I always wondered what would have happened if James somehow survived but Harry still became The Boy Who Lived due to Lily's sacrifice. I have 2 fanfictions in mind for this. This one involves James and Sirius being in prison until Harry's 3rd year and James' death having been faked by Dumbledore for 12 years.

The other one is called Paternal Instincts (check it out in my profile) and involves Harry being raised by the Marauders (sans Peter) instead of the Dursleys.

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own any part of Harry Potter. This is merely a fanfiction.

James and Sirius had just been released from Azkaban and were standing outside of the place they had been imprisoned in for almost twelve years. Almost twelve years ago, Sirius had been cleared of all charges of betraying the Potters at James' testimony. But unfortunately, they also admitted to being illegal animagi to Dumbledore in secret in order to make it easier to catch Petter Pettigrew. They didn't expect Dumbledore to get them in trouble with the law, but the headmaster betrayed them to the Ministry, and they both got sentenced to Azkaban. There was still an unsuccessful look out for Peter as an animagus.

"Should we go confront that old coot for betraying us to the ministry first?" asked Sirius.

"No, I'd like to see my son first," said James desperately.

"Right. My godson must be a fine young teenage boy by now," said Sirius fondly.

"He turns thirteen tomorrow." James smiled his first smile in 12 years. "That Dumbledore must have left him with those dreadful Dursleys. We have to get him away from them as soon as possible," he resolved.

"First, we have to get shaved and cleaned up. We might scare Harry off if we visit him in this state," said Sirius.

"Right. I can't visit the Dursley's in this state. Harry and the Dursleys already think I'm dead thanks to that old coot's manipulation. I bet he only got us both thrown in jail so he could send Harry to the Dursleys," said James heatedly.

Vernon and Petunia grew pale with their eyes almost popping out when they opened their front door.

James and Sirius were at their doorstep, clean-shaven and neatly dressed.

"You? Aren't you dead?" Vernon shrieked in horror.

"Oh yeah. This is my ghost and I'm here to haunt you," James said sarcastically.

Vernon and Petunia knew he wasn't a ghost due to his realistic appearance and the fact that he looked visibly older.

"But how are you still alive? That old man said Harry had to live with us as Lily and you were dead?" Petunia scoffed.

"And who's he?" Vernon barked, pointing at Sirius.

"This is Sirius Black, one of my bestfriends and Harry's godfather. Do I have to explain everything on your porch? Or may we come in?" asked James impatiently.

Vernon and Petunia let them in as they were afraid of neighbors witnessing the exchange on their porch.

"Now, tell us, how are you still alive and why did that crackpot old fool say that you were dead?" Vernon asked, or rather barked impatiently.

"When Voldemort cast the killing curse on me, I ducked it and ended up hitting my head really hard on the floor and was unconscious. Since Harry was his main target, he didn't bother wasting time to check if I was dead or alive and went upstairs for Lily and Harry," James explained.

"Then where were you all these years? Why were Vernon and I stuck raising your son?" Petunia crossed her arms, glaring at him.

"I was in prison," said James.

"Aha, so you're a criminal," said Vernon accusingly with menacing triumph, earning dirty glares from both James and Sirius.

Just then, Harry and Dudley came down.

"What's going on?" asked Dudley.

Excitement exploded in the pit of James's stomach and he finally felt alive in twelve years as he laid eyes on Harry. He didn't need introduction to tell which of the two boys was his son. It was all in his looks.

Harry starred at James confused as James looked a lot like his dad from the pictures. But much older and downtrodden.

"But he can't be my dad. My dad is dead," Harry thought to himself.

"Harry! My boy," James pulled Harry into a tight embrace.

"Well boy, your father is still alive. So we don't have to put up with you anymore," said Vernon.

"But...How?" asked Harry, stunned.

James explained everything to Harry including how he ended up in prison and became an animagus.

Harry just stood there in shock for a few moments, letting everything sink in. Then it finally sunk into him.

"So it's really you, dad?" he asked gleefully.

"It's really me, son," said James as Harry hugged him, a few happy tears falling down his face.

He had never felt safer in his entire life, being in his father's arms. Up till five minutes ago, he was an orphan, and now he had his father.

After they let go, James introduced Sirius to Harry. Both godfather and godson also greeted each other with an embrace.

"It's a good thing you're taking the boy away now. My sister's about to visit," said Vernon.

"You mean that bulldog who drank a ton of brandy at your wedding?" asked James as Sirius, Harry and Dudley sniggered.

Despite being afraid and shocked of James' and Sirius' presence, Dudley couldn't help but snigger at the remark about his aunt as he wasn't very fond of her either.

"Don't you dare speak that way about my sister," Vernon threatened.

James just rolled his eyes."She doesn't know about our world does she?"

"Of course not. She thinks your son goes to St. Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys just like the neighbors," Vernon said triumphantly.

At this, both James and Sirius angrily grabbed Vernon's shirt and pointed their wands at him.

Vernon, Petunia and Dudley let out terrified shrieks.

"How dare you make my son out to be a criminal," James said threateningly.

"Look at the state of Harry. These clothes are definitely hand-me-downs, presumably from this fat kid," said Sirius, pointing at Dudley.

"He even looks like he hasn't been fed properly," said James angrily.

Both were still pointing their wands at Vernon.

"Dad, Uncle Sirius, it's alright. Let him go. I don't want you both to get thrown in prison again for hexing a muggle. Let's just get out of here," said Harry.

James and Sirius lowered their wands.

"Alright Harry, grab your stuff and we'll be away from these dreadful people," said James.

Harry grabbed his stuff as quickly as he could, but made sure that he didn't leave anything behind.

"Wait a minute," said Vernon as they were about to leave. "I spent almost twelve years raising your son. I think that deserves a proper compensation. I understand that your family is rich and owns several assets."

James, Sirius and Harry threw him disgusted looks.

"Raised my son? Seems like you've been ill-treating my son," said James. "Harry, be honest, have these people been treating you well?" asked James.

"No. They've always hated having me and they've always treated me like I'm scum," said Harry as James and Sirius threw the Dursleys more threatening glares.

"I don't think you even spent that much on my son, seeing as his clothes are hand-me-downs. But nevertheless, I'll send you a sum once I get to the bank," said James who didn't want to be in the Dursley's debt in the slightest.

"How much and when will I be receiving this money?" asked Vernon.

"Don't worry Vernon. I'll send you more than you ever spent on my son. You'll receive it by tomorrow," said James coldly. "And you. Treating your own sister's child that way. You should be ashamed," he said disgustedly to Petunia before the three of them left.

Dumbledore paced up and down his office unhappily. His plan was being ruined. He had tactfully gotten James and Sirius thrown into jail for seventeen years, so that he could send Harry to the Dursleys and so he could control Harry the way he wanted. The punishment for being an illegal animagus was only seven years of imprisonment, but he had used his influence to increase the sentence to seventeen years. He also got everyone except the few wizards at the trial to believe James was dead by using his influence at the Ministry. How could he not be informed beforehand that James and Sirius were being released five years earlier for good behavior? Surely they had gotten hold of Harry by now. He had to do something.

=to be continued=

Please Review. And let me know what you think about this premise. Thank you!

P.S: Sorry about the title. I'm really bad at titles. This story does NOT involve Ron bashing. He's the same Ron we know and love.