"Well, if he asks me how I can know I don't want to live with James if I've never met him; I want to be able to say I've met him and I don't want to live with him so I suppose I'd better go and visit him. Will you go with me, Mum? I'd ask you, Dad, but I know you and he didn't get along. And Sirius can't be there; I don't want to deal with both of them."
"The mutt can stay in his dog house," Severus muttered. "That is fine Harry," he assured him. "I am alright with staying away."
"I'll floo call Professor Dumbledore tonight and let him know your terms."
The meeting was set for after classes the next day. Harry met Lily at her quarters and they walked to the Gargoyle guarding the entrance and Lily gave him the password 'Licorice Wands'. The Gargoyle jumped out of the way and they stepped onto the revolving staircase and got off at the top. Lily knocked on the door.
Dumbledore's smiling face and twinkling eyes appeared around the door frame. It made Lily want to smack him. "Harry, Lily, do come in. James has been waiting anxiously for your arrival."
They followed him through his office into his private quarters where James was waiting. When Harry and Lily walked in James got up with a big smile on his face. Even Lily could see from where she was standing that it was phony.
"I'll just leave you to get acquainted," Albus said as he left the room.
"Would you like some tea and refreshments, Harry? I know I was always hungry after classes."
"Okay," Harry said shrugging. He'd really prefer to have tea with his dad. They always discussed how their days had gone and what he had learned that day.
"Twinky!" James yelled.
The little female elf popped into the room and bowed, "Yes, Master Potter?"
"Get tea, some sandwiches and cookies and bring it back here," he ordered her.
Lily frowned. He ordered Albus' personal elf around just like he always had the elves at Potter Manor.
Harry frowned too. He would never speak to Blinky in that manner. Severus had taught him that the elves worked hard and deserved their respect. His dad always said made it as a request rather than an order and always thanked Blinky afterwards for his service.
"I be right back, Master Potter," Twinky squeaked.
"And make it fast. Don't dawdle in the kitchen gossiping with the other elves."
Twinky was back in minutes carrying a large tray with a teapot, cup and saucers, a plate of sandwiches and cookies. James grabbed it from her and set in on the coffee table. "Go clean up my room. Merlin! It's a sty in there!"
"I do as Master Potter asks," Twinky said bowing and popping out.
"Merlin! Those elves are so dumb they can't even figure out to come and clean my room every day," James muttered as he sat down and grabbed a sandwich. "Lils, you can pour the tea."
"Harry? Would you like a cup of tea?""Sure, Mum," Harry replied. "Thanks."
Lily poured him a cup of tea and herself one and set the teapot back down on the tray.
"Hey! What about me?" James complained.
"You're perfectly capable of pouring your own tea," she responded.
James looked at Harry in with an admiring expression. "Harry the spitting image of me when I started Hogwarts, Lils."
Harry had heard that several times from Hagrid and every time he heard it he felt as if he wanted to sick up.
"So, Harry what do you like to do? Fly on your broom, follow Quidditch and play pranks?"
"I like to read in my spare time. Dad's teaching me how to play Wizard's Chess and Gobstones. He told me his mum was president of the Gobstones' Club in her seventh year and they won a tournament with other magical schools and each received a set of golden gobstones."
James made a face. "Snivellus would go for the sissy stuff seeing as how he never had any sense of adventure or bravery. When I was a student here, Siri and I were…"
"I know," Harry interrupted. "You and Sirius were best mates from first year on. You were the best in Transfiguration and Defense. You were the kings of pranksters and the best looking and most popular kids in school. You ruled the school and everybody, all the professors and students, loved or envied you. I already heard it all from Sirius."
"Well, it's true. Everything Siri said was true!" James protested and Lily rolled her eyes. "What about your friends. I'll bet Ron Weasley is your best friend."
"My best friends are Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Dean Thomas, Greg Goyle, Vince Crabbe, Neville Longbottom, Millie Bulstrode, and Teddy Knott. I'm friends with Fred, George and Percy, but Ron's a git."
"Malfoy Crabbe, Goyle, Knott, Bulstrode? They're all Slytherins!"
"No, Vince and Gregg are Hufflepuffs, but Draco, Millie, and Teddy are Slytherins. Hermione's a Ravenclaw like me, Neville's a Hufflepuff and Dean's a Gryffindor."
"At least you got one friend right. I'm going to insist that Albus have the Hat resort you. You don't belong with a bunch of ivory tower bores."
"You'll do nothing of the sort," Lily snapped. "Your prejudices are becoming really offensive!"
"The Hat told me that Gryffindor wasn't a good fit for me and I agreed with it. I chose to be sorted into Ravenclaw and there's nothing you can do about it," Harry said. He turned to Lily. "Mum, can we leave now? I've got homework I've got to start on and our study group's revising for end-of-term exams."
"Yes, I'm ready to go, too," Lily agreed. She knew Potter would act like an idiot and alienate his son. He was obviously disappointed that Harry wasn't a clone of him.
Harry turned back to his father before he left and said, "Just so you know; I'm changing my name to Harry Evans-Snape. And just so you know; dad's the bravest person I know!" He left, letting the door slam behind him.
"What's his problem? I try to be nice and he acts like I stabbed him in the back," James complained irritably.