Prologue

Harry

Harry

Harry was tired, so very tired.

His life had never been easy and there had been moments when he just wanted to end it, however, there were enough happy moments to outweigh his desire to die.

He had lost so many people during his childhood and teenage years.

Wake up

His parents, his godfather, his uncle and aunt, the Hufflepuff boy, the old man who shaped him into a hero and didn't know if he should hate him or not, the secret hero who he hated but now feels grateful to etc. etc.

And then the horrible nightmares after the war and work as an Auror was always making him sleepless. He tried his best to hide it from his wife, though he knew she was aware.

It was hard to carry the burden of being a hero.

He wished he could turn time back.

Harry wake up

He wished he could have had a normal family and a normal childhood...

"HARRY WAKE UP!"

Chapter 1

Harry didn't know how it had happened or if this was all just a dream. He slapped himself and pinched himself to the point that his mother thought that Harry had accidentally been spelled and checked any spells around him. He seemed fine.

"Now get up and shower. You need to prepare yourself for Neville's birthday party", she told him and then put down the clothes he would wear.

Harry simply stared at his mother but she didn't stick around long enough to see that Harry was crying. And even if he was crying she would just shake her head and roll her eyes. Harry wasn't the best friend Neville Longbottom should despite many attempts to make them friends. Instead, he preferred to hang around with Ron Weasley and play pranks on others. The Marauder influence was too great on him.

He got up and went to the mirror as he looked at himself. This was the same face he had as a child except that the scar didn't exist on his forehead and also he was a lot taller then he remembered he used to be, but than again he might remember it wrong. Harry thought that he had returned to the past but then it wouldn't make sense as his mother should be dead. If his mother is alive... then! He immediately ran out of his supposed room and ran down to the kitchen where his mother was sitting and drinking coffee along with a man who looked strikingly like the man he saw in the mirror of Erise and in picture albums.

"There's my little man", his father jokingly said. "What's wrong?", the man immediately got up and carried Harry so that he could sit on his lap.

Harry was crying, uncontrollably, while his father comforted him.

"Harry stop, crying. You're going to Neville's birthday party whether you like it or not", his mother had misunderstood the reason for him crying.

He didn't understand but what he did know was that he had to pretend and, like his older self being used to the life as an Auror, he pretended to be the Harry in this world while being jealous at this Harry.

They arrived at Longbottom Manor around three hours later and an hour after the birthday party had begun.

"Harry I'm so glad you came! Welcome Mr and Mrs Potter", a seven-year-old Neville Longbottom bowed respectfully. "Harry let's go and meet up with Ron and the others".

Harry simply followed along and saw a young Ron Weasley.

"Harry! We were beginning to think that you would never show up", Ron said in relief.

"I'm sorry I lost track of time in the shower", he excused himself.

"I thought you hated showering?", the guy said and Harry became rigid and slightly disgusted at this Harry.

"Exactly, that's why it took such a long time to enter it", he lied straightforwardly.

"It's alright, you're here now", Neville Longbottom smiled happily at his friend and Harry smiled back. This version of Neville Longbottom felt the same as in his world.

"Hello, Harry", a girl with long straight red hair waved at him with a smile and he wondered who she was so he simply nodded.

"You finally came!", another red-haired girl said besides a white-haired girl. Harry figured that they were Luna and Ginny, his future wife. It's obvious that him staring at her made her blush.

"Hey, weren't we supposed to play?", a blonde-haired girl asked.

"We are, Harry everyone let's get back to the game", Neville said and led everyone to a big board game where Harry saw other kids playing.

"Harry you just need to jump back into the game", Neville said. Harry surveyed the game that looked awfully familiar to Monopoly. He went to the start position and stood there until it was his time.

"It's your turn Harry!", Neville yelled from the other side of the board.

Harry did like the others did and circled his hands in the air. The large two dices began to jump into the air as they spun before landing in the middle. A montone voice said "Please walk ten steps", which made the other kids laugh but Harry still went and greeted the prison guard who opened the prison cell for him.

"It's alright, Harry you just have bad luck today", Neville said encouragingly.

It was Draco Malfoy's turn and he had ended up getting twelve on the dices and ended up in prison with Harry.

"Well, at least I'm not lonely", Draco smiled at Harry as if they were close friends.

"Hannah stop spinning your hand!", Susan Bones shouted as others also complained that Hannah was taking too long. She finally let down her hand. She took five steps and had to pay rent to Luna Lovegood.

The next turn was Michael Turner.

"Daphne, I'll trade my two green properties for your purple property", he said. Daphne pondered for a moment before she said, "Deal, I'll trade my purple property to Michael Turner for his two green properties. A screen appeared in their faces and they touched the [Yes] button. Now Michael Turners' properties changed to Daphne's name and she now owned all of the green properties so she could later put a house on one of them.

Isobel Macdougal smirked as she received five thousand monopoly galleons.

Ginny Weasley landed in prison together with Harry and Draco.

Blaize Zabini won another "Get Out of Jail Free" card as the others complained at his luck.

Harry realized that most of the kids were in his first year when he first arrived at Hogwartz.

Mandy Brocklehurst ended up winning. Hers and Daphne's economic warfare was a sight to see. Unfortunately, Daphne simply had bad luck and ended up losing.

After Mandy won she received 50 galleons as a prize and walked away with pride as Daphne applauded, while secretly cursing her for stealing her victory.

Meanwhile, Harry had lost early in the game and went to play another game with the rest who had also lost the game.

After Monopoly ended it was time for Neville to blow out the candles, and Harry applauded with a genuine smile as he had never seen Neville happier than today.

When the evening arrived the Longbottoms set off a firework show that impressed everyone.

Harry gave in to his body's natural clock and ended up sleeping through the firework scene.