What If?

From this group, heroes rise up and challenge evil for the sake of what is good and righteous.

This story is the answer to their question: "What if...?"

* * * * *

Harry Potter awoke with a start. He looked around at his surroundings. It was the same small room as always, in their small hidden house at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. He wondered what it was like beyond the forest, and out of hiding. To be able to go to a wizard school with other children- like the old Hogwarts. On clear days, you could still see what was left of the castle from his back yard. Harry loved to sit out there and daydream about going to school there.

Thinking of that castle made Harry remember the dream that had woken him up so suddenly. It was not a strange one. He had been a student at Hogwarts, surrounded by friends and petty enemies. The Dark Lord was gone and life had gone back to as it was before, life as Harry had never known it. Harry could even remember the faces of his dream friends. There were several with red hair and freckles. Also one girl with brown hair who was very smart. And one blond boy whom Harry hadn't liked very much. He'd had many similar dreams , but this one was the most vivid of late.

Harry Pulled himself out of bed and put on jeans and a tee shirt. He walked downstairs and, much to his surprise, found his godfather on the couch. "Morning Sirius! Great to see you," he said as he plopped down on the couch next to him.

Sirius smiled back, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Hey, Harry. It's wonderful to see you too."

Harry was concerned. "What's been going on out there? You look beat."

Everything has been going on. Death. panic. Destruction. It's like hell on earth."

"That bad?"

"It's horrible, Harry. Be happy you are here and away from all that."

Harry sighed and scratched his head. "That's just it. I should be happy here. But I would so much rather be out there. At least then I could try to do something. Either fight, like Remus, or help others in hiding, like you."

Sirius shook his head. "I really would like for you to come along, Harry. And maybe one of these days you can. But a sixteen year old, no matter how strong, won't be thought of as much help to the cause by what is left of the Ministry. Especially since you've never received proper teaching."

Just then, Harry's parents, James and Lily, walked in. Sirius got up and embraced them both.

"James, Lily. So great to see you."

"You too, Sirius," said James. "Has our son been pestering you about leaving again?"

"Yes, but I told him not until he's older."

James turned to his son. "Sirius is right. You need proper training to fight. Not to mention people skills, which are not very easy to acquire when you've lived in isolation all your life."

Harry took this opportunity to argue. Standing up, he retorted, "But Dad, how am I supposed to gain those social skills unless you let me go out and help the people. Not in the fighting sense, but as a messenger and aid like Sirius."

Finally Lily spoke very quietly. "Our son has a point, James. I don't like the idea of him out there any better than you, but he isn't a baby anymore and so we can't always be there to protect him. Plus, people need him."

James was taken aback by this but remained calm. "I don't like this one bit, but you are right. I guess he can go if he really wants to go. But the final decision is up to Sirius as to whether he wants to put up with our Harry."

All eyes turned to Sirius. His face remained grim and determined for a few seconds, but then he broke into a grin. "I would love to take him along."

Harry nearly jumped to the ceiling. "Yes!"

* * * * *

Harry couldn't see Sirius ahead of him because he was under an invisibility cloak. So was he. James had lent him his old one for the journey. Luckily, Harry's broom was enchanted to follow Sirius. He wasn't to speak, because there were spies for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named everywhere. Harry tried to keep up with where they were flying, in case he ever had to make the trip alone. He found it very hard because everything below him looked the same. They were over a thick forest, with no breaks in trees, much different than the one surrounding his home in southern Scotland. Harry guessed that by how far they had flown that they were somewhere in eastern France.

After a few long hours, they began to circle low over the thick, tall trees and Harry spotted a house. Sirius landed, closely followed by a much less graceful Harry, whose legs had fallen asleep during the ride.

"We can talk now. It's safe here. This will be our first stop and this is one of my favorite families."

Harry looked at the house. In one of its many windows he saw a flash of red and the drape swinging back into place.

The front door opened and several people ran out, yelling, "Sirius, Sirius!"

Sirius chuckled. "Hello you lot. I'd like you all to meet my godson, Harry."

One, about his age, stuck out his hand. "Ron Weasley. Nice to meet you. It's not very often I meet someone my own age around here. I normally just have to put up with them." he said, pointing to the rest.

"Harry Potter. To tell the truth, I have never met anyone my own age. Just my mum and dad. The Sirius and Remus."

"Well," said Ron, "those two are Fred and George." He pointed to two boys, with red hair and freckled just like all the rest of them. "The prick over there is Percy. The older two are Bill and Charley. They're here for a visit before they go off fighting again. My mum won't let Fred, George and me go with them yet. This little girl is Ginny." Ginny smiled and blushed at Harry. "She's the only girl other than mum."

As if on cue, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came out of the house. "Hello, Sirius, dear," said Mrs. Weasley.

"Hello, Molly. Hello, Arthur," Sirius said, hugging her and shaking Mr. Weasley's hand.

Arthur looked Harry over. "And who is this young man?"

"My name's Harry Potter, sir." said Harry.

Sirius added, "He's my godson."

"Well, let's not just stand around on the lawn all day. Let's go inside," said Molly.

Everyone piled inside, and Harry closed the door behind them.