Disclaimer: I own nothing, see prologue.

Chapter Seven

"Harry," James said as they walked back to their room after lunch. He stopped and looked at James.

"Dad." James was surprised, but smiled. That was the same reaction he had every time Harry called him dad. James nodded, and they walked on.

"Well, son. I was hoping you wouldn't mind, but I'd like to spend a few hours alone with your mother."

Harry stopped and glared at James. It was then that James realized that his comment was just a bit suggestive. James looked at Harry with a knowing look and both boys burst out laughing.

After a moment Harry responded in a very serious tone, "You know, that my mother you're talking about. Do I need to defend her honor?"

James looked shocked at this statement and they both started laughing again. When they reached their room Harry sat in one of the chairs. He wanted to spend as much time as he could with his parents, but did that really mean every waking moment? After some thought he decided no, it didn't. Besides, he'd like some alone time with Ginny. He hadn't kissed her in days, and he missed it.

"It's not a bad idea to split up for a few hours. Do you think Ginny and mum will mind?"

"If they do, I'm sure we can change their minds," James said roguishly.

"Please! That's still my mother you're talking about!"

"Sorry." James breathed out between his laughter.

It turned out the girls didn't mind at all and, in fact, had come up with the same idea. So the two couples split up for the afternoon. James and Lily wandered to the hills of the village while Harry and Ginny walked up to Hogwarts.

Harry and Ginny walked silently with their hands intertwined. It was just nice, as they both allowed themselves to be lost in the moment. No worries about when they were, how they would get home or what was waiting for them when they did. For just this moment in their lives they were just a couple of teenagers in love. When they reached the castle Ginny stopped.

From the front the castle it looked liked Ginny had seen it just a few days ago, only without the turrets. The frame for the main section of the castle was intact; they were now working on the front steps. She guessed that they would work on into the entrance hall and complete the center structure before adding the towers and such.

"It's amazing how much you've accomplished in just a few days."

"Magical construction. If we were doing this the muggle way it would take at least ten years to build it."

They continued their walk until they found some large rocks. After Harry checked that they were stable, they climbed up and sat to just watch the view. Ginny snuggled in close to Harry and rested her head on his chest. Harry wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in tight. He'd gently kiss the top of her head while stroking her hair. Ginny was in heaven.

She looked up at Harry. He was just sitting there with his eyes closed letting himself just feel the air on his face. She smiled and thought about how handsome he was. Ever so gently she reached up and removed his glasses. He smiled a shy smile, but he didn't open his eyes. With the palm of her hand she gently stroked his face.

Slowly, he opened his eyes and found her looking at him. Getting lost in her pretty face and sweet smile, he took her hand from his face and interlocked their fingers. A breath away from kissing her he whispered her name. Their kiss was sweet, tender and loving.

Somewhere Harry decided he wanted more, and his tongue sought entrance into her mouth. His free hand tangled itself in her hair. Without hesitation Ginny opened herself to him. Her free hand found its way to his back and tried to get closer to him.

James and Lily also wandered a bit holding hands.

"You know, Lils, maybe when this is all over I could go into construction. I'm really good at it; so is Harry, but that's not much of a surprise is it?" Lily just laughed at him. "What is Ginny like?"

Lily, who didn't expect the question stopped and looked at James. He smiled at her and tugged her hand so they could continue walking. They fell back into an easy step.

"I like her. If I wasn't her boyfriend's mother I could be her friend."

"You still can be."

She laughed softly, "No. I mean if we were from the same time."

"Is she good for Harry?"

"I think so. She really loves him."

"I've seen the way they look at each other."

"It reminds me of someone else," Lily said bumping shoulders with James. They shared a glance, each wearing silly smiles.

They continued walking in a safe silence with each other. Lily found it odd that this walk through Hogsmeade could feel so familiar despite the fact that it didn't look anything like the Hogsmeade she knew from school. James looked at his future bride and was confused by her serious expression. He squeezed her hand.

"Lily?"

"I was just thinking about how familiar this feels."

James looked at her with a puzzled expression, so she explained. After they were both silent for a moment and continued walking until they found a small plateau in the hills covered with a soft green grass. They took off their shoes and walked out to the center and sat facing each other. He took her hands in his allowing himself a moment to feel just how perfect her hands fit in his.

"Do you remember the first night that we were here?" Lily nodded. "I was telling you how we needed to be careful with our magic because it is a living thing. The thing is that I was being quite literal. Magic lives within us and around us. It binds us together. Right now you're not recalling the Hogsmeade of the future. When you're in the future you're remembering this Hogsmeade. Its part of the reason we took to Harry and Ginny so quickly."

"I thought that was just because we are his parents."

"Oh, that's part of it."

After a moment James laid back and interlaced his hands behind his head, watching the clouds. He felt Lily cuddle next to him and lay her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her. They both felt completely safe. Neither knew how long they stayed like that until they both shifted enough to look at each other. James whispered, "I love you, Lily," before kissing her softly.

Ginny tried to ignore the warm sun on her face, as Harry kissed her. She had been doing pretty well until the sun reached a point where she could feel it on her eyes, despite the fact that her eyes were closed. Harry must have felt it too because he made a small twitch and broke the kiss.

They sat back and enjoyed watching the sky become brilliant reds and oranges as the sun set. Before the sun completely dipped below the horizon plunging them into darkness Harry and Ginny began their walk back to the village. They chatted quietly about nothing in particular. On the way back to Gryffindor's home they ran into James and Lily.

"Tomorrow evening we start researching a way home," James said.

"We need a method of doing the research so we can find whatever we can as quickly as possible," Ginny responded.

Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Gin, you've been spending too much time with Hermione."

"She's your best friend Harry - that should have been your suggestion." He just gaped at her while the others laughed.

"What we need to do is divide the room in quarters so we are each looking at about the same number of texts. Once there, we'll be able to decide quickly if a book will be helpful to us or not."

"Leave it to Lily to come up with such a simple plan," James said.

They continued their stroll while James embarrassed Lily by telling how she had gotten back at all four Marauders for the prank they had played on the sixth year Gryffindor girls towards the end of the last school year. By the time they arrived back at Gryffindor's home for supper all four were laughing.

After dinner Harry asked Ginny to sit outside with him, and she happily agreed. They walked hand-in-hand until they found a tree they could lean against. Ginny sat in between Harry's legs, so she could lie back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck.

"This is nice, Harry."

He didn't respond except to hold her tighter. She leaned her head back and kissed his neck.

"What's wrong?"

"I miss him."

It was always understood who the "him" was. Ginny stayed silent, hoping he would continue. After a few moments he did.

"You know last night I had a dream - it was just memories. They were all out of order. It was odd. The thing is that I was talking in my sleep, and I yelled for Sirius when he fell and my dad heard me."

Ginny leaned further back into him and kissed his neck softly. He moved slightly to give her better access.

"What else happened?"

"I was confused when he woke me, and I had forgotten where I was and who I was with. I jumped when he lit the candles, and I could see him. He asked what I dreamt about, and I almost told him. I almost told him everything." Harry dropped his head, completely worn out.

Ginny sat up and turned so that she could face him.

"It's okay, Harry, you didn't tell him."

"But."

"No, Harry. It's okay. You're sharing a room with your father. The father that's been dead since you were a small baby. You did nothing wrong. I get the desire to tell your mum too."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Ginny, you've been so good about all of this. I promise you, I will get you home, and I'll make it up to you, even though it will probably take me the rest of my life."

"There's nothing to make up. When you asked me to be your girlfriend, I happily agreed, knowing what I was getting into.

"You knew we would travel a thousand years in the past? Why didn't you say something?"

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

"Yes, I do." He ran his fingers though her hair and tucked it behind her ear but let his hand linger. "Do you know what else I know?" He whispered.

She softly shook her head.

"I know that you're very pretty," He whispered as he leaned forwards to capture her with a kiss. As their kiss became more intense; Harry wrapped his arms around her and slowly moved them along her back. Her hands started on his chest, but when he pulled her closer, she moved them to around his neck, finally resting in his hair.

At length they broke apart, both breathless. Ginny turned around so that she was back in their original position.

"I'm glad we had today."

"Me too."

Harry wrapped his arms around her and just held her close. She softly sighed and wiggled against him trying to close any possible distance that could be left between them.

"You know, Harry, I'm sure your parents are feeling it too."

"What makes you say that?"

"The first night we were here your mum had a nightmare, and we chatted for a bit. She wanted to know all about you."

"Really?" This pleased him greatly. He felt almost giddy in knowing that his mum was as interested in him as he was in them. He buried his face in her hair in an attempt to hide his silly grin.

She giggled at his unexpected touch and replied with a simple, "Really."

Sitting safe in Harry's arms she looked at the night sky. She had always enjoyed her astronomy lessons and tried to pick out the constellations. It was harder because the sky looked different. She knew that the stars changed their positions over time, so the sky didn't look quite right.

Nevertheless, she was able to make out some constellations. She found Lyra without much trouble, and then what she thought was Draco. She hated that one; it was a stupid excuse for a dragon. It looked much more like a snake. Either way it was aptly named. As she continued to scan the night sky she found the bright star Regulus in Leo. Something clicked in her mind and her eyes darted quickly scanning. Could she see it? There it was. She gasped.

"What's wrong, love?"

"Oh, Harry, look." And she pointed to a spot just above the horizon partially hidden by trees.

Harry followed her finger. When he saw what she was pointing at he wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

Sirius.

"Sirius, the dog star. The brightest star in the night sky," Ginny said.

"But, it's part of a winter constellation, how can we see it now?"

"Look how close it is to the western horizon. I bet in a week or so we won't be able to see it all, and then the people here won't see it again until late next fall."

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For all kinds of things, but right now for finding Sirius."

"Harry, you need to remember that he loved you. And no matter what, he's keeping guard over you."

"Keeping guard?"

"Well isn't that what dogs do? Protect the people they love?"

"So here he is stuck out of time with us to keep an eye on me."

"Probably not just you. Knowing Sirius, he's guarding all four of us."

Harry laughed a happy sounding laugh, and Ginny couldn't help but join in. "We should probably go in before someone comes looking for us."

Ginny stood and offered her hands to Harry. He took them and let her help him to stand. He walked about a bit trying to get feeling back in his legs. That tree got pretty uncomfortable after a while, but he didn't care because he got to spend that time just holding Ginny. When he was ready he took her hand, and they walked back to the house.

"I wonder what James and Lily were doing while we were outside?"

Harry groaned. Ginny looked at the horrified expression on his face and started laughing all over again.

"Please those are just images you don't need of your parents."

Ginny laughed even harder. "You know. . ."

"Just stop right there. I don't want to hear any more."

"But Harry."

"Ginny!" Harry couldn't help but join in Ginny's laughter.

A/N: My continued thanks to Cliodne for her awesome beta work. Also thanks to all my reviewers.