Chapter Two – Before you go

"It appears you have an ultimatum." Albus Dumbledore says, speaking softly. He knew that the Professor would have an opinion on which decision he thought that Harry should make, though he knew that Dumbledore would never make the opinion abundantly clear. Hint at it through metaphors? Perhaps. Make it blatantly clear? Never.

Harry thought for a while and then cleared his throat, "I wondered, sir, would there be a way to see the outcome of my decision?" Dumbledore disappeared into his thoughts, obviously pondering the question. After a short while, he spoke.

"I suppose that would be an option," Dumbledore evaluated. "As long as you know how both decisions would pan out." Clearly seeing Harry's confused look, he continued. "As we are inside your mind Harry, I have no power, everything is down to you. Therefore, if you subconsciously know the outcome of your actions – which for a smart boy like you is highly probable – then I imagine it shouldn't be a problem." Harry nodded to indicate understanding.

"Where to first then?" The old Professor asked although he already knew the answer. Harry's desire to have a family had been apparent to him since his first year when Dumbledore saw him gazing into the Mirror of Erised, a large family surrounding him. "All you have to do is close your eyes Harry and we shall be taken to where you long to be." Harry nodded and closed his eyes.

When Harry opened his eyes again, he found himself and Dumbledore to be stood on a long narrow street surrounded by cottages. He had only been here a couple of weeks ago with Hermione on their search for Bathilda Bagshot, he was in Godric's Hollow. Before him was Harry's old house which he had little to no recollection of ever being in. The house however was much different to how it looked on Harry's little expedition a couple of weeks ago - it was well-kept and quaint looking rather than blasted to pieces from the inside out. Light escaped from the small windows; The front door, Harry noticed, was propped open. A sound of laughter and cheer erupting from within.

Harry looked at Dumbledore for approval who nodded, before making his way towards the cottage, gazing through the window curiously. Inside, he saw many people slouched around on armchairs holding bottles of Butterbeer or Firewhiskey, many of the people he knew – His parents, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Mad-Eye Moody and others he recognised from a picture Mad-Eye had once showed him at Grimmauld Place of the old order, Marlene McKinnon, The Prewitt Twins and Dorcas Meadowes. There were also others who he did not recognise. He turned to look back at Dumbledore who seemed to be playing with the post-box before gently pushing open the door enough for him to slide in.

Tentatively approaching the living room that he heard the laughter protruding from, Harry wondered what his life would be like if he remained here with his parents. He had always dreamed of having a family that loved him and here he could finally experience it. He seemed to have sunk deep into thought as didn't notice the door ahead of him slowly open and a booming voice announce "James, Lily, there's someone here to see you." Of-course, he thought quickly, Mad-Eye's magic eye. He almost laughed to himself at the thought but managed to supress it as the door completely opened revealing a middle-aged woman with long red hair and dazzling green eyes, and a middle-aged man with hair that seemed as hard to tame as Harry's and circular glasses much like his.

The woman spoke first, "Harry?" She squinted as Harry realised that he was shrouded in darkness.

Harry was unsure of how to respond. He found himself suddenly breathless, his heart beating a hundred beats a second. The woman threw herself forwards to wrap her arms around her son's torso, who towered over her rather petite figure. She began to shake in his arms as Harry felt another pair engulf them.

"What are you doing here?" She sobbed. At this Harry felt a pang of guilt, he was contemplating giving up, he wanted to tell her – but he could not bring himself to. How could he say before a room full of people who had all sacrificed themselves for the same cause that he was considering passing up another chance at life.

"Yes, what are you doing here?" A harsher and deeper voice came from behind them, a voice he recognised to be his god-father Sirius Black's. "Harry please tell me you haven't done what I think you have."

Harry shook his head "Not yet." His parents let go of him so that he could see their faces, equal looks of shock covering them.

James spoke for the first time. "Harry, you're much better than that, you can't give up. You have to go back." Harry saw Lily give his hand a soft warning squeeze, possibly telling him to stop talking as he quickly followed it up with, "But of-course it's your choice…" At this Harry laughed a little as did those surrounding him.

"You were always a pushover when it came to Evans weren't you Prongs." Said Sirius as he laughed softly and took Harry's arm pulling him into the room so that he could see everyone around him clearly. Lupin gave him a quick nod as they met each other's gazes and Tonks grinned widely as she always did. "As for you Harry, I thought we raised you better than to give up in the face of a challenge, think of everything you have achieved already! This is nothing." Harry was a little taken a-back.

"Respectfully, none of you raised me. I know by no fault of your own, but I was abandoned with possibly the most selfish people to walk the Earth." He thought of himself, cast to the cupboard under the stairs so occupy himself in solitude. "Vernon Dursley only cared about himself, his social status, and his family." He looks up from the floor to see everyone looking at him incredulously. "Plus, what if I can't do it anymore?"

Lily took his hand from beside him and whispered, "Of course you can darling, you can do anything you put your mind to." Harry looked up at her seeing the love in her eyes, he knew the decision ahead of him was not one to be taken lightly.

A/N - The last time I released this chapter, it was wildly inaccurate and rushed. I put a lot more detail into it this time around and I must say am prouder of it. That being said, feel free to leave any criticisms / opinions in the reviews, they only help me improve my writing. Thank you!

- Ez x