Chapter Eight

Changing the Future

James, they later found out, was upstairs changing the baby, which he brought back downstairs to hand to his wife. Hermione was all smiles as she wiggled her fingers in front of little Harry's face and cooed at him.

Harry wasn't interested in looking at himself and stood up to peer out of the window. Green fields rolled in the distance and he could see no sign of human life whatsoever.

"No Muggles around here?" he asked.

Lily laughed at Hermione and the baby, but looked up to answer his question. "No, we thought it better to live in the country since James and Sirius are always on their brooms terrorizing the wildlife."

He looked over at his father who was eyeing him.

"Saw the broom you brought with you," James said. "Care to stretch your legs a little?"

Harry smiled. He thought it was just what he needed, to get back into the air and let his concerns drift away for a while. "Yes, sir. I think I'd like that."

Harry brought out his wand "Accio, Firebolt!"

James ducked out of the way as Harry's broom zipped past him and stopped right in front of it's owner. Lilly scoffed. "Boys and their brooms." Hermione only nodded solemnly in agreement.

James opened the back door and retrieved his own from the cabinet next to the door. "Come on Harry, before she has us doing chores."

He looked once to his mother and watched her smile softly at him, and he and his father were off.

James held out his broom as if displaying it proudly. "Cleansweep 6, Newest Model; fastest broom in years."

Harry tried not to snicker and showed him his broom. "Firebolt ... um ... really fast."

James looked out to the field. "See that large tree amongst the five smaller ones?"

Harry nodded.

"Race ya."

Harry's lips thinned and his eyes lit up. "I better give you a head start. They make brooms a lot faster in the future."

James frowned and mounted his. "Well don't say I didn't warn you."

He took off and Harry watched as he moved smoothly over the field. Hermione was at the back door watching as his mother came up from behind. "Oh, Harry. You are being uncharacteristically cruel. Go on and then slow down before you reach him."

Lily laughed. "Is Harry's really that fast."

James had reached the halfway mark then Harry mounted the Firebolt and shot off in a blur. He leaned into the stick to reduce the wind resistance and smiled as he blew past his father a second later and came to a halt beside the tree. By the time he was off, James had pulled up in front of him, open mouthed.

"Bloody Hell, Harry! It was like I was standing still or something." He looked at the Firebolt with envy creeping down his face, and Harry held it out to him.

"Care to give it spin?"

James touched down and handed Harry his Cleansweep. "Um ... don't mind if I do."

Harry leaned his father's broom against the tree and sat down at the base to watch. It wasn't five minutes before his father had the hang of the broom and was doing barrel-rolls and loops high in the air. He heard his yells and screams and laughter all around until he finally came back, landing smoothly a few yards away.

"Now that is a broom!" James said proudly handing it back to Harry. "Play Quidditch?"

Harry nodded proudly. "I'm Seeker for Gryffindor."

James beamed. "Well, now! I played a bit of seeking in my time. Ended up as a Chaser in the end though. Got too bored just sitting around."

They stayed out for most of the afternoon chasing each other around the yard until his mother came out in the back and used a Sonorus Charm to announce dinner.

James was the first through the back door. "Lily, did you see that Firebolt of Harry's?"

She nodded, looking rather bored until Harry noticed that she was playing with his father. "I thought you were going to fall off when I saw you up on that thing."

James scoffed. "Me, fall off a broom? Ha!"

Harry turned to the table and saw Hermione scooping tiny banana chunks into little Harry's mouth, looking as happy as she had been in ages. "Harry you were such an adorable baby."

Harry groaned. "This has to be worse than baby pictures."

Lilly laughed. "He's taken quite a shine to Hermione; he cries every time she leaves the room."

Hermione laughed as she spooned another bite into the baby's mouth which caused him to laugh in response and spit out the bananas on the table.

Harry looked on. "I think I'm going to be sick."

His father chuckled.

"Oh, James, Sirius called and said that he and Remus would be coming over for dinner."

James frowned. "Did you tell him to sod off and quit inviting himself to the house."

"Of course. Since when has that ever stopped him?"

Harry froze and James noticed. "Oh ... sorry. I forgot."

It was too late to say anything because off in the distance Harry could hear the unmistakable popping sound of two someones Apparating in the house.

His breath increased and his father saw the distinct sign of panic in his son's eyes.

"I'll head them off," James started, but Harry said "No."

The distinct voice of Sirius Black echoed in the hall, "Hi ho, Potter family. The dinner guests have arrived."

This was followed by the not so tired voice of Remus Lupin afterward. "Hide your daughters, Sirius is on the prowl."

They entered the kitchen a moment later to four sets of eyes staring at them; baby Harry still only had eyes for Hermione.

"Hello, whose this then?" Sirius asked. "I thought you didn't have any relatives on your side, James."

Everything was frozen in uncomfortable silence after the question until a wail sounded from little Harry. Hermione jumped and almost dropped the spoon, but resumed her feeding duties.

James stepped forward. "Sirius, Remus ... um, I know this is going to sound a bit daft and you're not going to believe me at first, but I want to introduce you to my son, Harry."

"What?" Sirius sounded loudly. "What kind of game is this, Prongs?"

Harry reached into his pants pocket and felt around for the knife Sirius had given him in his fifth year. It and the two way mirror were the only personal items he had left of his godfather. Granted, the blade had been melted away by whatever spells protected the unseen room in the Department of Mysteries, but all the same, he kept it with him wherever he went.

Harry pulled it out of his pocket and showed it to Sirius, which in turn made his godfather pat at his own pockets until he found his own knife.

"How?"

Remus looked back and forth between the two knives. "He could have purchased that at any ..." But Sirius stopped him.

"That's my knife. I chipped the edge of the molding last year when I dropped it down the stairs. It's chipped in exactly the same way."

"You gave this to me for Christmas of my fifth-year at Hogwarts," explained Harry. "You used to live at number twelve Grimmauld Place until you turned sixteen and then you lived at my grandparents house until ..."

Sirius held his hands up. "How do you know all of this?"

Harry continued. "Your brother joined the Death Eaters until he realized what they were really up to and tried to back out. He was killed by order of Voldemort. Your family disowned you and declared you a blood traitor. You are an Animagus, a large black dog. You became an Animagus because, you Remus are a werewolf."

Remus backed up a step and held on to the wall looking at James. Harry pocketed the broken knife.

"He's got the Marauders Map as well," said James.

Harry pulled it out of his cloak and handed it over, tapping it and giving the secret phrase.

Remus looked over Sirius' shoulder at the expanding layout of Hogwarts and the various figures moving around. "Sirius handed it back. "Mischief Managed."

"But ..." Sirius started, but Lily cut him off.

"Questions later. Food now. Eat."

They sat around the table and Harry stopped every few moments to look around at everyone. Remus sat next to Hermione.

"And I suppose you are their daughter or one of our daughters?"

Hermione almost choked on her food. "No, Professor Lupin. I'm Hermione Granger. Harry's my boyfriend."

Sirius laughed, "Professor Lupin ... Mooney a teacher? Since when?"

Remus was especially interested. Seeing as he was finding it increasingly difficult to find a job as of late.

"Our third year. Professor Lupin came to Hogwarts to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, but well ... the parents found out about you being a werewolf and you quit."

Harry smiled. "Best D.A.D.A. teacher I've ever had."

That brought back Remus' smile.

Near the end of the meal, Harry looked down at his empty plate and smiled to himself. Lily noticed.

"Harry?"

He looked up at her and around at the people sitting at the table. "It's just ..." He swallowed. "Well, this is the best meal I've ever had."

Sirius nodded. "Wait 'till you try her bread pudding. Best thing this side of London."

Harry shook his head. "It's not that. The food is great, but just getting to see you all ..." He felt his eyes beginning to burn again and scooted his chair out. "Excuse me, please." And he ran outside leaving behind a bewildered crowd.

He grabbed his Firebolt from the back porch and took to the sky at blazing speed, spiraling into air with the beginning of tears blowing back from his eyes and drying almost instantly. He climbed higher and higher until the house was as big as a pin head in comparison. Then he slowed to a halt and just hovered.

Harry felt himself an emotional wreck for the last few days and it was wearing on him until the slightest thing would set him off. One moment he was right as rain, then next a blubber baby that would make even Cho, the human hose pipe, seem calm in comparison.

After about fifteen or so minutes it took him to compose himself he directed his broom back down and dove faster than he had ever flown before. He slowed when the ground seemed to be approaching far too fast and pulled up watching everyone standing out in the back yard, looking up.

Harry realized that they thought something was wrong, which was the truth, but at the last second he decided that he wasn't going to be the object of pity and pulled up in a loop, yelling loudly, "WAAAAAAAHHHHHHOOOOOOO!"

He shot off again doing numerous spirals and tricks until he was convinced that they knew he was okay. By the time he landed Lily and Hermione were back inside getting the baby ready for a bath and the four men were in the den doing manly things like drinking Firewhisky and Butterbeer.

"Harry, I told them," said James. "Not everything, but enough."

Harry nodded and expected his father wouldn't keep any secrets from his closest friends.

Sirius was the most disturbed. "Wormtail, huh?"

Harry nodded again.

"And Remus is the only one still alive?"

Harry took another drink of Butterbeer. "Yeah."

He stared at Sirius and tried to compare the two people he was, then and now. His face was much fuller and his health still in it's prime. The Sirius he knew was only getting back his failed youth as before, until ...

"Would you tell us ... no, I'm sorry ..." he asked.

"It's okay. I don't mind," responded Harry.

He recounted the events leading up to James and Lily's deaths, and when Lily and Hermione joined them he continued with everything that had happened since: all five years including, the major events and Sirius' escape from Azkaban and subsequent rescue attempt at the Department of Mysteries.

It was several hours later and they had consumed many drinks and shared laughs and tears until the moment of Sirius' death.

"I couldn't reach you in time. Remus pulled me back and I watched as you disappeared behind the veil. It was all my fault."

But Sirius was taking it like it never happened, like it was a story to be told in front of a campfire or some such mundane event. "Bollocks, Harry. I would have done the exact same thing. Any of us would have."

Remus and James nodded in unison.

Harry continued as though nothing was said. "Dumbledore sent me back to Hogwarts and told me everything that morning. The prophecy," He looked at his parents. "The reason Voldemort killed you." And back to Sirius, "And why it was his fault that you died. But I know better.

"That's why I decided to straighten myself out and make things right. That's why Hermione and I are here."

"And during all of this," Hermione, trying to lighten things up, noted, "He managed to get eight out of nine O.W.L.'s with four Outstanding."

Harry smiled to himself and shook his head. Trust Hermione to remember the little things.

Lily smiled proudly, nonetheless. "That's very good, Harry."

He looked over at Remus who suddenly look rather ill. "Remus, are you okay?"

Sirius looked at him and nodded. "It's the full moon, tomorrow night and all. He'll be okay in a couple of days."

Hermione almost shot out of her seat. "Goodness. I've forgotten, Harry. "

"He looked at Hermione with confusion."

"The Wolfsbane Potion. It hasn't been invented yet. Not for another ten years."

Remus' eyes widened. "A cure?" he hoped.

Hermione's face fell in regret. "No, but it will make your time of it a lot easier, before and after, and you'll retain your rational mind throughout the transformation."

She looked at Lily. "You wouldn't have any potion ingredients around would you?"

She nodded. "Let me go put the baby down and I'll help you. I was fairly decent at potions myself."

The ladies disappeared out of the room, and James leaned forward, "Well that's a bit of good news, eh?"

"James," came a familiar voice from the fireplace.

It was Professor Dumbledore.

"I thought I would come over for a few words."

"Come on through, Professor. The coast is clear," said James.

His head vanished and a moment later the flames turned green and whooshed high, depositing Dumbledore in front of the hearth. Harry and the rest were about to stand and Dumbledore waved them down.

"Please do not get up on my account."

They made themselves comfortable once again and Dumbledore began.

"After your, shall we say, enlightening information I have devised a plan which should, if performed precisely, end Voldemort's reign once and for all."

The following month was one that was filled with joy and fulfillment for Harry. Hermione had an equal amount of happiness at seeing her boyfriend enjoy himself so much.

Harry's father told him so much in regards to his family that he felt almost normal and not like a display case oddity that was so much of his every day life.

The Fidelius Charm was performed, two weeks before the event, with Wormtail as Secret Keeper once more. Harry spent that time up in his room with Hermione so as not to be seen and give their plan away.

The rest of the time was spent in preparation for the night and when it finally arrived Harry was a bundle of nerves.

His father had taken him into a hug and set him back. "Harry ... it's been great getting to know you. And if ..."

Harry shook his head. "It'll work. I know it will."

James nodded. "But just in case." He paused and smiled. "I'm very proud of you, son. I know you haven't had an easy time of it growing up, but, well, I wanted you to know that I love you, and there will always be someone there for you: Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore. You can trust them to do what's right for you."

Harry nodded, not wanting to talk anymore. He moved back into his father's arms and burned the memory into his mind. "I love you too dad. But we're going to kick his arse back to hell tonight."

An hour later in a group of trees well hidden from the front of the house, the Order of the Phoenix stood guard waiting for the assault that could very possibly end this war.

"You can't worry about it, Harry. If you do then you are going to second guess yourself at the wrong moment."

He looked at Hermione. "You're right."

His wand twitched in his hand eager for the fight that would be soon in the making as dusk settled in around them. When Harry first encountered a Dementor he had experienced his parents dieing. He had watched the scene in his head a hundred times: James telling Lily to grab Harry and go, a flash of green light and his father's body, then Lily begging Voldemort to take her instead, just spare the baby.

Another flash of green light and her body lay prone on the ground, and then a third flash and darkness.

He played the vision in his head once more in his head feeling that something was wrong, but it stayed just out of reach, so much so that this frustrated him.

"What's that?" Someone said to the right.

Harry swiveled his head in time to see a small number of dark figures Apparating in the distance. It hadn't been that long since the last full moon and there was enough to light up the area fairly well. Harry's scar burned at once.

"It's him."

Dumbledore shifted, "Wait, not yet. Where is the other Voldemort, Harry."

He thought for a moment. His scar was searing and it was making it hard to think. "I don't know."

"We must let him enter the house. I speculate that the second Voldemort will only show his hand during the initial attack. Or perhaps ..."

Harry looked up to the wizened old man. "He's already in there."

He pushed past Sirius and took off at a sprint across the empty field in front of the house.

"Harry, wait!" he heard his father calling from behind him, but it was too late.

Five Death Eaters stood guard out in front of the house and were caught still staring at their master entering the front door.

Harry raised his wand and yelled. "Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!"

Three of them went down and the last two were brought down by running figures behind him.

He heard Dumbledore's voice, "Now, Remus."

The last thing Harry heard was the anti-Apparation Jinx being performed around the house. Voldemort was trapped and he had to go through Harry to get out.

Green light filled the stairway as they raced up the steps to the Nursery. A scream was heard next as Harry assumed Voldemort had found the Golems they had been working on for the last two weeks. Beings made of dirt, rock, and clay, transfigured and charmed to look exactly like James, Lily and baby Harry were standing where Harry had said they would be, mimicking the words and actions they were told.

It wouldn't be long before the Golems reverted back to it's inert form, seconds at best, after the curse. Harry was first through the door, drawing the sword of Godric Gryffindor and slashing downward at the figure standing with his back to him.

A piercing scream filled the room and Harry yelled in hate and triumph. He withdrew the sword and blood spurted with it until the figure dropped and fell facing him ... except it wasn't Voldemort. It was Peter Pettigrew.

"You really didn't think I would be fooled by these pitiful Golems, Potter."

Harry spun around and to his horror saw Voldemort standing there in the corner. "You aren't Potter. but I suppose it doesn't matter."

Harry dropped his sword and went for his wand instead. It was the only way he knew of to hold his own against the power of Voldemort but he knew he would be too late.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Harry, no!"

His father jumped in front of the jet of green light and knocked his son aside. As the room was being engulfed in a massive nova of green light, he heard Hermione's voice from downstairs, screaming his name, and all was exploding sparkles as he knew he was being pulled back to the beginning of his adventure.

"Harry?"

The pain was familiar. The aching of his muscles screamed their displeasure once again.

"Harry?"

He recognized that voice from somewhere, but his ears were still ringing from traveling through time.

"Harry, open your eyes. Professor?"

"Poppy, your potion, if you please."

Harry opened his eyes and gasped. He felt hands sitting him up and a goblet being set to his lips. He remembered being given Pepper-up Potion and it making his body respond, before, so he drank deeply until he could hold the goblet on his own.

When he finished he swiveled his head around, "Hermione?"

Dumbledore looked into his eyes. "She is drinking her own potion and is safe, Harry."

Harry blinked as he felt strength return to his arms and legs, and then remembered what had just happened fifteen years in the past. "Professor, I have to go back, it didn't work."

The headmaster looked at Harry with a somber face. "The Annualis-Glass has been destroyed, Harry, and your mission has returned, how shall I say, somewhat mixed results."

"Harry?" said that familiar voice once again.

He turned around on the floor and looked eye to eye with his mother. She had aged, to be sure. Soft wrinkles had formed at her eyes and forehead. The laugh lines he had seen only hours before were cut somewhat deeper into her face, but it was his mother, all the same.

"Mum?"

She pulled him into her arms for a hug and released him as quick. He stared at her for a moment.

Harry looked behind her. "Where's dad?"

"Harry," Dumbledore interrupted. "It appears I miscalculated the coordinates for the Annualis-Glass and sent you back in time a month too far."

Hermione finished her potion and nodded.

"And it also seems as if you disregarded my directions as to the dispensation of your parents."

Harry didn't care, as long as they were okay.

"However, as I can tell, there were only a few changes as a result and those were of the more positive sort."

A few changes! Harry thought. His father was still alive. Voldemort missed!

He turned back around. "Where's dad?"

Harry heard steps coming up from the staircase and looked behind his mother to find his godfather approaching through the door.

"Hello, Harry."

"Sirius!" he yelled.

The sunken shell of a man he knew before his death in the Department of Mysteries was gone and in his place was the vibrant figure that he knew only hours before, older, but still whole. With this his face fell.

"Your father, Harry, I'm sorry to say, is still lost to you," continued Dumbledore.

Harry turned around. "But I've got to go back. I have to go back."

His mother pulled him back from behind and wrapped her arms around his. "You can't, Harry."

Dumbledore was outwardly saddened. "The Glass was created for one reason, Harry, and that was research. If it were to be used to change the past, it seems, then it would destroy itself in response. Be proud of what you have accomplished. You have saved the lives of your mother and your godfather."

He nodded, crestfallen and turned in his mother's arms. She petted his head softly and gave him words of consolation. "You were so brave, Harry. James was so proud of you."

After a moment or so he pulled away. "What happened?"

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair. "Harry first what you need to know is those of us that were present when the Glass was activated are somewhat immune from it's charms as are you and Hermione. The two of you will only remember the events as they originally took place."

Harry nodded.

"From what I've been able to piece together with conversations with your mother and Sirius is that the same effect that originally saved you from Voldemort's Killing Curse, brought about his destruction once again. Your father's sacrifice to save you was enough to rebound the Curse, but not enough to save himself."

Hermione looked confused. "So you don't remember what happened when we arrived in your office that day?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "The effects of the glass have clouded my memory as well as that of Professor McGonagall of your appearance, however not that of your mother, Sirius or Remus." He paused. "And since Peter was killed by your hand, Harry, Sirius was never sent to Azkaban for his murder."

A hand lay on his shoulder as he turned to look up into his godfather's eyes. "Thanks for that."

"The three of them conspired to keep silent about the events of that month until recently."

Hermione jumped in again. "But didn't you find it strange that Pettigrew died and Sirius didn't get sent to Azkaban and didn't die at the Department of Mysteries? Not to mention Harry's mother being alive and all?"

Dumbledore smiled. "This is why the Glass has been hidden these many years, Hermione. It has, or rather had, the ability to cloud one's mind of the changes in the timeline. Being a participant in the actual event I have been given certain immunities. Now that I know of what actually transpired, I remember that month as if it were yesterday and all of the differences in between. You two will not."

Harry was confused. "How's that?"

The headmaster leaned forward and intertwined his fingers. "You will not remember the last sixteen years, living in your mother's house. You will not remember having a lifetime of love and reassurance of having your mother and godfather with you and supporting you. You will not be the same Harry Potter that everyone knows."

Harry's eyes furrowed.

"Over the last year, you have been driven by one goal, Harry: your battle with Voldemort. It has made you, in some respects, different than the Harry Potter your friends will know you as. You must make allowances for that change."

Harry was overwhelmed and still very confused.

"Changing the past is a very tricky thing, Harry. Perhaps not all of your questions will be answered and perhaps things won't seem quite right with your new world, but you have to accept that the rules have been broken and deal with the consequences as they occur."

Hermione wasn't satisfied. "Professor, please, it seems as if paradox's abound. It shouldn't happen this way."

"Hermione, there are no hard and fast rules and that is why traveling through time is discouraged by the Ministry. This is not the Muggle world that obeys the laws of physics. This is the magical world ... the impossible happens here daily."

Harry took in the office. "How long have we been gone sir?"

Dumbledore looked at his watch. "A little over two hours, Harry. You will note that I have made excuses to your teachers for your absence in class today. You both have mysteriously taken ill and are to be back by dinner time. That should give you time enough to reacquaint yourselves with certain people."

Lily took Harry's hand and pulled him gently. "Thank you for your help, Professor."

Sirius headed down the stairway with Hermione close behind.

"Professor, one more question if you don't mind?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore raised his eyes.

"Voldemort. What happened here?"

Dumbledore shrugged. "Of that, I am not sure. The only conclusion I can come up with is that by what ever means he knew the Glass was located at Hogwarts, he also knew of the moment of it's destruction. It melted seconds after you left. With no hope of ever using the device I assume Voldemort thought better of his attempt to breech the castle walls."

The small group made their way to the Great Hall for a spot of tea and a obvious bit of catching up when they met Ron at the bottom of the Marble staircase.

"Harry, Hermione, Professor Sprout said you two were sick? I was just on my way to the Hospital Wing."

Hermione jumped in. "We're all better now. Just a touch of food poisoning or something."

That excuse didn't sit well with Ron. "Then what are your parents doing here, Harry?"

Sirius clamped his hand on Harry's shoulder and stepped in front of him to cover the wide eyes he was currently expressing. "They're still quite tired right now, Ron. Why don't you run off to the common room. They'll be along shortly."

"Right."

Hermione encouraged him along. "We won't be long, Ron. Just want to say goodbye and all."

He looked at all four of them with suspicion. "Oh, um, okay. See you in a little bit then."

Sirius turned back around. "Sorry ... didn't want you to find out like that."

Harry was still stunned. "How ... what ... why?"

His mother ushered them into the Hall and they all took a seat. "Harry, since your father died ... Sirius has looked out for our well being. He's been there from day one."

Hermione took his hand and held it in support.

"We didn't even ... I mean ..."

Sirius took over. "Harry, what your mother is trying to say is that she and I didn't even think about seeing each other until you first came to Hogwarts. Our main concern was that you grew up happy and healthy. I moved in shortly after your father died to help out as much as I could. A one year old is a hand full for two parents much less one by herself."

Harry kept looking back and forth between the two of them.

Lily smiled at Sirius. "I wouldn't have made it through those years without him, Harry. He and Remus were always there for you and I."

Sirius smiled back. "After you went off for your first year at Hogwarts ... well we got closer, but wanted to wait for your permission before anything else. That Christmas when you came home and brought Ron with you, you said it was the best Christmas gift you'd ever had. We talked about it and got married that next summer."

Harry coughed. "You've been married for five years?"

Sirius flinched. "Harry, please be happy for your mother. You don't understand what it's like being alone ..."

Harry stopped him. "Sirius ... I was alone for eleven years when I didn't have either of my parents. I know exactly what it's like to be alone and unloved. Why in the would you think that I would want my mother to suffer the same."

Sirus and Lily looked confused.

Harry continued. "I'm wondering what took you two so long? I mean nine whole years ..."

Sirius laughed louder than anytime Harry had heard before, and his mother looked as if a great weight had been lifted off her chest.

"Harry, I'm so glad that you aren't angry," said Lily. She took a moment to breathe properly. "I know that Professor Dumbledore said you wouldn't remember anything about how you were raised prior to your ... trip. But I want you to know Sirius has been the best father to you ..."

Harry didn't think twice about it. "Mum, Sirius was the only adult in my life that ever understood me. He died for me at the Department of Mysteries, which by the way I want to hear about how you managed to get past on that one. So I know he was and will still be a great father."

Harry felt another very large lump in his throat at thinking about it.

"Mrs. Pot ... um, Black?" Hermione tested and received a nod from Lily. "Harry was broken last summer after Sirius' death. For over two years he was the closest thing Harry had to a real father and most certainly as a connection to you and Mr. Potter." She squeezed Harry's hand. "I think I can speak for Harry when I say that if he can't have Mr. Potter back, then this is the next best thing."

Harry nodded.

Lily reached over and patted their hands. "I'm glad my little boy found you, Hermione."

Harry didn't even care that she called him a little boy. It didn't matter for he had two of the three people, he had thought were gone forever, back in his life.