The Potters all made their way into the cosy sitting room and again Lily and James looked around noticing little changes her and there. It had the homely feel to it, the layout was similar although of course the furnishings were different. Ginny had sent the kids to play upstairs which they did without question and then she left them to get them some food. Something of course they were immensely grateful for.
"What's going on, James?" Lily spoke up after they sat in silence for a while. "What are these people doing in our home?"
"You know, love, I don't think this house belongs to us anymore," James replied in a low voice. "What I have on my mind, however, is how many Potters do you know?"
"In the wizarding world? Just you but in the Muggle world it's quite a common surname."
James frowned and looking around the familiar room – taking in the moving photos, the pot of floo powder and remembering the wand sticking out from under Ginny's top. These people were definitely not Muggles. He opened his mouth to say so to Lily when Ginny returned.
"Here we are," she almost sang placing a plate of sandwiches and drinks on the coffee table. "Figured you'd be hungry after being dead for 34 years."
James dropped the sandwich he'd picked up, "dead?"
"…34 years?" Lily added. Ginny didn't respond and they feel into silence. "That's impossible; no spell can revive the dead!"
Ginny shook her head sadly, "don't ask me, the ministry would have my neck…"
"We won't tell," James sent her a grin.
Ginny laughed but still shock her head, "my husband won't be pleased either, which reminds me, I better take you there."
She began to move before she'd even finished the sentence towards the fireplace. Lily and James glanced at each other but she wasn't gone long enough for them to discuss this new bit of information. James had barely opened his mouth when she returned with a bushy-haired woman and two small children.
The new woman stared at them for a few seconds, broken only by Ginny's nudge as she walked back to her seat. Then she smiled.
"Hello," she greeted her brown eyes sparkling happily. "It's so nice to meet you, I'm Hermione Weasley. These are my children Rose and Hugo."
James was still reeling at this new information so Lily was left to smile and greet the new comers. Ginny interrupted though, a smile still fixed on her face though Lily could see a hint of worry burning in her eyes.
"Okay, we can all have a chat if everything's goes well," she turned to Hermione. "Thank you for doing this!"
Hermione beamed in response, "of course! Good luck."
The last bit was to Lily and James who both frowned wondering why on earth they would need luck. She left without explanation though taking her kids out the room and up the stairs. They turned towards Ginny who was back by the fireplace.
"We need to go to the Ministry," she explained. "You need to see the Head Auror."
Smiling at some secret joke, she stepped into the fire place. Lily and James copied her moments later. As soon as they were all through Ginny wasted no time in heading off again that secret smile still lodged on her face. It didn't take them long to reach the Auror Office and Ginny continued straight through without pausing only looking back every now and then to check the were still there. Occasionally she stopped to say hello and answer a few people's questions.
"Hello Ma'am."
"Hey Mrs Potter."
"Good morning, Ginny."
"Hello Mrs Potter," one man stopped them. "How are you today?"
"I'm well thank you, Dave, how are the kids?"
"Nutcases," Ginny laughed.
"My husbands in his office right?"
The man glanced past her at Lily and James but then nodded, "Yes ma'am, he is. Has been all morning."
"Thanks," Ginny smiled before gesturing them along.
Ginny didn't bother knocking when they reached the office door, instead walking straight through leaving Lily and James to follow her warily inside, scrutinising the Head Auror as they did so.
The most they could see of him sat at his desk was that he had the same scruffy black hair as his sons and was, of course, dressed in his auror robes. He only bothered looking up when Ginny stopped in front of his desk causing a wide smile to slip across his face. Standing up to greet her, Lily and James caught sight on his eye. Brilliant emerald green – the same as Lily's. Old eyes though, aged in comparison to the rest of him, like they had seen far too much for their age. To Lily especially it seemed some much more than being an auror.
But that's not possible, Lily thought, Harry died, I know he did, I failed to protect him, but she couldn't help the hope rising in her, no matter how hard she tried to push it down. James knowing exactly what his wife was thinking and having a similar war inside of himself wrapped a strong arm around her waist.
The Head Auror was too focused on his wife to have noticed them yet. Of course, Harry was aware there were people in the room but he was just waiting a little while – Ginny had brought them in, she'd explain. He'd rather greet her first.
She hugged him as he got into her reach.
"Hello, love," he chuckled.
"Hi…" she breathed, he went to pull back but she tightened her grip around him. "Don't freak but your parents have appeared."
Harry tensed in her arms and pulled back glancing at them quickly over her shoulder. They sure as hell looked like his parents but Harry had had more than enough mistakes and people trying to complete an identity theft in here than was right. He couldn't get his hopes up – even if he could feel them going crazy inside of him. His lips twitched up and Ginny pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"Can I stay?"
Harry's smile widened and he laughed – Ginny here would keep him grounded. "Yes, you can stay."
Her face now neutral, Ginny went a sat herself on a cabinet at the side of them so she could watch her husband at work. Harry took a deep breath and turned towards his parents, taking in their expressions. They clearly weren't hundred per cent who he was either.
"You two, why don't you come take a seat," he suggested, treat them like anyone else he told himself firmly.
With yet another shared glance, Lily and James did as the Head Auror said. James thought he might just explode when his said the sign placed on the front of the desk 'Harry James Potter, Head Auror' though there was that snide little voice in the back of his head telling him that it was a trick. His heart and Lily's plummeted when the Auror spoke again – his tone was not what James would have except his this was his son.
"Who are you?" Harry asked bluntly, planting himself behind the desk.
"Lily and James Potter," Lily answered after a quick glanced at her husband. The Auror nodded and sent a note flying out the room. Harry launched into an edited version of his regular speech "Okay, I'm sure you're both very confused about what's happening and what's going on. Ginny told me you appeared at our house, well your house."
"So!" James couldn't help jumping up and pointing a finger at him – only to receive a raised eyebrow.
"James," Lily whispered softly.
"Mr Potter, sit down," the Head Auror (James refused to think of him as Harry) said in a commanding tone. "Let me explain. For the last year many people have been returning from the dead, and before you interrupt me Mrs Potter, I know there is no spell to reawaken the dead. It's just happening and we're it as a gift."
Lily couldn't help interrupt none-the-less, "A gift?! But what about the Death Eaters that the Or-that everyone else has killed? What if the join Voldemort again?"
"I assure you, that's not possible," the Head informed her quickly and then smiled – Lily felt so much better with him smiling at her, something about his neutral, professional face bothered her immensely. "And you're safe to take about the Order of the Phoenix to me and my wife."
Lily smiled back but James questioned why it was.
"He's dead."
Lily let out a short laugh and James just gaped at the Head Auror who was rather sure was his son before he started to laugh to. Harry just leant back in his chair and let them laugh. The last time they'd been alive had been in the middle of war, it was hard to laugh then.
As they calmed down he continued speaking, "The Wizarding World is in its most resting time – or it was until you started showing and making my life difficult."
He sent them both warm smiles that left James and Lily both praying that this was Harry and not just some trick.
"Difficult!" Ginny breathed half-laughing behind them but no one could respond when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!" Harry called