Lily's Brother by Lyonia

Disclaimer: Do you need to ask? You do? Wow, well I don't own Harry Potter.

Summary: When Harry goes into his parents' time, you often see him becoming James' little brother. What if Harry instead became Lily's little brother? Time travel AU, WIP. Gen.

Warnings: Angst at the beginning, will hopefully even out later. Roller-coaster ride emotions, and a plot that's not even fully planned out. Lame humor, but you should have expected that from the first place.

Beta: None, which is why this is so bad. If you find any mistakes (grammar, spelling, or otherwise) or have any suggestions, PM me or leave it in a review please.

"It's not your fault."

Harry didn't respond. Ron expected it- Harry had been staring at the memorial for days now, only resting when forced to. He was just so... empty. Like all the life inside had been poured out during his battle with Voldemort. Honestly, Ron thought it was disturbing and unhealthy. Hermione wanted to give Harry a little more time, but staying so close to the reminders of everyone who had died was probably not good.

"Look, mate. What happened was a tragedy, but it was a war. People die in wars. Instead of thinking bout all the people who're gone, why don't you think of the people you saved?"

Harry was as blank as before. Ron sighed. He really wasn't cut out for therapy- Hermione had once said he had the emotional capacity of a teaspoon, after all. At least he could say that he tried.

"I'm going to head inside right now. I'll send over Winky with some food, right?"

Ron left.

It was a white obelisk with the names of the deceased inscribed on its sides. The survivors created it shortly after the battle was over. Everyone said that it was beautiful, and that they would never forget what they fought for.

Harry thought that it was the ugliest thing he saw in his life.

He too was happy and relieved when Voldemort was downed by his spell. He felt jubilation and relief welling up inside him-

and then he saw Dennis Creevey crying over the body of his brother. He saw all the casualties of the battle- and it was just the battle. The entire war had taken so many people. If he were just a bit faster- if he tried harder- then maybe, not as many lives would have been lost.

Hermione and Ron called him an idiot for believing that. According to them, he was a hero. He had no obligation to kill Voldemort, despite what Trelawney prophesied. Ron was grateful that he brought it all to an end, despite the fact that his brother was killed because of his inaction.

Harry thought he knew about being lost, but then he saw George.

Guilt couldn't begin to describe how he felt. He had fully expected to die when he walked into the forest. He was going to join his parents and godfather and everyone, and he was even a little glad. It was cowardly of him, actually, since there was so much to be done, and there were people who still needed support.

It seemed that he was incapable of providing that support. He was broken, and he knew it.

He heard light footsteps squelching in the mud and he whisked his wand out, "Expelli-"

and stopped as he saw a somewhat familiar face. He didn't lower his wand a millimeter, but he stopped his words mid-spell.

"...Sally-Anne Perks?"

The bespectacled girl smirked. "Just Sally."

Harry put away his wand, though his body was still tense. "I thought you left during second year."

"I came back, obviously."

"Yes, but why?" Harry shook his head. "Forget it. If you're here to pay your respects, I'll leave." He turned towards the castle.

He barely took three steps when she replied, "You don't have to leave. I came to ask you some questions... and maybe fulfill your wish."

Harry felt his cheeks heat up. "Um, I already received several dozens of those kinds of offers- I'm not interested right now, I'm afraid. So I'll be leaving then." He tried to run, but a hand grasped his shoulder in a tight grip.

"Not that kind of wish, you idiot." Under her breath, she muttered, "How did this guy defeat Riddle?"

Harry frowned in reply. "What do you mean, then?"

"I mean that you're interesting. Everything was set up against you- up against a man many times your senior in magic and intelligence, a poor upbringing, a scrawny body-"

"Where are you going with this?"

"All I'm saying is that you had major disadvantages, but you came out on top. So I'm interested in what you can do with the same advantages."

Harry snorted. "Too bad that that's all theoretical. It can't happen in any case, so why bother? Besides, if everything about me is changed, then I'm not the same person anymore, am I? So I repeat, where exactly are you going with this?"

Sally leaned in close, putting an arm around his shoulders. "It's not theoretical. I can make it happen."

"Lies." Harry rolled his eyes. "You'd have to be Merlin or something to pull that off. And I don't want it, anyways."

"But you do want a second chance. You want a direction to go in life. I can see it. You've been more lively in this conversation than you have been this whole month. And I can do it, because I'm Magic."

"You're a what?"

"Magic, personified. I used to be fond of Tom Riddle- he was really cute as a child- but if he can't compete with a scrawny brat like you, I'm guessing you're somewhat better." She smiled at him indulgently.

"So you're going to do what to me?" Harry asked, humoring the one person in the world who was crazier than him, apparently.

"I'm going to send you to the past to see how you fare in different circumstances. You're interesting. By the way, do you want to meet your mother first or your father?"

What a strange non sequitur... But it did require some thought. Harry had heard so much about his father, but barely anything about his mother. "I guess I'd meet Mum," Harry shrugged. What harm could it do to answer.

Sally grinned. "Fantastic. You're going to have so much fun, and I'll be entertained as well. Goodbye!"

And somewhere, the Fates cursed their cousin for making them redo nearly forty years of work.

A beautiful red-haired woman leaned back peacefully in her hospital bed, cradling two children in her arms. The door cracked open to allow a man in a suit carrying a cute blonde toddler and a bouquet come in.

"Petunia, meet your younger siblings."

Petunia's eyes were filled with wonder as she regarded the two cherubs in front of her. One had red hair like Mummy while the other had black hair like Daddy.

Daddy turned to Mummy. "Rosemary, have you come to a decision on their names yet?"

Mummy shook her head. "I know it's bad luck to be without names yet, but I want them to be perfect."

Petunia had an adorable frown on her face that indicated that she was thinking. She squirmed her arm to grab two pretty flowers in the bouquet.

"A Lily of the Valley and a Linden blossom?" Daddy said, amused. "I guess that keeps with the plant theme."

Mummy smiled warmly, and Petunia's heart swelled with pride. "Those are perfect names, Briar. Thank you Petunia."

A nurse watched the family fondly. As she snuck out the room to leave the family to their moment, she whispered, "Good luck, Harry."