Daddy Dearest

Chapter 1

It had been a week since the end of his 4^th year at Hogwarts and a week since Harry Potter was forced to return to the Dursleys. Unfortunately, for Harry things were a little different this summer. It seemed his relatives hadn't forgotten what happened just before his departure for the World Cup last year. According to Uncle Vernon, Dudley suffered great psychological damage from the incident. Wouldn't go within a foot of a piece of toffee now. This was especially bad considering it used to be his favorite treat. Because of this Dudley had to spend countless amounts of time and money with a psychologist. And Harry's relatives weren't going to let him forget this. Making them spend more money on something that was caused by Harry's 'abnormality'.

In light of these new developments, when Harry arrived back to Privet Drive he found things almost exactly like they had been before his second year. All of his magical belongings were once again locked into the cupboard under the stairs and his owl, Hedwig, had been padlocked into her cage and he was forbidden from sending any messages with her. Luckily, he was allowed to keep her in his room but as soon as he stepped foot into his room he was pushed in and Uncle Vernon secured several locks onto the door. He was now only allowed out twice a day to use the bathroom and his meals (water and piece of bread and if he was lucky broth or a piece of fruit) were pushed through a flap at the bottom of the door.

Harry had tried to tell him that Sirius wouldn't like his godson being treated like this. But apparently his relatives thought he was making him up. His only hope now was for one of his friends or his godfather to wonder why he wasn't answering any owls they sent and came to check on him. He hoped it would be soon. He didn't know how much more he could take. Not only was he being starved and mistreated but he was having constant nightmares of Voldemort and of the Third Task and was barely getting any sleep.

All of a sudden Harry was jostled out of his thoughts by angry shouts from downstairs.

"This is all HIS fault, Petunia. I warned him about what would happen if he used any of that...that...abnormality in this house! "shouted his uncle. There was a sudden racket as his uncle stomped up the stairs before Harry's door was slammed opened and he was nose to nose with his purple-faced uncle.

Breathing heavily Uncle Vernon advanced on his nephew, "I lost my latest account today and I KNOW you had something to do with it. Everything was going perfectly with it until YOU came back. I knew we should have taken you to the orphanage when you showed up!"

Harry stood still-shocked and started to stutter, "B...But I d...didn't do a...anything."

"DON"T LIE TO ME BOY! I KNOW YOU DID IT!" his uncle bellowed. "Now its time for you to be punished! You've had this coming for a long time boy!"

Before Harry knew what was happening Uncle Vernon lifted his fat fist and swung it down at Harry. Then everything went black.

*****************************

Sirius Black was pacing the floor in the living room he shared with his best friend Remus Lupin.

"Padfoot, calm down. I'm sure everything with Harry is fine."

"No, Moony. I can feel it. There is something wrong. Besides, every owl I send him comes back with the letter unopened. That isn't like Harry. Something's wrong!"

Remus sighed softly, "Ok Padfoot. We'll send Dumbledore an owl and see what he says."

Remus went to get a piece of parchment and a quill to write the letter while Sirius began his pacing again. A few minutes later Orion, Sirius's owl, flew into the air on his way to Dumbledore.

"There, I told Albus to call us on the fire when he gets the owl so that we get a response quickly. Now, will you please relax?"

Sirius sat down on the couch roughly. "Ok, Moony. I just hope everything is ok with Harry. He's practically all I have left. I can't lose him Moony."

"I know, Padfoot. And you won't lose him. He'll be fine, you'll see."

Sighing Sirius replied, "I hope you're right Moony. I hope you're right."

*****************************

James Potter felt each of his limbs waking up and he moved them a bit to test them. They felt really sore like they hadn't been used in a while. He then felt his senses start to kick in. He smelt a lot of smoke, like there was a fire some place close. James felt himself start to panic at that thought...if there was a fire some place close then he needed to wake up the rest of the way so he could get Lily and Harry away from it.

The next sense to kick in was his hearing. At first all he could hear was a lot of murmured voices. But then they started to get clearer and he heard a few phrases. Such as: "Merlin, he did it!" and "I can't believe that's James Potter!"

The next thing he heard was a much louder voice (one he slightly recognized) that was right above him.

"Quiet! He is starting to awaken!"

All the murmurs he had been hearing suddenly quieted. James thought he'd better open his eyes and find out where he was. Why that voice sounded so eerily familiar.

James slowly opened his eyes and tried to focus but quickly found that he couldn't. That's when he realized that he didn't have his glasses and started to feel around with his hands trying to find them. He felt someone slid them into his hand and he fumbled with them for a moment before placing them on his nose.

Immediately his vision began to sharpen and he was able to get a good look at his surroundings. He was met with cave-like surroundings and a large fire in the back. There was also a large group of people grouped around him. His eyes then were greeted by his worst enemy.

"Welcome back, James Potter."

James stared at the face in front of him. He couldn't believe his eyes! 'Why is Voldemort standing in front of me!' he asked himself. Soon his shock turned to anger as his thoughts turned to the last thing he could remember happening. Voldemort's attack on Godric's Hollow.

"Where are my wife and son, Voldemort?" James spat.

Voldemort gave a fake gasp, "Oh that's right. You don't know." Turning toward the death eaters he called to one. "Wormtail, why don't you tell Potter what happened to his precious wife and son," he said with a hint of humor in his voice.

James's eyes widened when he saw one of his best friends, Peter Pettigrew, step forward from the group of death eaters. "Peter?" he gasped. He never expected Peter...to...join HIM! "What are you doing here? I never thought you would..."

"Join my master?" he interrupted. "Yes, well. There are a lot of things you were blind to my dear friend."

"You were the spy weren't you? And to think Lily and I trusted you with the Fidelius Charm. When I get out of here and tell Padfoot and Moony about you..."

"Oh they already know James. They've known for a long time."

James was starting to develop a headache from all the confusion. "They knew? But, why would Sirius suggest we switch to you if he knew?"

"Oh, he didn't know then. Remus only found out a year ago and Sirius has known since I was able to convince the magical world he was the one to betray you and he was sent to Azkaban. Too bad he had to escape. Oh well."

James sat there even more confused. He looked up at his now ex-friend in total confusion. "Peter, how could Remy have known since last year if he didn't know when we switched...we only did the switch last week? And where did you get the idea that Sirius was in Azkaban? He was never in Azkaban."

Wormtail lifted his silver hand to his mouth in pretend shock. "Oh that's right. You still think its 1981 don't you? James.... its now 1995. My master has had you in a coma like state for the last 14 years."

If it was possible James's eyes grew even larger. "Wh...wh...what? 14 years? B...B...But L...Lily and H...Harry? He stuttered. "They are alive right? Please give me that much, Peter."

Wormtail bowed his head sadly. "I'm sorry James...but Lily died 2 years ago."

"Wh...what? N...no. Not Lily! Please Peter not Lily!" He placed his head into his hands and cried silently. After a few moments he lifted his head and stared directly into Peter's eyes. "How Peter...how did it happen?"

"I'm sorry James, it was Harry. He learned that Lily refused to raise him to be a servant for My Lord and he cursed her. It sent her flying and she hit her head pretty hard...it killed her instantly."

"Harry? My Harry? But he would never..."

"How would you know James...he was just a baby that night. You don't know what type of person he is."

James sat quietly with his head bowed in thought. He couldn't believe that his precious Lily was dead...and that his son was at fault. Surly Sirius and Remus would have helped raise him better than that. But wait...Peter said Sirius had been in Azkaban and there was no way the Ministry would allow Remus, a known Werewolf, to take a small child into his home.

Running a shaking hand through his messy black locks James sighed softly. "I can't believe this. Is he in Azkaban?"

"No, he's not. Since he's so young they thought it best to keep him at Hogwarts and then transfer him to Azkaban when he turns 18."

James nodded his head. He really couldn't believe this! This was like a bad Muggle movie!

********************

As he watched Wormtail and Potter converse he couldn't help but think that his plan was working perfectly. Rubbing his hands together he approached the duo yet again.

"Now, James. I'm sure that you want to get out of here. So I'm going to have Severus Snape accompany you to Hogwarts. I'm sure you will want to inform Dumbledore of you return."

James watched as his old school enemy walked though the mass of death eaters thoroughly confused, "You're going to let me go...just like that?" This was making absolutely no sense!

Voldemort smiled an evil smile that hid the promise of pain, "Of course Potter. I realized I had no need for you anymore. So I might as let you go."

James was still confused...Voldemort didn't just let people go. But he decided he didn't want to argue with freedom.

Voldemort handed a port key to Snape and told him it would take him right out side of the forbidden forest. James and Snape took a hold of the old boot ad each felt a tug just below their navel and then they were gone.

Voldemort couldn't help but laugh loudly and evilly. Yes, this was going perfectly!

******************

James and Snape landed just outside of the forbidden forest as promised. They started for the short hike it would take to reach the castle front doors.

Severus Snape kept looking at his old enemy and wondered how he could just believe Wormtail's story so easily. Believe his son would do such a thing. Harry would no sooner do such an act then James himself would.

James noticed the other man's stares and after a few he got fed up with them. "What are you staring at Snape?"

"I was just wondering how you could believe such utter nonsense, Potter. Your son would no sooner kill his mother then you would."

Stopping in mid step James turned to Snape, "Why should I believe a Death Eater."

Man, he is still incorrigible, "And you would still believe Wormtail even though he is one?" Snape challenged back.

James looked like he was stuck on that one, "I guess you're right. Then which one should I believe?"

"If it will help," he supplied before continuing their hike, "then I will tell you that yes I'm a Death Eater but I am also a spy for Dumbledore. You can ask him yourself when we get to the castle. And he will also tell you the same thing about Harry."

"Alright, I will. But tell me is Lily really dead?"

Severus looked at James and almost hated to cause the other man to drop the hopeful look on his face, "Yes, she is. But she died that night Voldemort attacked 14 years ago. Died saving Harry, casting a powerful protection charm on the boy allowing the killing curse to rebound back onto Voldemort. The only mark on the boy is a lightning shaped scar on his forehead where the curse hit."

James once again stopped as the castle came into view to think over this new information. "Is that what REALLY happened that night?"

"Yes." Snape replied simply.

Starting to walk again Snape heard James mutter as he walked past, "Then Voldemort was right, it is Harry's fault my Lily is dead."

Snape stopped suddenly in front of the castle steps when he heard James's remark, "WHAT!"

James looked at Snape as if the answer was obvious. "Well, Snape. As you probably know Voldemort only wanted me and Harry because we are Gryffindor's heirs, correct?" When the other man nodded he continued. "Then Lily never should have died that night, she wasn't the reason he was there. And this reason makes me suspicious as to why he let me go in the first place."

Before Snape got the chance to comment the front doors opened revealing an angry Minevera McGonagall.

"What is all the noise about out here? Some people in the castle are tying to sleep!" she snapped. It was then that she got a look at the two men on the steps.

Severus Snape was dressed in his death eaters robes and looking tired and sore. And James Potter was looking angry and confused. She was about to turn back to the castle, those two fighting isn't anything new.... wait a minute Severus and JAMES!

Turning around quickly she gaped at the man standing in front of her...alive! "J...J...James?" It was all she got out before she fainted.