AN: Just a little something I wrote, thinking about the phrase "I can only imagine". Takes place at the end of The Order of the Phoenix. I can't help but imagine what Harry's life would be like if his parents were still around, so here's just a part of what I imagined :)
Harry stared out the window of the Hogwarts Express, reflecting upon the happenings of his fifth year at Hogwarts. The words "I will not tell lies" still jumped out at him, white and taunting on his arm. He clenched his fist as his hatred for Umbridge burned. How could the Ministry be so thick, to ignore all his claims of Voldemort's return, to label him as a lunatic for insisting that he was back.
Thinking about the Ministry made the recent events flash through his mind again. He bit his lip as he tried to hold back the tears. Sirius, his godfather- the closest thing he'd ever had to a family- was gone. Forever. He could not grasp the concept of his godfather being gone in just two short years. It was nice, knowing that someone outside of Hogwarts cared for him. Sure, Mrs Weasley cared for him, but she had seven other children to worry about, she could not possibly devote her entire attention to Harry. But Sirius had. He'd written to him, helped him through the last two years when things got tough. But he could no longer do that.
He sighed, and a single tear rolled down his cheek. Thankfully, Ron and Hermoine had had the courtesy to leave him alone, their excuse being prefect duties. He closed his eyes and breathed in and out slowly, calming himself down.
He imagined getting off the train, collecting his belongings and running to the dark-haired Sirius. He imagined hugging him, smiling just like the younger Sirius he'd seen in his parents' wedding photo. He imagined looking over his shoulder and finding another dark-haired man, who looked like Harry's clone, save for his hazel eyes, and a lady with fiery red hair standing side by side, both smiling at him. He would run over to them and hug them too, telling them how much he'd missed them. Then the four of them would head off for home, with Harry recounting the wonderful things he'd done during his schoolyear at Hogwarts, the trouble he and Ron had gotten into, the duels between him and Malfoy, how Hermoine topped their year again. His father would reach a hand over and ruffle his hair lovingly, and his mother would smile at him proudly, her brilliant green eyes shining...
"Harry," a voice said. He jerked as he woke up.
"Wha?" he asked groggily, pushing his glasses straight.
"We've arrived," said Hermoine.
"Had a good nap?" asked Ron. "You looked like you needed it."
Harry grunted, not really answering the question. He stood up and collected his stuff and waited to get off the train.
He collected his belongings and bade farewell to his friends, waving to the Weasleys as he walked away. He looked around, half expecting to see his parents and godfather waiting for him with open arms, but spotted the Dursleys looking at him crossly instead.
He walked over to them briskly, as Uncle Vernon said, "Hurry up, boy. I want to get out of here as soon as possible." before turning round and walking off, not bothering to wait for Harry. Harry sped up a little, feeling a pang of jealousy as he caught sight of Mrs Weasley hugging her children and fussing over them in her motherly fashion.
He sighed. How different it would be if Sirius, if his parents were still around.
But he could only imagine.