Chapter 7

The Love of a Parent

Harry flew as fast as he could away from his mother and father, away from his Godfathers body and away from the grief that was rising up in him, burning him, almost killing him. Twice now he'd lost his Godfather. And he wasn't going to let Voldemort hurt him again. He knew what Voldemort was going to do. He was going to go after his younger self. Harry was going to make sure that encounter never happened. Even if it killed him. He had come back to make sure Voldemort never harmed him again, in his past and the younger boys present.

Harry landed in a clearing far away from the one he had just been in and after looking around to make sure none of Voldemort's cronies were hanging around, sat back against a tree. He wouldn't let it happen. He couldn't let Voldemort win again. Covering himself with brush from trees and the bushes around him, he laid down on the ground and fell asleep. When he woke up in the morning, he wasn't to pleased to find his parents sitting beside him, watching him.

'What do you want?' Harry snapped, throwing the brush off of himself.

'Answers', Lily responded. 'Why did you lie to us about who you really are? Why didn't you just tell us you were our son?'

'Because I know you wouldn't believe me that's why.'

'He's got that right', muttered James. Lily glared at him then turned back to Harry but before she could ask another question, Harry spoke.

'That's my point exactly. Dad just proved it.'

'Will you stop calling me that?' growled James. 'I'm not your father!'

'Then who am I?' asked Harry. 'Some strange person who Appearated in your house, saving you and your family's life from Voldemort killing you? Please tell me if I'm not that person because I'd really like to know who the hell I am.'

James didn't respond. He only looked away.

'I came back', Harry said a little more calmly, 'because I wanted to be able to save you. I never had you guys in my world and I didn't want your Harry growing up in the same way. Growing up with no idea who he really was until he was eleven, desperate for a friend and his hearts strongest desire to be with his family, who he never knew. That was my life. That's how I grew up. If you can't accept that, that's fine with me. Then just leave me alone.'

Harry stood up and was about to fly off when Lily stood up as well and grabbed the broom.

'No', she whispered. 'For some reason, I do believe you. I don't know why, but I do. Please, tell me, what happened to you? Really?'

'Pretty much everything I told you', answered Harry. 'Except I didn't die. Ron and Hermione did.'

'Is Ron the one Harry met by the train?' asked James. When Harry nodded, James just rolled his eyes and shook his head.'

'Predictable', James muttered. Harry glared at his father.

'Look if you're not going to believe me, don't ask me anything.'

'Who told you to come back?' Lily asked before James could snap back a remark.

'No one did. I came back on my own, I was about to get arrested for killing Ron, Hermione and a whole bunch of Death Eater's, but I chose to come back. It was either that or death.'

'You can kill Death Eater's?' Lily whispered.

'I hate them enough.'

'How is it you didn't die when Voldemort tried to kill you when you were young?' asked James, looking rather smug. He seemed to think he'd cornered his son's plan. Harry, however, had an answer for this too, though the question gave Harry's heart a sharp pang.

'When mom tried to save me by dying for me, she placed an ancient spell on me, protecting me from Voldemort's curse. I came away with this scar.' He pulled up his bangs and showed them the lightning bolt-shaped scar. Somehow, it seemed to have more meaning now then it had before.

'Now, if I've answered all of your questions, I'll be going...'

'NO!'

Lily gripped the broom even harder, not wanting to let her son go.

'What was your life like?' she asked him, staling the time when he'd leave. 'What was life like without us?'

Harry pried his mother's fingers off of the broom and jumped onto it, but before he left, he answered her.

'It was a living hell.'

He rose into the air then looked down.

'Oh, and Dad?'

James looked up, almost unwillingly.

'What?'

Harry gave a small, weak smile.

'I solemnly swear I'm up to no good.'

He zoomed off into the sky and Lily looked down at her husband, who looked both shocked and uncertain. He stared at her.

'For some reason', he breathed, 'I believe him. I don't know why, but I do.'

Lily took a shuttering breath.

'We have to find him.'