Disclaimer- Looks from her books to the computer screen and then down to the keyboard… 'PAH!' she types… 'like I could ever write anything like that…' she looks back at the books and then back at the screen. She scowls and then looks down at the keyboard… 'JK Rowling did…' she types.

A/N- This chapter has been the hardest chapter to write. I thought- 'Yey! Explanation chapter out of the way! It's just plain sailing from here!' Woohoo!' But NO! This one was so much more difficult, that's why it has taken me longer to post. Oh! And also I noticed that no one seemed to have had any problems with said 'Explanation chapter'…*looks around suspiciously* are you all just being polite or did it really make a bit of sense? Hehehe! OK…there is one slight difference with what I promised for this chapter. I could not put 'something' in this chapter but it will be in the next chapter…I'll explain more at the end…

Chapter 6- 'We Will Give You Time.'

Frank looked up at Dumbledore again who broke out of his thoughts to return his gaze. Frank smiled somewhat crookedly at him and Dumbledore warmly returned it. He then inhaled very shakily before asking-

'So…' everybody turned to look at him. 'What should we do now?'

*

To say that the silences that had proceeded had been uncomfortable would be an understatement when judging the one that now followed Frank's question. Everyone was painfully aware of the presence of everybody in the room. After what seemed like an eternity Lily made to move. She squeezed Sirius' waist reassuringly before leaving his side. Everybody apart from James followed her movements as she crossed the room and sat beside him. She took his right hand in hers and stared at him, forcing him to meet her eyes. Both seemed to be crying unshed tears. The prospect and the opportunity of what could happen was just so overwhelming to them. Without saying a word Lily fell back into her chair, facing Remus, Sirius and Dumbledore, although her eyes were on the floor. She still kept a hold of James' hand.

The silence continued. It was torture. So many things were flying around so many minds and yet no one could speak of them. The truth of what had happened, and what could happen seemed to be incomprehensible. And to Sirius so did the opportunity…

'Harry!…' he blurted out. James and Lily slowly raised their heads to look at him. Sirius felt as though he might quail beneath their gaze but he continued, '…he, he's here…' 'Of course they know he's here!' he thought. 'Aside from everything else they are here tonight because of him!' Sirius was sure that he wasn't making things any easier, but he had to try. He tried to smile at them. Time was precious.

James once again cleared his throat and switched his gaze to Dumbledore who was already looking at him.

'Albus…' James noticed that his expression was sad and tired. He felt that it was very disheartening to see him like this.

Dumbledore nodded. 'You want to see him?'

James and Lily did not consult each other. They nodded in unison.

Dumbledore inclined his head and rose from his chair. Remus and Sirius stepped back.

'We must go now…'

Everybody else rose. Dumbledore crossed the room and made his way towards the door. Cedric made a swift movement to follow him. Frank and then Bertha who was walking in not much more than a trance then followed him. It did not seem to be a question as to whether or not everyone should go. They were all in this together and no matter how badly they were taking the news they seemed to feel a reassurance in each other's company.

Remus, Sirius, Lily and James followed Bertha. They hung back slightly, wanting to talk.

*

Dumbledore had crossed the room and was at the door. Cedric made a swift movement to follow him. It was as if Dumbledore had expected it as when he had reached the door he turned around and held it open, gesturing to Cedric to join him by his side.

Together they led the way down the staircase and past the stone gargoyle through the entrance. The pace was a lot slower than it had been the last time that they had trekked this way. It was almost leisurely.

Cedric looked over his shoulder. Frank had only just passed the gargoyle. They were far enough ahead. He could talk to Dumbledore now. Cedric turned his head sharply to his left, intending to look up at Dumbledore and get this over with. But instead he looked past him and through a window. It was no longer pitch black outside. The sky was now graying. It was getting lighter. Dawn was approaching.

'Cedric?' Dumbledore implored.

Cedric was brought out of his thoughts and his eyes snapped back to Dumbledore's face.

'Yes sir?'

Dumbledore did not answer. He simply blinked and half-heartedly smiled. Cedric remembered.

'Oh! Um! Yes…I…' he had not thought of what he might say. 'I…tonight…my parents. Are they still…well, I mean…'

'Your Mother and your Father are here Cedric.'

Despite himself Cedric blanched. He cast his eyes downwards. He would not cry. Dumbledore spoke.

'Do you want to see them Cedric?' he asked quietly and slowly.

Cedric wanted to speak but he seemed to have lost the ability to do so. His mouth was dry and his mind was racing.

'I'm dead!' he thought. 'I'm dead and I'm only sixteen. But…I'm here. I look alive…Mum and Dad are here…'

Dumbledore and Cedric passed through a shaft of moonlight, barely still there. As they did so Cedric looked up and out of another window.

'…But not for long.' He reminded himself. His thoughts drifted to James and Lily, of how they would see Harry and of how he must not show that he was afraid. He thought of his parents. How they must be feeling! Their only child…dead. He saw a short man, a wand, 'Kill the spare!' He shuddered.

'Cedric…' Dumbledore said. It was not a sign of impatience, his tone conveyed concern.

'Yes sir?' Cedric muttered distantly. His mind was still with his thoughts.

'Do you want to see your parents Cedric?'

'Mum would cry…' he thought. 'Dad too probably. I could say goodbye, properly…but…I'll leave them. I'd have to say goodbye. They'd have to watch me leave, watch me die, watch me…get sucked back into Harry's wand.' Cedric gulped. Did he want to put them through that? Did he want to go through that? He looked behind him again. Lily, James, Sirius and Remus were just out of sight. Frank and Bertha were a little way behind him. Frank was limping but had his arm around Bertha. She was crying.

Cedric sharply breathed in and snapped his head back forwards. He was not ready yet to face the fact that he was no longer alive head on. He kept telling himself that this was the case but he knew that it hadn't sunk in. Witnessing another person grieve like that over the same fact was too much for him. He was afraid that he might break down. He released his breath in a shaky sigh. He looked up at Dumbledore. Cedric's eyes were overly bright, he noticed that Dumbledore no longer smiled. The effort was no longer there.

'No.' He quietly stated through gritted teeth. It was taking a lot of strength to prevent the release of the surge of grief that was threatening to overcome him.

Dumbledore nodded simply once. They continued to lead the way through the passages towards the hospital wing. As they did so Dumbledore placed a firm hand on Cedric's left shoulder, perhaps as much for his comfort as for Cedric's.

*

Frank had followed Cedric as he had swiftly made after Dumbledore. He looked down the staircase after the receding forms of the boy and the old wizard before descending them himself.

Frank sighed. Where were they going? He knew that they were going to go and see the boy Harry. He had heard a lot about him tonight. He was Lily and James' son. Frank was able to recollect other facts…The Boy Who Lived. Words like basilisk and Flamel would pop into Frank's mind. He did not know what they meant. He had heard them whilst they had been in the wizard's office, but he had not listened for he had been too busy with his own thoughts. But, he…Harry was the reason that they were here tonight. He had helped Harry, Frank remembered…pri…pri…catem?

Again Frank sighed. He turned another corner and found himself before a window. He could not help but admire his surroundings, even given the circumstances.

'The castle…the grounds…! They're amazing!' He thought.

Out of the window he looked at the grounds. He was sure that it had been the area where they had walked down earlier. It was definitely a lot lighter now though.

Not too long ago he had been unable to see anything…and now…

'We'll be gone soon…' He remembered somewhat indifferently.

Frank continued to plod along after Dumbledore and Cedric. He found himself thinking of his mother of all things. He smiled inwardly.

'What would she think of all this? Eh?' he thought. 'Wizards n' wands n' magic…!' He chuckled to himself. Perhaps he would see her soon, seeing as he was dead. This caused him to smile contentedly. He faltered, however, as he heard a tiny muffled sob from behind him.

He turned around as quickly as he could to see Bertha breaking down in tears. He glanced further behind her to see that James, Lily, Remus and Sirius were a fair distance behind. They were talking and sometimes laughing animatedly. It would be he who comforted her.

Frank held back and waited until Bertha caught up with him.

*

Bertha had not noticed this. She had been so consumed with her own thoughts.

Everyone else seemed to be taking the news that they were dead so well. She was torn between still not believing and either thinking that she was having a dream or that everyone else was crazy. But then there was the other alternative. And that was that she was dead.

Everything around her seemed so real. She was at Hogwarts. She hadn't been here since she had left some years ago and the place was exactly the same. As she raised her head through her sobs to look up at her surroundings she bumped into a figure before her. It was Frank.

Frank looked down at Bertha. Despite the fact that he didn't know her, his eyes were so full of concern. It was clear to him that Bertha still hadn't accepted that she was no longer alive and that the idea of that terrified her. It did him, but he was old…death was scary but real to him. She was still young.

'Lily and James are even younger!' he thought. His eyes flickered up to them. They were approaching he and Bertha. 'And the boy…so young…' Frank closed his eyes and bowed his head. When he looked up again he reached out his arm and wrapped it around Bertha' shoulders.

This caused her chest to heave as she again began to cry.

'He's so calm! Oh Merlin!' she thought, 'This is real…! All of this is really happening!'

Frank urged her forwards, making her follow in Dumbledore's wake.

She quickly looked up to see the shapes of her old headmaster and Cedric Diggory. The fact that she could now see them quailed her. She turned her gaze to a window that she and Frank were now approaching. It was getting a lot lighter. She continued to cry. If all of this was true…then, they were nearly gone.

*

Everybody rose. Dumbledore was already at the door and he was swiftly followed by Cedric and then Frank and then Bertha. Remus, Sirius, James and Lily had caught each other's eyes and had silently agreed to lengthen the gap between them and the others. They wanted to talk whilst they still could.

They smiled uncomfortably at each other. Nobody knew what to say but they all knew how scarce and precious their time was. They didn't have time to feel uncomfortable.

James looked towards the door and found that Bertha must have already descended. He cocked his head in the direction of the staircase-

'We'd better get a move on…' he looked pointedly at Lily.

A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Despite the circumstances she was really, very eager to see her son, her little boy. Sirius gazed between the two of them and then clapped James on his back.

'Yeah! Come on Prongs…Prongs Junior is waiting for you!'

As the four of them began to walk towards the door Lily scoffed, 'Prongs Junior…whatever is that supposed to mean? He can't be as bad as you all were!'

James, Sirius and Remus all smiled broadly. Remus chuckled. 'No, no, no Lily. Harry…unfortunately, the poor kid, has inherited the exact looks of his father.' James clapped him round the back of the head and tried to look extremely affronted but couldn't help laughing.

'He really looks like me?' he eagerly asked.

'Yup.' Sirius confirmed. 'Exactly! It's uncanny!'

'Except for the eyes of course.' Remus corrected.

'He still has my eyes?' Lily asked.

'Yes, he does…that look can be just as unnerving from him as it was from you…'

Remus' use of the past tense seemed to quell everybody's laughter. Remus and Sirius could not help but feel what a torture this was. They had Lily and James back with them. They could reach out and touch them. They were by their sides where they hadn't been in thirteen years. But they would be leaving. They had been given something that they truly wanted more than anything else but that they could not keep. But they were grateful even now for the gift, never mind in the years to come.

Lily and James were facing the same feelings. They were dead. They knew this. What they were 'living' through now was surely a last glimpse of 'life'. They were able to say goodbye to their dear friends properly, to set things right and to see their son. This was something to be eternally grateful for, even considering the circumstances in which it came about. But it was a torture veiled as a gift. For they would have to leave and there could be no good-byes for those that they loved most.

Sirius cleared his throat. "He er…he plays Quidditch, you know…'

James' face lit up and Lily playfully rolled her eyes and laughed to herself.

'He does?' James exclaimed 'What position? How longs he been on the team?'

'He plays Seeker and he has done since first year.' Remus said, he enjoyed the mingled look of pride and shock playing across both of James and Lily's faces now. He chuckled.

'Plays as well as his Father…' Sirius interjected.

'And he's won Gryffindor many a game.' Remus finished.

'So, he's in Gryffindor then.' James mumbled. He was so proud of Harry from the very little that he had heard about him. But it was the fact that he knew so little about him that was so heartbreaking.

Remus and Sirius exchanged awkward glances.

'Yes, yes he is.' Remus quickly confirmed.

'Was he nervous at his sorting?' Lily asked. It was after the question however that she realised what she had asked. Remus and Sirius hadn't been there. Sirius had been locked up in Azkaban and subjected to the horrors there and Remus had not been able to care for Harry and had had trouble coping himself. 'Oh, I'm…sorry…' she hurriedly finished.

Again Remus and Sirius looked awkwardly at each other but their glances now carried traces of guilt. They hadn't been there for Harry. The one thing that they could have really done to ease the loss of his parents and to pay their lasting respects to Lily and James they had not been able to do. It didn't matter what the circumstances had been or what obstacles stood or had been put in their way. At that moment both Sirius and Remus fully felt how much they had let Lily, James and Harry down.

'Don't you two be feeling guilty.' James said. His voice was loud and snapped Remus and Sirius rapidly out of their thoughts.

'James…Lily, we…' Sirius began.

'Don't.' Lily said. 'So much has happened and it was out of the hands of all of us…especially you two.' She gazed fondly at them as she walked.

"No!' Remus exclaimed. 'We've failed the three of you. If only…'

'And don't be doing that.' Said James. 'If you start that now you will never stop!' He smiled at his two friends. 'If only Salazar had never had an heir…it won't help. There is no point and no need' James looked hard at Sirius as he said these last two words. Sirius fully turned his head to meet James' eyes, 'to dwell on such things. There never was and there especially won't be after tonight. Harry has you both now which is all that matters.'

'You can tell him what an arrogant little berk his father was.' Lily said. James feigned shock. He grinned at Lily and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

'And you can fill him in on the full and dramatic story of how his perfect mother fell hopelessly and completely for his arrogant berk of a father!'

Lily glared at him. 'And be sure to always remind him that it was James Potter who succeeded in the banning of first years from bringing their broomsticks to Hogwarts!'

This was clearly a sore point. Sirius, through his laughter managed to say,' Oh Lily that's below the belt!'

'Besides,' James replied 'they were always looking for an excuse to enforce that one. It could have just as easily have happened to anyone else…right Moony?'

'Yup. Sure Prongs!' Remus chuckled.

James laughed. 'Yeah, well. Just…tell him things, won't you? Tell him, tell him that his Mum and Dad quite liked each other.'

Lily beamed at him, tears in her eyes.

'We will.' Sirius replied his voice steady and solemn. He stopped in his tracks as he spoke, causing Lily, Remus and James to halt.

'All the time' Remus reassured, turning his gaze to Lily and James.

'Thank you.' They said together.

They all smiled at each other and then began to walk again. As they did so they looked up and realised that they had reached the hospital wing. The door was bathed in a shaft of waxy moonlight that also highlighted the figures of Dumbledore, Cedric, Bertha and Frank who had his arm around Bertha; they were waiting for them.

The corridor was so much more lighter than they had remembered it. It was a harsh reminder of how little time they had left.

'Sorry Albus…' Lily remarked as she, James, Remus and Sirius drew level with the others.

'Not a problem.' He replied. He smiled at the four of them, taken back for a second to when they used to grace the corridors of Hogwarts. So much had irreversibly changed since then.

An expectant silence ensued.

A/N- Now, no seeingness of Harry was in this chapter. I got to writing it and I found that there was too much to say for the other characters and that it would be too long if I put the 'Hospital Wing' bit in now. BUT I do have it all planned out so it will be up within a short matter of time…promise! The problem is that with the having-to-go-back-to-schoolness-not-tomorrow-but-the-next-day I will have less time to write but it will be posted. I suspect that the next chapter, depending on its length will either be the last or the second to last.

Thanks for all of the reviews! They really are such an inspiration! And thanks for continuing to read!

Stinky Stan- Yup…it is quite funny in quite an inappropriate kinda way! I figured that I might as well get straight into the explanation and what better way to…introduce, the topic…Huh hmmm…!

Bessyboo- I know what you mean about getting into a Fanfic…I never thought that I would be one of the ones to leave a mean cliffie…it's wasn't that bad…was it? Thank you! I enjoy writing the reactions of Cedric, Bertha and Frank…perhaps you could tell by this chapter! You can write more about their observations whereas when using Lily and James or Remus and Sirius…too many emotions…sniff…!

Alriadne

tv-fan-06

The Elfin Child- No problem! It's great!…you've got to write more…want to read more!

Mystic Catface- Thanks for r/ring 'Godric's Hollow'. It is not actually connected to this fic, although it could be what happened on the night that Lily and James were murdered. It's just short and separate and really just examines some of James' thoughts and feelings.

Aconite- Thanks again for all of your reviews!

Chocolate Taco- No problem! Hope that you had a nice holiday!

Lisa Meunier- Thank you!

Nitte iz- You're too nice for your own good! But thank you anyway!

Faye

Glamenessence

madabouterangelharrypotter

WhiteRose101

Authoress

Katrina Littlebird- I'm glad that you liked the Lily and Sirius scene…I liked writing it! Yeah…there are a lot of back to life stories out there. I've read an excellent one called 'Prongs Rides Again' by BrieflyDel. It's fantastic! Beautifully written and NO plotholes…I'd highly recommend it!

Titanic-HarryPotter-lvr-2

starborn- Nope! Good, good, goodnot feeling sorry for Wormtail that is!

Dutch Lily Flower- Thank you for reviewing 'Godric's Hollow'.

Next Chapter

Well, really what I promised for this chapter! Sorry about that again!

Beefy feedback muchus like-es-ness! Huh hmmm!