Harry Potter couldn't sleep. It wasn't his scar, no, that hadn't bothered him for years. It was just that he couldn't get to sleep for some deranged reason. He closed his eyes, but they snapped back open again. He knew he shouldn't have tried that Muggle energy drink. What was it called, Red Cow? Red Bull?

He turned over and saw Ginny's sleeping figure. Her long red hair was sprawled out on the pillow and her chest was rising and falling with every slow breath. He kissed her softly on the cheek and got out of bed.

Merlin, it was COLD. He immediately jumped back in bed, wrapping the blankets around himself. Unknowingly, he had pulled the sheets away from Ginny, who was shivering. He noticed this in alarm as she started to wake up. Urgently, he threw the covers back over her before she could wake up and reprimand him.

He pulled on a dressing robe and slippers, then got out of bed. He supposed he would walk around a bit, maybe tire himself out enough to fall asleep. He poured himself a glass of milk and headed towards the hall, sipping it slowly and humming to himself.

He almost had a heart attack when he saw a little girl sitting in his hall and staring out the window. She wore a long white robe and had wavy red hair that fell to the small of her back. Harry thought she looked a bit like the ghosts from Muggle movies. It was only seven-year-old Lily, of course.

He sat down on the couch beside her, watching the snowflakes flutter to the white blanketed ground. She smiled up at him, and Harry felt his heart melt. He loved her smile, and knew from photographs and faint memory that his mother's was just the same.

"Hey, Lilypad." He whispered, tucking a strand of long hair behind her ear. "What're you doing up?" He asked, not unkindly. She shrugged. "I couldn't sleep. What about you?" "Same." He responded. Lily had always been the most mature child, always easy to talk to and not much of a troublemaker.

"What's on your mind?" He questioned, seeing that something was bothering her. She sighed and leaned against her father. "Dad, I know about everything. The war, the Dursleys, your parents." Harry froze. He hadn't even told Al or James yet, but clever little Lily had already figured it out. "How?" He asked slowly, hoping for the best.

"I was at the Scamanders' today, and they have this enormous library. Lorc and I were just snooping around and we found this book with your name on it so obviously we had to read it and I'm very very sorry Daddy, I didn't mean to and I swear I won't tell Jamie or Al if you want me to and-" Harry cut her off. "What bothered you the most?" He asked. He expected it would be the war. It was pretty traumatizing for a seven-year-old child. Or maybe it was Dumbledore's death, or Remus, Tonks, or Fred's.

"Your parents died when you were only a baby." She said softly, to his surprise. Harry was confused, and asked her to elaborate. "Well, I was just wondering how you could stand not knowing your parents. I mean, if Mum and you died, I-" Harry stopped her before she could continue.

"Lily, listen to me. I didn't know them much, but I held on to the few memories I had." He explained quietly. "But you shouldn't worry about that. I will never ever leave you soon, you know that, right?" She nodded but Harry saw the unmistakable tears in her eyes. "But Dad, you're an Auror, and it's dangerous." She said.

Harry hugged her to his chest and kissed her forehead gently. "Lily. No matter what, I will always come back. I will do anything to get back to you guys. You're my family. That's what families do. I never had a proper family as a child, and I will make sure that you NEVER feel that way. Ever."

Lily gave a watery laugh and wiped her eyes. She leaned into her father's chest and breathed into his fluffy robe. "Good, because I'm going to make sure YOU never feel like that either."