"This isn't right. It's not fair and it's not right." Lily shut the door behind her "My son is upstairs telling us about how he's escaped murder on nearly a yearly basis. Talking to us about how he was left with my sister and her twit of a husband. He didn't know anything about the world which loved him so much until he had suffered through eleven years of sleeping in a cupboard." Lily took a breath. Her voice was shaking and she was red with anger. "You came up with this idea to bring us all together. But you're also prepared to tear us all apart. A time limit on something like this isn't fair. I want to spend more time with him. I don't want to leave and you know very well that no one else does." Dumbledore looked resigned as he gestured to the chair across from him. Lily sat down with a sigh. "I understand my dear that this seems very cruel of me. But Harry needed this. I promise you won't feel any pain from today when you leave but you will have the courage to do what you-"
Lily interrupted him "I don't care about any of that. I don't care about hurting myself or knowing what's going to happen. What I do care about is the fact that my son barely knows me. What if he doesn't remember me? Or anyone else? What if his memory of me isn't true? Because we weren't there. Because we let him down…"
Dumbledore opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted by a cry from the corridor.
"MUM?" A yell sounded from the hall. "MUM WHAT'S GOING ON? WHERE ARE YOU? DAD?". The two looked at one another, neither one of them recognising the voice. Dumbledore narrowed his eyes. "I believe you're looking for us." The door slowly opened. Peering round the door frame a young girl took in the faces of the people she had been looking at pictures of only yesterday. People whom she knew to be dead. Drawing her wand up into a defensive position she kicked the door open mustering all her courage.
She let out a sob as Dumbledore raised a hand. "Now, now there's no need for your wand. Or for any tears. Why don't you tell us who you are."
"What's going on?" Young Lily responded.
"It is a very complicated scenario that you have stumbled upon. One that can be explained once you reveal who you are." He smiled at the end of this sentence. She looked into his trusting blue eyes and lowered her wand slightly. "I'm Lily Potter. This is my house. I live her with my three brothers and my parents. And I want to know what's going on." Dumbledore nodded.
"And who are your parents?"
"Ginny and Harry Potter." A tear slid down the older Lily's face. She looked at the girl with her flaming red hair and freckles. Lily knew in that moment that whatever tragedy's had been inflicted upon her family Harry was going to be alright. Her and James could and would do their best with the time they had. And that was ok. Harry had forgiven them. Smiling at the girl Lily felt a wave of calm come over her. But it faded as James walked in. "Dumbledore-" but he didn't finish his question for the mist had began to spit and had turned a dark grey colour. It felt like the colour had begun to fade from the room. James rushed to Lily's side. "James" said Lily standing up "This is Lily Potter. Harry's daughter." James looked like he'd just been hit by a bludger. He turned to face the young girl. "I'm not old enough to be a grandpa" he whispered to his wife. Lily laughed and went to shake the girls hand but as she did so the mist began to crackle.
Dumbledore hadn't taken his eyes off the girl. Looking around the room he locked the door.
"Oh dear. I'm afraid I have made a grave mistake. Lily my dear if you will allow me a moment to explain." He gestured for them all to sit "This is a time mist. I created it in order to provide Harry (your father) and his parent's and their friends some happy memories together. And… To provide Harry with some reasons as to his troubling few years." His eyes glinted blue in the sun as he said this. " The mist is created using seer magic. It works once people of past, present and future are all gathered in the same room. In order to get people of those time periods together I created a special kind of Portkey that I sent out to different places in time. Harry's was for the future and was kept within a birthday card. Lily's and her friend's was simpler- all I had to do was walk with them through a doorway I had put an enchantment upon. Now you see I have all three: past, present and future with me being the present. Alas it seems that a rogue portkey has gone astray. For the one to the future was only meant to be used once Harry was ready. Perhaps that incident came about twice. And you… Well let's say you stumbled upon it."
James blinked. He had only picked up half of that. He exchanged looks with Lily who looked concerned.
"So now that you have two different time periods in the future it's-"
"It's failing yes Miss Evans." Dumbledore sighed. "We only have a very brief amount of time before everyone is taken back to their own time. Mr Potter please will you fetch your son. But make sure no one else comes in with you." James nodded and left. Just as he was about to leave he turned to face his granddaughter who still looked very afraid. He walked back over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder "It's very nice to meet you Lily." He smiled his wonky smile and headed off to find Harry.
Dumbledore was pouring out a glass of whiskey. "Miss Potter. Drink this- just a small sip. It'll help with the shock." He handed her the glass as Lily helped her granddaughter sit down "You'll be back home in no time don't you worry."
The door opened and in rushed James and Harry. Lily had her arm round the younger Lily, Dumbledore still looked slightly worried. "Harry. I am sorry to hand you so much information but I'm afraid I have made an error." Dumbledore explained to Harry about the accidental portkey without explaining who the young girl was. Whilst he was doing this he whispered some enchantments upon an old picture frame. "This here is Lily. Listen carefully. When I tell you to Harry you shall drink Madam Pomfrey's potion and Lily you shall touch this portkey. Harry, when Lily arrives back to your house you must find her and explain to her what happened today. Lily," he paused the young girl hadn't spoken since she arrived. He sighed "This will all make sense I promise. I'm so sorry you got mixed up in this. Now Harry come with me we must get everyone together." Harry looked back at the young girl feeling like he knew her but couldn't remember where they'd met before. Just before Dumbledore shut the door he drank the potion he'd been given and James and the two Lily's were left alone.
The picture frame began to glow.
"Are you ok?" Asked James. Lily nodded looking, in shock, at her grandparents. "You two really exist." Lily laughed and nodded. "It's just I've heard so many stories about you both…"
The older Lily smiled. She took the young girls hand. "It's so lovely that we met you. Even if it's a bit confusing."
"I'm sure Harry will explain everything when you get back." Finished James.
"I know. It's nice meeting you too…" Lily said quietly standing up and walking towards the picture frame. James and Lily held hands as she reached out for the picture frame. "One of my brothers is called James. And we have a dog called Padfoot." James laughed as Lily waved. With a gust of wind and a blinding light the girl was gone and Lily and James were alone.