The next morning, Neville decided to come clean with his friends about what's really been happening. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, not having slept much last night. He kept mulling over what Professor Dumbledore had told him.

Finally, Harry and Ron woke up, and seeing Neville rubbing his eyes exchanged looks. They quickly got dressed, and went down to breakfast, no one daring to break the silence. Finally, Hermione arrived, and Neville thought he should explain.

"So," he said uncomfortably, getting the three's attention, "erm I know I've been acting kind of weird lately…it's all because of this weird mirror I found."

Neville went on to explain how the mirror worked, and how he ran into Professor Dumbledore. After he told his whole tale, he sighed and waited for someone to speak.

"Blimey," was all Ron could make out.

"Tha-that's awesome mate!" said Harry finally coming to his senses.

Hermione's brow was furrowed as if deep in thought.

"Well it was very irresponsible for you to be out of bed so late," she said.

The three boys exchanged looks, and burst out laughing, Hermione's reaction so predictable. This lessened the tension between the four, and soon they were lounging under their favorite tree near the lake and doing homework. Actually, Hermione was doing her essay, while Ron chucked bits of toast into the lake, Harry used his Potions book as a pillow, and Neville was deep in thought.

"There," Hermione said with a flourish, as she rolled up her parchment. This seemed to wake the boys from their trance-like state, as they looked momentarily befuddled by their location before remembering what had happened. All Hermione did was roll her eyes and mutter something under her breath containing,

"Honestly…boys…thinking…copy…essay…"

This was all the prompting the boys needed to burst out laughing. It felt good to finally release all the pent up emotions the four of them had been carrying the past couple days, and just let it all go.

Before anyone knew it, the last week before Christmas holidays were upon them. All four friends were planning to go home, but were going to meet up at the Potters' for the last four days of vacation.

They were all sitting in a train compartment; Ron snoring, Hermione busy doing her homework, and Harry and Neville playing exploding snap. Every a card exploded, Hermione would scowl and furrow her eyebrows prompting the boys to share bemused looks.

The train finally pulled up at the station, and Harry tried to wake Ron up by poking him. The four friends unloaded, and located their parents.

Lily and James were standing near the wall, where James ruffled Harry's hair while Lily pulled him into a tight hug.

Neville got a quick hug from his Grandmother, as they hurried away, uncomfortable with the attention they were getting.

Hermione was reconnecting with her muggle parents as they still looked around in awe at the station.

Ron was swept up into a bone-crushing hug by Molly, and tried to avoid being jostled by Fred and George.

"So, Harry," asked James as they loaded into the car James had acquired a few years prior. "What do you think of Hogwarts?"

"It's awesome dad! I honestly don't know what I would do without Hermione though, between Quidditch practice and detention with Snape it's impossible to do my homework without her."

James' face darkened at the mention of his childhood nemesis, but Lily mealy looked sad.

"Padfoot is coming over for dinner," said James trying to change the subject. Harry brightened considerably at the mention of his godfather, and remained in a good mood as they pulled into the Potter Prideland.

James helped Harry handle his trunk upstairs to his room, and Harry collapsed in his bed, relishing in the feeling of being home again.

James gave him a knowing smile, and said, "I know, I felt the same way coming home from Hogwarts for the holidays. Padfoot will be here in an hour so freshen up."

And with those words, James closed the door and headed downstairs. Harry washed his face, and when he thought of his mother, decided to wash his neck as well. He let Hedwig out of her cage, and scattered a few of his things around his room to make it feel homier. With a start, Harry remembered that he hadn't played Quidditch with his dad in four months, and ran to the broom shed to take a spin.

A few minutes James joined him, and they played one on one Quidditch with the quaffle. Time seemed to fly, and before they knew it, Padfoot was joining them in the air, knocking the quaffle from James, and quickly scoring for Harry in the makeshift goals the Potters had set up. The three boys landed, as Padfoot affectionately ruffled Harry's hair as he pulled him into a hug.

"Hey, Prongslet! It's really good to see you!" he said to Harry after giving him a once-over to ensure that he was all right. Harry grinned, and then the three boys headed in to dinner under Lily's instruction. Harry smiled, content after all this time to be with his family and godfather again.