A/N: Sorry for the long wait. With school and work I didn't have enough time to post this. Any way here's the next chapter.

Chapter 3

It's my house.

That was the only thought going through Harry's mind at the time. He could scarcely believe it. In his entire life all he ever wanted was to find a place that he belonged to. He always wanted to experience the feeling of joy that many of his classmates felt when they left Hogwarts to go home. The closest he ever felt like that was when he was with Sirius at Grimmauld place but even that was marred with the attack on Arthur Weasley and what he thought was his feelings at the attack.

Standing in front of his house knowing that his parents were just a few feet away alive and well inside their home scared and exhilarated him. Despite knowing that his parents couldn't see him didn't make Harry any less nervous.

Turning to the side Harry expected to see the Old man there standing next to him but when he looked around he was alone. Looking around him he couldn't find the old geezer anywhere.

Great. He couldn't even say that he was going. I could have used some moral support. At least he could have given me some kind of advice. Harry thought scathingly.

Oh well. No time to be scared now Potter. You're a Gryffindor and Gryffindors charge ahead.

With this thought in mind Harry strode forward towards the house. Walking up the stairs he was standing at the front door Harry went to open it but his hand passed through the knob.

The hell? Why can't I grab the knob? It's like I'm a ghost. I mean…. Harry trailed off realizing that he is dead now so he doesn't have a physical body.

Hee hee. Whoops. I was having a Ron moment there. Harry thought amusedly. Seeing his hand pass through the knob again gave him an idea.

If I can't open the door maybe I can go through it. It's worth a shot.

With that thought in mind he steeped through the door and emerged on the other side. It worked!

The front door opened into a long hallway, lit with gas lamps and had a moderately sized chandelier. the chandelier was not as big as the one in Grimmauld place but still a respectable size. The look was completed with ornate portraits on the walls. Closer inspection of the portraits shows that they were pictures of people. On one side of the entry hall sits a dining room where a dresser holds the china complete with the Potter family crest. It was the image of a wand and a sword crossing each other in the shape of an X.

Harry, standing at the entrance just gazed at the room entranced. Seeing the pictures on the side he gets closer to them and sees that they are sleeping. Looking at one portrait he looks at the plaque and sees the name on it.

Charlus and Dorea Potter

May 19, 1958

These are my grandparents. It looks like they were just recently married. Harry thought with amazement looking fondly at two people he never met before but knew about. He could see the resemblance between Charlus Potter and himself.

I guess Potter men looking like their fathers are common traits. Harry thought wryly.

Dorea Potter nee Black looked a lot like a mixture of Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange but with a more gentle expression and soft smile that made her look more beautiful than either them in their prime.

I hope you two were happy together.

Moving on he saw other pictures of past family members. Some serious looking, some smiling, but with expressions on their face that showed their joy, Harry for the first time felt a connection with the Potter name. For a long time he felt that his last name was just that a name and could never understand how purebloods took so much pride in their name but now standing here seeing his ancestors showed him that there was so much more to it than that. He felt pride at the fact that he was a Potter and pledged to himself to make it a name to be proud to bear.

A door at the far end of the entry hall opened up to the living room. The furniture in there was set up in a way to make all people there feel welcome. At the wall there was a set of large windows overlooking the street in front of the house, a large fireplace flanked by two ornate glass-fronted cabinets, and an entire wall covered with a tapestry of the Potter family tree.

On Harry's right side there was a door that led to the kitchen. He went through there and saw the kitchen was pretty much an all muggle kitchen in terms of size and equipment. Harry looked surprised at the room.

I didn't expect to see a muggle-like kitchen in the house. The other rooms looked like it was part of a typical pureblood home and I thought the rest of the house would reflect that. Must have been mom's doing. Dad grew up as a pureblood so his taste would be similar to that as well.

He was about to leave the room when the door behind him suddenly opened and a woman stepped in. Harry turned to locate the sound and froze as he saw who it was.

Lily Potter entered the room and started to make breakfast. Harry could hardly believe it. Until know all he had seen of his mother was in pictures but they did not do her justice. She was described as being very pretty by others but to Harry she was one of the most beautiful woman he has seen except for Hermione but for different reasons. She had startlingly green almond-shaped eyes exactly like him and thick, shoulder-length dark red hair. It made the Weasley's red hair look like drab compared to Lily's hair

Harry remembered Slughorn describing her as one of his "all-time favorite students" who was "vivacious", "charming", "very brave", and "very funny". Harry could understand now why Lily was a popular girl for whom many boys had romantic feelings. Her looks alone would have guaranteed it but combined with her personality it's easy to see why so many people adored her.

Lily Potter continued to make breakfast unaware that she was being watched by an unseen visitor who was taking in her appearance.

"James breakfast is ready." Lily Potter yelled.

"I'm right here Lils, you don't have to shout." Replied an amused voice right next to her.

Startled, she jumped at the sound of his voice and looked in to the eyes of her husband James Potter.

Annoyed, she smacked him in the chest with her hand.

"Merlin, James you scared me."

"Sorry babe. You know its Halloween and all." Retorted an obviously unrepentant James grinning.

"You're incorrigible."

"Yep and you love me for it."

"That I do though god knows why." Answered Lily with a smile on her face. She leaned up and gave him a peck on the lips. They sat down and started on their breakfast.

Meanwhile Harry was just staring at the two of them with obvious signs of joy on his face. He looked into the face of his father and could understand why people always said he looked like his father.

They both have similar attributes: the same thin face, same hands, and the same untidy black hair sticking up at the back, and nearly the same height as well. But Harry was also glad that he did not look exactly like a miniature clone of his father. James having hazel eyes while Harry has green eyes and James had a slightly longer nose than Harry.

Harry just sat there and watched his parents interact with each other. He always imagined what it would be like but actually seeing and experiencing it was so much better. The banter, the way they looked at each other with love made his heart easier. He idly wondered if he would ever experience that with Hermione and desperately hoped he would.

After seeing Snape's memories of his mother a part of him wondered if his mother ever loved Snape the way he loved her and regretted not forgiving and choosing him. Seeing her and watching her interact with James, Harry could see that she looked truly happy and it eased his heart a little.

His introspection was broken by the sound of crying.

"I'll get him." Said James standing up and leaving the room.

Get who? Harry wondered.

A couple of minutes later James came back in carrying a baby in his arms.

"Mama." Said a one year old Harry stretching his arms to Lily.

"Hey there sweetie. Mama's right here. I got you." Said Lily taking Harry from James and holding him.

"Why does he always want you? I'm his dad." Mocked complained James crossing his arms across his chest for emphasis and trying to look stern but failing miserably.

"It's just because I'm prettier than you that he likes me and I feed him." Replied Lily.

"Of course, that's the reason. How stupid of me to not think of it." Deadpanned James.

The sound of their son giggling made both parents smile with joy.

"See Lils, you've even turned my son against me." Cried out James dramatically pointing at them.

"James, be a dear and do shut up." Snapped back Lily but with no real venom to it.

"I have to change Harry's diaper. James be a dear and clean up in here." Ordered Lily as she took Harry and went upstairs.

"Yes ma'am." Saluted James. He waved his wand and all the dishes were spotless. Another wave and they were put back in their rightful places.

The older Harry decided to follow his mother and his younger self upstairs. He saw her go into a room on his right and followed.

The room was bigger than the second bedroom he had at the Dursley's. The walls were a deep blue color and had pictures of Harry with his parents. There was a few with Sirius, Remus and Peter in it as well. There was a crib on the side and a changing table on the other side. There were various toys scattered around the room.

"Time to change your diaper my little angel." Cooed Lily Potter.

Little Harry just giggled at his mother.

Older Harry was watching with a smile of contentment on his face.

After she changed and cleaned him Lily lifted him up.

"I love you my little angel. So very much. Yes I Do." said Lily lovingly.

Toddler Harry just smiled at his mother and laughed. Together they left the room and went back downstairs leaving only the older Harry in the room.

"I love you too…Mom."

For the rest of the day Harry watched his family. He saw himself riding a toy broomstick around the room while listening to James saying, "he's a natural" and to Lily's admonishment "he's too young to be riding a broomstick" all the while listening to little Harry's shriek of joys. Even at one he was doing crazy stuff on his broom.

All too soon however night came and Harry's mood began to drop. He knew that time was almost up and he didn't want it to end. Voldemort would be here soon because of Wormtail telling him where they were and Snape telling Voldemort the prophecy and kill his parents. He wished he could save them but also knew that sometimes the only way to beat someone as deranged and cruel as Voldemort and give people peace sometimes involve sacrificing what you want most of all.

He understood it and hated himself for understanding it.

"James. Harry is getting sleepy. I'm going to put him to bed and come back down." Said Lily.

"Alright Lils. Sweet dreams pronglet." Said James kissing is son's forehead lovingly.

She picked up Harry and took him upstairs. By the time they reached his room Harry was already asleep.

"Goodnight my sweet angel. Pleasant dreams." Whispered Lily tenderly giving Harry a soft kiss on his forehead not knowing that it would be the last kiss she ever gave him.

She left the room and came downstairs seeing her husband sitting on the couch sat next to him. Before she could get comfortable the alarm wards started going off. Shocked, both Potters leaped off the couch to see what triggered it.

It was James who spotted him first.

"Lily…it's him. He's here. Peter betrayed us. Take Harry and go." instructed James seriously.

"What about you?" replied Lily fearfully.

"I'm going to try and stall him and give you enough time to get away. Now Go." Ordered James.

"But James...."

"Lily you have to. He's here to kill Harry and I won't let that happen." They heard the front door bing assaulted and knew it would give way any second now.

"GO NOW!" James yelled pushing Lily towards the staircase.

"I love you." Was Lily's parting remark as she ran upstairs to get her son.

"I love you too." James replied knowing full well that he won't survive the following confrontation. Harry stood there watching helplessly.

The front door broke down and Voldemort walked in. He no longer looked liked the handsome man he was before the dark rituals before but was still human looking. He didn't look like the man snake that Harry remembered emerging from the cauldron fourth year either but somewhere in between the two.

"James." Voldemort said mockingly. His voice did not yet have the sibilant sound of a snake.

"Voldemort."

"You've been a thorn in my side for too long Potter. I'm here to eliminate you and your family and end the Potter line." Sneered Voldemort.

"You can try but you won't succeed." Retorted James holding his wand in front of him.

"We'll see about that."

Voldemort fired of an Avada Kedavra curse at James who rolled out of the way. James responded with Deprimo aiming at Voldemort's feet. Voldemort casually blocked it before it could hit.

"Come now James surely you can do better than that." Taunted Voldemort.

James didn't respond. Instead he rattled of spells in a chain.

"Ducklifors. Duro. Reducto. Defodio. Piscifors. Diffindo. Expulso."

Voldemort blocked most of them but the last two spells managed to pierce through his Protego shield. The Diffindo spell hit Voldemort on the side of his face giving him a long gash across his cheek. The Expulso spell hit the floor Voldemort was standing on exploded under his feet making him lose his footing. Before Voldemort could recover a stag appeared in front of him and tackled him. The stag immediately changed back to James who fired of an Ebublio at him.

Harry who could only stand there and watch his father fight was amazed. James only used transfiguration spells and did it with such skill and finesse. He knew his father was gifted in Transfiguration according to McGonagall but not to this extent. He even used his animagus form in battle and did it quite effectively.

Voldemort managed to block it and started to fight back. James, who was tired from the rapid spell casting and transformation barely managed to defend himself.

Voldemort casted Crucio and hit James full on. He watched as James writhed on the ground screaming in pain. After a few moments he released the spell on him. Voldemort then said Accio wand pointing at James Potter's wand. It sailed out of his hand and into Voldemort's who promptly snapped it in half letting the two pieces fall to the ground.

"I'll admit. You fought well James but you forget who you are dealing with. Did you really think you had a chance? I was going to let you live long enough to let you see me kill your wife and child but instead I'll kill you now. Remember in your last moments that you failed to protect your family and let that thought haunt you for all eternity. Avada Kedavra."

The green light of the wand shot out of Voldemort's wand and impacted James. It hit him dead on in the chest and the light from his eyes died.

Voldemort not even showing any remorse stepped over the body and made his way upstairs.

Harry who was standing there watched open mouthed as he saw his father die. Tears were streaming down his face at the injustice of it all. Kneeling down, next to the body of his dead father Harry could only stare in horror. Just a few hours ago those eyes were full of life and happiness and now it was devoid of everything.

Dad…

A scream was heard upstairs snapping Harry back to reality and one word escaping from his mouth.

"Mom…"

Harry ran upstairs and went to his room just in time to see Voldemort kill Lily Potter with the Killing Curse.

"NOOOOOOO….." Harry screamed. You could hear the pain and sadness in his voice. He looked up and saw Voldemort in the process of the Horcrux ritual. He saw him cast the curse at his younger self and watched as the curse rebounded. He saw the piece of Voldemort's soul attaching to his younger counterpart's soul.

"Quickly now. We must hurry." Said a voice next to Harry.

Turning to his side Harry saw the Old man and the twins surround him and his younger self in a triangular formation. They started speaking in an unknown language and all of a sudden everything slowed down.

"What happened?" asked Harry.

"We have slowed down time for a few moments. We need to hear you final decision young Potter and we need to hear it now." Said the Old man sternly.

Harry knowing that time was up and a decision needed to be made.

"At first I was thinking that I would go back to the forest and fight Voldemort there because I thought I might have a chance of beating him. Also even if that life wasn't perfect it was still my life and I wanted to go back to Hermione. I now realize that I would have died had I gone back. I saw my father duel in a way I never dreamed of and it still wasn't enough to stop him. You ask me if I had made my choice. The answer is yes I have." Lectured Harry.

The old man just waited expectantly to hear his choice though already having a good idea what it is.

"I will merge with my younger self so that I can be in harmony with my soul and essence. Doing that will also destroy one of Tom's Horcrux's as well so do what you must." Ended Harry.

"Very well then." Said the twins.

They started to chant again in that unknown language and Harry felt as if he was apparating. All he could feel was the sensation of being squeezed through a tube. It ended and the two souls of Harry Potter became one while destroying the soul piece attached to him. Unfortunately because of the amount of dark magic involved a mark was left on the forehead of Harry Potter in the shape of a lightning bolt. It seemed to be pulsing with energy and gave off a faint glow. Over time though it would fade.

The backlash of the energy exploded outward causing the house to catch fire and in the center of the crib where Harry Potter was laying on seconds before was now empty.

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