and Dumbledore to silence his screaming like a girl." Harry dreamed of his parents, and how brave they were being, whatever they were doing.

Meanwhile, at Harry’s house, a lot of wizards and witches had gathered. There were the Potters, Sirius, Remus, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Mundungus Fletcher, also known as Gus, Arabella Figg, also known as Bella, and a few others, many Aurors or just helpful friends, wanting to be of service. Peter wasn’t there though, he was away on "business".

"Alright everyone, please, listen up!" Lily said loudly. The wizards stopped talking, and they looked, through the lights of many wands, at Lily and James. "This pile, of rubble that we are sitting on, is what used to be our house. While we were away, someone, obviously looking for something, came, and tore it down. We don’t know who, but it might have been the Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort."

"What we don’t know, is who, what, when, where, and why. Who they are, where they are, why they did this, when exactly they did this, how they did this and what they used to do this. So basically, we are playing chess in the dark. But all we do know, is that keeping Harry safe is our top priority." James said, holding Lily to him. "So that is why, we called you here, to make sure that whoever did this is gone, and that this place isn’t cursed. We are going to separate, into three groups, those who are searching for curses and spells, those who are looking for these people who did it, and the rest of us will see if anything is missing, from this list of important items I made up." He held up a list. The people broke into the groups, and lily was head of curse breaking, having a specialty in charms, Gus head of missing items, and James and Dumbledore heads of searching. By daybreak, they had found some clues.

"We found footprints in the mud that stop, many of them, meaning the people Disapparated," Dumbledore said.

"There is nothing missing, but a book," Gus said.

"Many curses were used to bring the place down, not all of them deadly, but most were. They didn’t curse the place, or certain items to kill, but they might have tried, so we have to keep going." Lily and James talked to Gus and Dumbledore for quite a while about the missing book.

"Which one was it?" Lily asked. She had the biggest library James had ever seen in her basement, which was also used for potion making at the Potter house. Gus sighed.

"It was a very old book, called, in English, "Silver Blade". It was probably very large, and might have been locked."

"Wait, wait, wait, so, this book was locked?" Bella asked. Lily nodded solemnly.

"My mother found it in an old tea shop, but we never got the key. I always suspected it was very powerful. But why would Voldemort want it?"

"That means, it is time for a trip to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said. James nodded, hoping that the research would be short. Lily looked up at the dark night sky. It looked just as troubled as she was. There weren’t any stars out, like it was too much of a bother for them to come out. Not that anyone beside Lily was looking at the sky anyway.

"Lily?"

Lily turned, James had called her. James, the father of her son, the one who would die for her and Harry, the one who was always brave.

"I’m coming." She smiled weakly, and hugged James before they Disapparated from the spot.