Chapter 2: Following in their Footsteps

Well, I've written more…It's still a cliff-hanger though, sorry! As usual, I don't own anything. And I do plan to write more of this story soon…

Chapter 2: Following in their Footsteps

The timeturner was, in fact, gone, although, right at the moment with is parents less than twenty feet away from him, the whereabouts of the timeturner was the least of Harry's concern.

"What do we do now?" asked Ron. "We can't just wait fifteen years until we're back to the present." He added shakily.

"Well, this was all your idea in the first place," Hermione snapped, massaging her forehead as though it would help her think of a way out of this predicament. Harry doubted, however, that even someone as clever as Hermione could conjure a way to travel through time without a timeturner. In fact, he wasn't even sure if a timeturner could make time go forward. Of course, despite of Ron and Hermione's apparent worries, Harry wasn't concerned. He had only one thing on his mind, his parents. He was seeing them, alive, right before his very eyes. He felt only vaguely aware of his surroundings, as though this was all a pleasant dream. His parents had stopped walking and were now standing outside a Quidditch supply store. Harry's dad, Professor Lupin, Sirius, and Peter were crowded around a window where Harry could see a broomstick on display. Harry's dad was holding Harry up so he could see, and pointing at the broom. They were all talking, but Harry was too far away to hear what they were saying. Harry's mum, who'd been standing behind them, smiling, tapped James on the shoulder, told him something, then made a gesture, urging the group onward. They began to walk down the street. They were leaving! Harry, only faintly aware of Ron's and Hermione's quarreling behind him, headed off following them. He managed to take three steps before—

"Harry! What are you doing?" Hermione hissed, noticing him.

"No time now, Hermione," said Harry hurriedly, losing sight of the group. "I've got to follow them!" He began to walk forward once again, but was hastily stopped by two hands grabbing each of his arms from behind him.

"You can't follow them! It's too dangerous! What if someone saw you?" Hermione demanded. Harry frowned and looked to Ron.

"We have to find a way back, Harry," said Ron, his face full of concern. Even Ron couldn't see his point of view.

"Look! If you'd never seen your parents in your entire life and then they were suddenly right in front of you on the street, you wouldn't leave them in a hurry either!" Harry shouted. Ron and Hermione, obviously not knowing how to respond to this, remained silent, and Harry seized the opportunity. He set off at a sprint down the crowded street. The shouting and trampling of two sets of feet closely behind him told Harry that Ron and Hermione had decided to follow.

They soon caught up to Harry's parents, who, luckily, were meandering down the street slowly. Harry slowed to a walk when he was a few paces behind Peter, who was the last of the group. Hermione tugged Harry's arm.

"Are you insane?" she asked. "You can't just follow them. They'll notice!"

"Well, I'm not just going to let them walk away!" said Harry indignantly.

"Harry," said Ron thoughtfully. "Have you got the Invisibility Cloak?"

"No," said Harry, still following his parents, Ron and Hermione close behind. "I left it back at Hogwarts. And I don't reckon I could have it anyway. I mean, my dad's still got it, hasn't he?" Ron shrugged, frowning.

"Honestly Harry," said Hermione. "I understand that you've never seen your parents before, but you mustn't do anything dumb like try to save them. You can't change the past, you just can't!"

"I never said I was going to try to save them!" said Harry, although the thought had crossed his mind, and watching Peter Pettigrew walk in front of him, easily within reach, was becoming quite a great annoyance.

"But, Harry, this is still so dangerous! It could change everything if one of them saw you! And, even your scar is enough to draw people's attention, if nothing else!" said Hermione. Harry automatically attempted to flatten is bangs to hide the lightning shaped scar clearly visible on his forehead, but it was no use.

His parents and their friends were disappearing into Three Broomsticks. Harry paused outside the door to wait a few seconds. Once he was sure they were in and seated, he began to head up the front steps.

"Harry, they're definitely going to see you in there!" shouted Hermione. "Can't you just let the past go so we can get back to trying to get back to our time?" There was a slight quiver in her voice, and she looked at Harry sympathetically.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized suddenly, looking guilty. "I shouldn't be so rude about it. I know you never got to know your parents. I guess I just don't know what it's like."

"It's all right, Hermione," said Harry quickly. Ron was staring at her with raised eyebrows in surprise of her sudden sympathy. With that, Harry turned to enter Three Broomsticks. He quickly spotted his parents seated at a large round table. Harry's dad was sitting next to his mum, who was holding Harry. Sirius, Lupin, and Pettigrew occupied the other seats. Harry selected a booth very near to their table, sat down on the side facing the opposite direction so they wouldn't see his face, and motioned for Hermione and Ron, who were standing at the door, bewildered, to join him. The sat down across from him, Hermione frowning once again.

"Harry," she whispered. "This is crazy. Madam Rosmerta is going to notice that you look just like your father and say something!" Madam Rosmerta was currently taking orders at Harry's parent's table, then turned to come to theirs. Ron quickly pushed Harry under the table, and Harry was reminded of the time his third year when he had to hide under a table to avoid being seen by a group of his teachers when he wasn't allowed to visit Hogsmeade. Ron quickly switched sides of the booth.

"Hello," said Madam Rosmerta. "What can I get for you two?" she asked.

"Three butterbeers," replied Ron.

"Three?" she questioned, and Harry couldn't see her face, but he was sure she was suspicious.

"Yes," said Ron. "I'm terribly thirsty, so I'll have two."

"I see," Madam Rosmerta replied. "I'll be back with your order in a bit." With that she left the table, and Harry could hear Hermione let out a sigh of relief. He listened more closely, and could hear is parents conversing.

"That's right," his dad was saying. "I've been to see Dumbledore just the other day." Harry noticed that his dad's voice sounded worried.

"But why?" asked a voice that Harry concluded belonged to Sirius. "Why is he after you?" There was a pause. Harry figured out what they were talking about. Voldemort. His parents had found out that Voldemort was after them. James' voice finally broke the silence.

"There are certain possible reasons…" his voice trailed off. He cleared his throat. "I really don't know why, but that's not the importance now…"

"James," his mum's voice interrupted. "Perhaps we should wait until we're at home to discuss this, somewhere where there—er—aren't so many people around."

"Good idea," said Harry's dad. "So then, shall we finish then head back to our place?"

"I suppose so," said Lupin.

"So, what's this I hear about Sirius putting dungbombs in Muggles' mailboxes?" asked Harry's mum, changing the subject. There was an eruption of laughs from the four men at the table.

"Honestly, Sirius, it is a childish prank," said Peter.

"Yes, but, it is funny," said Sirius. Harry missed the next part of the conversation because Madam Rosmerta returned with the drinks. Ron waited until she was looking the other direction, then quickly slipped the butterbeer under the table to Harry.

"So, shall we go now, then?" asked Lupin.

"I reckon we should," said Sirius. "I've got an auror's meeting in tonight in London." Harry hurried to gulp down his butterbeer, and began prodding Ron in the leg telling him to get up.

"We just got here," said Ron. "Why do we have to leave so soon?"

"Because they are!" said Harry.

"We can't follow them the whole way to their house!" said Hermione quietly. "Where'd you say you lived again?"

"Godric's Hollow," replied Harry.

"It's not too far from here," said Ron. "I reckon a day's walk should get us there." He added sarcastically. Harry managed to squeeze onto the booth next to Ron.

"Let's go!" he hissed at them. They got up and left, Harry darting for the door before being seen. Madam Rosmerta spotted Ron and Hermione.

"Leaving so soon?" she asked curiously, from where she was having a discussion with a table of wizards.

"Yeah," replied Ron. "We've got to meet someone soon." He added, walking out the door.

They once again followed the group containing Harry's parents, baby Harry, Sirius, Lupin and Pettigrew.

"So, how are we getting there?" asked Pettigrew.

"I suppose we'll take the train," said Harry's dad. "Since the little guy here can't apparate." He motioned toward Harry, who he was holding. Sirius checked his watch.

"We'd better get up to the station, Prongs," he said. "I reckon the train leaves at one." Hermione checked her watch. It was quarter till one. The group ahead of them broke into a fast paced walk and Harry began to follow, Ron and Hermione behind him. They seemed to have given up trying to persuade Harry to forget about following his parents. They reached Hogsmeade station, and sure enough, the next train to Godric's Hollow departed at one p.m. They watched from a distance as Harry's dad got tickets for the group and they boarded the train. Harry, Ron and Hermione waited for a few more people to pass, so that the person at the ticket booth wouldn't recognize Harry as looking nearly identical to his father, who'd just passed through. They bought three tickets, and boarded the train.

Harry felt excitement building up inside him. For the first time ever, he was going home.