Author's Note: I feel it is important to mention that, while I'm using the British title of the book, the edition I'll be using is the American one (with a few edits; it always throws me off when they switch "mum" to "mom," and anyway they stopped doing it after the first book). This will go for all the books in the series. Hey, I'm American, and I don't have access to the British editions at any rate. The only reason I'm using the British title is because it simply makes more sense. Besides, Harry's the one "writing" the books in this story, yeah?

If you've read any of my other fics, you've probably already noticed that I do put Britishisms in when I feel they work, but I only have a very limited Britishized vocabulary and I haven't made any great effort to perfect it. This is something you'll just have to live with. It's fanfiction. That's all I have to say.


Part 1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Prelude: Harry's Note

The fourth year Gryffindor girls' dorm was blessedly empty when Lily got there. She was flushed and furious about James Potter's persistent and increasingly lewd advances, and desperately needed a place to hide without being bothered. Silently thanking the Founders for the hex on the girls' staircases that kept out the boys, Lily pulled back her curtains to flop onto her bed – and stopped short.

There was a strange book on her pillow. The cover was adorned with a lovely animated picture of what appeared to be a Potter clone… with Lily's bright green eyes.

Incensed, Lily snatched up the book and flipped it open, fully expecting to find that it was some disgusting joke made up by Potter's fan club, better known as the Marauders. What she saw instead brought her up short, again.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, said the inside cover. Beneath the words was a note, written in an unfamiliar hand.

Dear Lily and James,

My name is Harry Potter, and I'm your son. Yes, I'm quite serious, and no, I don't understand it either, but please bear with me and just assume for the moment that this isn't a terrible joke and that I have genuinely contacted you from the future. I'm working on a series of books about my experiences in the war against Lord Voldemort. The book you are holding in your hands is the first one. I've sent a copy to each of you.

I know the information contained in this book will be a lot to handle. You might not even believe it at first. All I ask is that you keep reading until the end of the series, and make your decisions then. Your fate, and the fate of the wizarding world, depends on your cooperation. You'll see why very shortly.

Sincerely,

Harry Potter

Lily read the note three times in quick succession, but it didn't make any more sense by the time she got through the third reading. Her son in the future – with Potter? It was completely absurd.

On the other hand, if this was a prank of some sort, it was rather clever. She doubted if any of the Marauders could have come up with something like this; they didn't have the brainpower. And it wasn't as though she had anything better to do while she sat up here and waited for Potter and his cronies to leave for dinner.

Her mind made up, Lily sank onto her bed, pulled the curtains closed, and began to read.