Harry's surroundings were steadily losing speed. He could hear Hermione breathing quickly next to him; his own heart was beating painfully hard with apprehension. Everything stopped abruptly and Harry could finally make out where he was. He and Hermione were standing dead center in the corridor of Hogwarts Express, which was teeming with students, who were chatting happily about them. Hermione hastily pulled the thin gold chain of the Time-Turner off from Harry's neck and slid it out of view.

"What happened?" Harry asked her nervously. Hermione bit her lip, looking around wildly.

"I'm…I'm not sure…," she said quietly. Suddenly, a compartment door slid open a little ways from them and Ron's freckled face appeared.

"Come on, or am I going to sit in this compartment alone?" he asked looking curiously from Harry to Hermione.

"Ron!" Hermione gasped, looking thoroughly relieved. Before he could say another word, Hermione flung herself upon him into a bone-breaking hug. She gave him a long kiss on the cheek. Ron looked as bewildered as ever, but slightly pleased with himself.

"Hermione, are you okay?"

"Ron, you'll never believe what we-" Harry began but was silenced by a loud "shhh!" from Hermione who had finally released Ron.

"Not out in the open, Harry!" Hermione hissed at him. She took Ron by the hand, wrenched him inside the empty compartment and beckoned Harry to follow. He followed, entered the compartment and closed the door with a small click. Hermione was sitting next to Ron next to the window, an expression of relief and happiness mingling on her face. Harry couldn't help smiling at the pair of them, reminded vaguely of his own parent's romance.

"So, what's up then? You look like, I don't know, like you been through some harassing Potions test or something," Ron said curiously, glancing between Hermione and Harry as he sat across from his best friends.

"Firstly," Hermione began swiftly. "When is this? What year are we in?" Ron gave her a most bewildered look, glancing at Harry for help. When he received no aid he answered in a weak voice.

"'Mione, you know we've just finished our sixth year, so do you, Harry! Are you two sick or something?" Ron said nervously, but a wide smile spread across Hermione's face.

"Dumbledore really is brilliant, Harry; he got us back right in the same year."

"And it would seem to me," Harry said, grinning back. "That he gave us a bit of a break. It's the end of the school year; we're done with exams!" Ron looked more lost than ever.

"Oh, sorry Ron," Hermione said in response to his black look. With some help from Harry, she lapped into the lengthy story of going back in time and meeting James, Sirius, Remus, Peter and Lily. Most of the time Ron stayed silent, but his mouth was wide with shock and awe. When the epic had been concluded, Ron sat dumb-struck.

"But Harry," he began, his voice weaker than ever. "Your parents…you've always had parents. I don't know what you're on about." Harry looked at Hermione, his face beyond ecstasy. Before he could stop them, tears of pure joy welled into his eyes. His face broke into a watery smile.

"We did it, Hermione…we really did it," he whispered, his voice shaking from happiness. Hermione beamed at him, lost for words.

"Oh, Harry," was all she could manage, tears forming in her eyes as well. Suddenly she gasped, her hands fleeing to her mouth. "Harry! Your scar! It's…gone!" Harry's eyes widened and for a moment did nothing, then flew his hand to his forehead. It was smooth, and there was no familiar feel of his lightning-shaped scar. Harry was breathing very fast as the full shock of things wafted over him. His parents were alive; they had never been betrayed, meaning that Sirius had been their Secret Keeper, not Pettigrew. Harry had a family. And not just a mother and father but aunts, uncles, his godfather…Harry's throat felt tight, and unable to speak, merely beamed the remaining journey home. Hermione took upon the task of telling Ron what life had been like beforehand, as he apparently remembered nothing of their adventures from the saving of the Sorcerer's Stone to their journey to the Department of Mysteries.

The moment the train station came into view, Harry bolted from the scarlet train and looked around wildly for a long mane of red hair or messy… jet-black hair that stuck up in all directions…

He saw neither though, and was becoming seriously frustrated when Sirius Black emerged from the crowd, grinning at him. Harry's heart leapt at the sight of his sideways grin, his shaggy black hair, falling gracefully into his face…

"Sirius!" Harry cried, dashing forward and giving his godfather a tight embrace. Sirius, looking slightly startled, but pleased all the same, grinned at Harry.

"Hey kiddo (Harry's heart swelled at hearing his voice again); get your stuff and we'll get back to Godric's Hollow. Your mum's dying to see you," he said casually.

"But…why didn't they come to pick me up?" Harry asked, a little crestfallen that his parents were absent from his arrival. Sirius gave Harry a confused look.

"What do you mean 'why didn't they pick me up?' You know that they can't leave their house while the fidelus charm is upon them," he said in a low voice. "What's the matter, exams turn you nutty?" Sirius ruffled Harry's hair and comprehension dawned within Harry's mind.

"Oh…yeah… just kidding, Sirius," Harry said quickly. "Just a sec, I'll get my stuff." Harry turned and ran back inside the Hogwarts Express, and had only taken a few steps forward when he ran into Hermione. She had her wand in the air, supporting three very large and very clumsy Hogwarts trunks, as well as Hedwig's and Pig's cages that nearly fell when Harry crashed into her.

"Oh, Hermione, I'm sorry, I just had to see-" but Hermione smiled at him.

"Honestly, Harry, after what you've been through, I'm surprised you ever left Sirius' side," she said kindly. "We saw you two out the window," she added, meekly. Harry brushed this last bit of information out of the way and led Hermione and Ron out of the train and into the open sunlight.

"All right, Ron? Hermione?" Sirius asked, grinning, as they approached him. Hermione beamed and hugged him warmly after setting down the luggage.

"Oh, Sirius, it's so nice to see you," Harry heard her murmur to him as they broke apart.

"It's nice to see you too," Sirius said, smiling at her warmly. Hermione wiped her eyes on her sleeve and after some scattered goodbyes from their schoolmates such as Dean, Seamus, Luna and Neville, Ginny joined them. She kissed Harry (he blushed pink under Sirius' gaze) and greeted Sirius.

"Are Mum and Dad coming?" she asked Sirius cheerfully, looking around.

"Nah, they're real busy. No, you're all coming back to the Potters for a little welcome home party. Lily's idea," he added and led the small group of friends out through the barrier between the Muggle and Wizarding Worlds. They took a muggle taxi to a small and cheerful Godric's Hollow, where the cottages were lined around a pretty, cobbled street. The taxi stopped outside a small chapel and dropped them off, looking slightly harassed about having to drive with screeching owls in the back seat. Sirius led them across the street to a pretty and very neat little cottage that had a small garden in the front, where two young girls were playing.

"Welcome home, Harry," Sirius said, smiling. Harry relished the word, watching the two girls (who resembled Lily very much) giggle and run about the yard. They were both red-heads, twins by the look of it, and seemed no older than nine. The front door opened and Harry's father appeared on the threshold, beaming, with his wife at his shoulder who was holding a small, dark haired baby. Harry was home.

A/N: you know what to do!!