Harry felt like he was spinning, yet staying still. Memories of his life flashed fast before him in reverse order, from his years in Hogwarts, to his years at the Dursley's, then memories he never knew he had of a large homely house and safety. Gradually the spinning slowed and so did the memories, until they vanished altogether.
He saw a faint image of a lounge with red squishy armchairs and a fireplace that contained a roaring fire. The image became clearer and less hazy to reveal cream coloured walls filled with moving framed pictures, and two figures sitting on a sofa. One had long bright auburn hair and the other short dark, messy hair like Harry's. Finally the room became totally clear and solid, revealing the figures to be his mother and father, staring right at him in shock.
Lily stared at the blue swirling haze that had suddenly appeared in the room. 'James,' she whispered suspiciously, 'What's that blue smoke?'
Her husband looked up to see just what she was describing. A figure was now visible within the mist. Lily pulled out her wand and pointed it ready, but James reached out to stop her. 'Don't Lily, I think I know what this means!' he said softly.
'But isn't it dark magic? Death Eaters maybe?' The figure became a little clearer.
'No, its safe. That I'm sure of.' His voice rose and he seemed to be getting excited about something.
'But what is it? How do you know?'
James smirked and his eyes lit up mischievously. 'Because, Lily my love, it is the effect of a time travelling spell that we Marauders perfected in our last year at Hogwarts. Someone is paying us a visit from the future!'
Lily stared at him. 'That's impossible, and illegal and dangerous, Potter! It could be anyone!'
'Now Evans, calm down. Firstly, it is not dangerous or I'd be dead. Secondly only a Marauder or Marauder's offspring would know the spell as no one else knows of it but us, so it wont be just 'anyone'.
'James.'
'No Lily, it wasn't irresponsible, but very clever, please don't-'
'No, James! Look!' She pointed at the figure.
James stopped speaking and gasped at the person now standing on his lounge carpet.
'James, it's you!'
Harry heard his mother speaking, and her voice brought back happy loving memories that had long been forgotten, and a pain of sadness grew in his middle. The familiar deep voice of his father answered.
'No that's impossible, the spell only works to go back in time, not forward, he has to be from the future!'
'Then he must be…' Lily couldn't say it, though the proof was before her.
'Mum…Dad,' spoke Harry croakingly. Hot tears splashed down his face. James and Lily's shocked faces softened.
'Come here, dear,' said Lily, and opened her arms.
Harry walked slowly forward, feeling as if he were in a dream, and into his mother's embrace. Sensing his need Lily held him tight, hugged him as he had never been hugged before, not even by Mrs Weasley. He broke away to look at James, who pulled him into a one armed hug.
'He has your eyes,' James said fondly to Lily, but she glanced at him in worry. This young wizard, their son, was acting as if he'd never known parents love.
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'…So I have to track down the remaining horcruxes, and kill Voldemort, as he won't stop until he's finished me off.' Harry finished telling his parents of his life since their death, of all he'd been through, and it felt like a weight had been taken off his chest.
They looked at him with both sadness and pride. Their son was so brave, yet had to suffer so much.
'I'm so sorry Harry,' Lily said softly, looking into his bright green eyes that matched hers so perfectly.
'We should have been there for you, son,' added James. It had been a shock to hear of their early deaths, he felt so angry with Peter for being the cause of the awful life Harry had been forced to live, but he knew there was nothing he could do to change what would happen. There was only thing he could do. Be there now for his son, during the two hours they had with him. And James wanted to know all about Harry's life in between the dangers he'd encountered and what he'd got up to in his Hogwarts years.
'Found any secret passageways?' he asked eagerly, and Lily rolled her eyes at him.
Harry nodded. 'Yep! All of them. I have you and the Marauders to thank for that!'
'The Marauder's Map?'
'Of course!'
James' eyes lit up at his son. 'And the invisibility cloak?'
'Dumbledore gave it to me in first year.'
James sighed in contentment. 'Knew I could trust him to hand it to you! So you play Quidditch?'
'Yes! Been on the team since first year, and was made captain last September.'
His father looked positively delighted, almost drooling like a dog!
'Wow! You must be really good, son, no one ever gets to play in first year.'
'I know, I was the youngest player in a century!'
'You hear that Lily?' boasted James. 'Our son is a Quidditch legend already!'
'I heard, James!' she said with a chuckle, then turned to Harry, who looked so much like her husband, complete with his messy dark hair. 'I'm very proud of you dear.'
Harry grinned in happiness. 'Thanks Mum.'
'So have you any special girl in your life?' she asked. Harry smiled at the thought of Ginny, even though they weren't getting on. James saw the look.
'Aha! Who's the lucky girl? Actually don't tell me, let me guess…its Ginny isn't it?'
Harry gaped at him. 'How did you know?'
'Fatherly intuition,' he smirked jokingly. 'Its just the way you talk about her, I can tell she is special to you.'
'Well you're right,' smiled Harry sadly. Lily looked closely at him.
'Is there something wrong?' she asked in concern.
'Not exactly…well ok then, yes there is.' And he explained all about the situation and the argument they had had. 'I just don't know what to do,' he admitted finally, looking helpless.
James and Lily exchanged warm glances.
'Well, son, it's obvious to me that you love Ginny very much, and that she loves you too, so I think you should be together, no matter what. You need love to stay strong and happy during the dark times. It really helps you know.' James smiled at Lily, who gave him an affectionate look in return.
'If Ginny's anything like I was,' Lily said, 'then she will be very stubborn and determined to seem unaffected despite her real feelings.'
Harry nodded. 'That describes Ginny. She is stubborn, but then again, she is a Weasley!'
'You should talk to her then, admit you were wrong because you love her. She's a very lucky girl to have you care for her, I'm sure she'll understand.'
Harry was inwardly kicking himself, his mother was right, so was his Father, Lupin and Ginny. He had been stupid to push her away.
'So what does the glamorous Ginny Weasley look like?' teased James. 'Is she hot?'
'James!' Exclaimed his wife.
He grinned. 'Only kidding Lils,' and she hit him playfully on the arm.
Harry laughed, searching in his jeans pocket. 'Here,' he said, handing them a crumpled but loved photo of him and Ginny on the sofa in the Gryffindor common room.
'She looks like Lily!' cried James in delight. 'She has the famous Potter wives red hair!'
'I'm so happy for you love,' was Lily's reaction. 'She looks like a lovely girl, I wish we could have met her.' Harry squeezed her hand in thanks.
'I have an idea!' James jumped to his feet and ran out of the room.
'Oh no!' groaned Lily. 'It will likely be something crazy!' They both laughed.
However, James was soon back in the room carrying an automatic wizard camera. 'Lets take a picture of us with Harry,' he announced. 'Then he can have something to remember his visit by!'
'Oh James that is so sweet of you! Come here Harry love.'
And they snapped a picture of the three with their arms around one another, laughing in happiness. The photo came out of the camera and James handed it to Harry, who tucked it fondly in his pocket, unable to say anything for the emotion that had welled up inside him.
'I'll go bring in some tea,' suggested Lily, but James' voice stopped her.
'You've gone slightly transparent blue!' She turned and saw what he meant; a slight haze was surrounding her son.
'The two hours must be up,' James said sadly. 'We'll have to say goodbye, Lily, once he's gone we wont remember anything from his visit.'
Harry hugged both his parents tightly.
'This has been amazing for me,' he whispered. 'Thank you.'
Lily began to cry silently, tears rolling gently down her face. 'We wont forget you Harry, not really. Remember that we love you very much.'
'Good luck son,' James said gruffly. 'You're a great little Prongslet, I'm proud to have you for my son.' The room was beginning to fade.
'Goodbye Mum, Dad,' called Harry, his voice echoing.
'Goodbye son!' he heard as if from afar. 'Give my love to Moony!' and then there was silence.
He was spinning again, his life in fast-forward around him, blue smoke whirling, and then his feet hit firm ground.
A/N I hope you liked it! Please, please leave a review, it only takes a second! let me know what you think, good or bad!
This is my favourite chapter of this story!
Rose :)