A.N.—taking yet another break from Ginny's journal to have a chapter entirely dedicated to Harry and his parentals.  I couldn't help myself!  Hope you like. 

Something I'd like to point out: This fic takes place BEFORE Harry's fifth year in a sort of A.U.  Harry can't tell Lily and James about the prophecy because he doesn't know about it himself.  Also, Sirius isn't sob dead.  (Okay, if you just got pissed at me for not warning you about OotP spoilers, my apologies, but HONESTLY, you are one of the three people in the entire world of HP fans who hasn't read OotP yet so be quiet and READ!)

I'm uncharacteristically, like, serious and heartwarming and shit at the end of this chapter.  I dunno…it's wigging me out here.  It just sort of typed itself up.  I didn't know I had it in me!! 

BIG THANKS TO: mary-v and miss ray317 (I used some of your ideas that you put in your review.  Thanks a bunch)

-----------------

After Ginny had left the room (mumbling something about "Potters" and "I'm not one…yet…") there was a slight, uncomfortable silence.

Lily's loud sniff broke that.

"Bloody hell, get a grip!"  James scolded her affectionately.

"James!"  She hissed shakily, "Watch your language around Harry!"

"Honestly, Mum, it isn't as if I've never heard 'bloody hell' before."  Harry pointed out.

James laughed.  "I like you already.  So, you play Quidditch…rather well, in fact."

Lily rolled her eyes, but nevertheless listened intently.  Harry smiled. 

"Gryffindor Seeker.  Since my first year."

James looked as though Christmas had come early, complete with an all-you-can-eat buffet.  

"I know.  I was ecstatic to see that you didn't inherit your mother's Quidditch skills," he finished in a stage-whisper, "Or lack thereof."

"Can we not talk about Quidditch, James?"  Lily snapped.

"Calm down, Mum."  Harry said, trying not to chuckle.  It was so easy talking to his parents.  It was like they had never left at all.

"Don't provoke her, Harry!  She's emotionally unbalanced right now!  She'll bite your head off!" 

"You too are so INFURIATING!  As if one James isn't bad enough…"

"Hey, you just met me!"

"I already know that you're a mini-James."  Lily failed to look annoyed at her son.  Her eyes were filled with too much love.

"So, everyone's dieing to know—have you got a girlfriend, Harry?"  Lily asked slyly, with a look of I-Know-Something-You-Don't-Know. 

Harry looked entirely uncomfortable.  He made a show of looking down, turning red, and rumpling his hair in the back. 

"So it is Ginny then?"  James asked loudly.

Harry coughed.

"It's cute."  Lily commented. 

"She isn't really my girlfriend."  Harry explained, "I mean, we like each other, we snogged a couple times, her entire family, except Ron, is already practically making a guest list for our wedding…"

"Well, be a gentleman and ask her out properly!"  James commanded.

"I would, Dad, I just can't…"  The younger Potter male trailed off.

"What?  You don't know how?  It's bloody easy!  Start with some basic undercover stalking, nothing too obvious--"

"Oh yes," Lily said dryly, "trust your father's advice.  It MUST work…it only took me about 7 years to say yes to him." 

James shrugged.  "She was intimidated." 

"You keep thinking that."

"All right, dear."

"I can't deliberately put her in danger like that."  Harry said, raising his voice a notch.  James and Lily instinctively took a step back.

"Are you that bad at dat--"

"JAMES!  SHUT UP!"  Lily exclaimed, whacking him upside the head.  She looked at Harry, with concern evident in her eyes. 

"Harry, we know that you've been through a lot in your short life.  You can't imagine how guilty your father and I feel about leaving you here.  I know it wasn't our fault, but we can hardly bear to see everything you've had to put up with.  Especially this past year with the Tournament--" Her words became incoherent through her crying. 

"I think what Lils is trying to say," James finished for her, suddenly solemn, "is that, we're proud of you, son.  You're still standing strong, even through everything.   We couldn't have asked for a better son."  He beamed at Harry.  "But don't let Ginny get away just because you wanted to protect her.  She can do that herself.  You both need each other, no matter how much you can try to deny it.  Your mum and I know how she feels about you, and how you feel about her.  If you stop that love from forming, Voldemort wins.  He WANTS you to suffer because of him."  James wiped his eyes very discreetly. 

"Harry, we have to go."  Lily said. 

"What?!"  Harry shouted.

"I think it's best if you don't contact us anymore.  As much as we loved seeing our son all grown up, you can't live in dreams or the past."  Lily looked regretful.  "Oh, I wish we could stay forever, but it just can't happen like that."

"You understand, right?"  James braced himself for another outburst.

"You're just going to leave me?"  Harry asked bitterly.

"See?  We shouldn't have even stayed this long!"  Lily exclaimed.  "The longer we stay, the harder it is to go." 

"Fine.  Just go."  Harry said quietly. 

Lily wrapped him in another hug and smiled weakly at him.

"I love you, Harry."  Then, she was gone.

"Don't let Ginny go.  She's a special one."  James said, preparing to leave.  "Oh, and could you do me a favor?" 

"What?" 

James grinned one last time.  "Tell Sirius that he never let us down….he was the best friend anyone could ask for.  Tell him he has to stop being a prat and feeling guilty about it."

Then, Harry was alone.