However, there was no stopping time. As much as Harry would have loved to continue the getting to know you lunches and days spent swapping histories, the summer quickly came to an end. Soon enough, Harry was packed up and waiting on the Hogwarts Express to retake his 5th year, though with a very different schedule. He'd had a bit of a busy summer in the end. Between studying, his physical therapy, and meetings with his grandparents, he'd had hardly any time to worry about being a transfer student at a school he knew like the back of his hand. Thankfully, according to the Unspeakable protocol, he didn't have to try to hide his status as a time-traveler from anyone. He was already a poor liar to begin with, never mind trying to lie to the people that would be his family.

One of the professors had taken him to Kings Cross station that morning, bright and early as they would be part of the protection detail that rode the train with the students. It would be rather irresponsible to just expect so many children and young adults to behave themselves without an adult on standby, for any injuries or major complaints. Harry wasn't surprised that he'd never known a professor was on the train before, discounting Professor Lupin, that is. He could admit that he wasn't always the most observant of people. And, besides a mouthy Malfoy, he'd never run into too much trouble on the Express, well if one didn't count the dementors.

It was bittersweet on the ride there, he kept expecting to hear Ron and Hermione making their way down the corridor, bickering as always. He could almost hear it now, complaints about one not doing his summer homework until last minute, and complaints that the other really should walk first if she was going to trod all over the back of his heels. In fact-

"And I just don't understand why I always lead when your clown feet and speed-walking are far more suitable-"

A duo walked into the compartment that Harry had found for himself before the train set off.

"Oh, sorry about barging in. I didn't see you sitting there."

"No, it's fine, I wouldn't want to hog a compartment all to myself anyway." Harry was quick to reassure the pair, both of whom were looking at him with undisguised curiosity. After meeting his grandparents, Harry had undergone a bit of a makeover. Nothing drastic, just enough so that people wouldn't mistake him for his father throughout the school year. Apparently Dorea knew some of the chaos her son could cause with little to no provocation and didn't want Harry getting caught up in that before he'd even met James.

Dorea had taken him into Madam Malkins' shop as well as a few places around muggle London, like Marks and Spencers, to kit him out. She'd also helped him with his hair, showing him a few spells that set it into simple braids or a quick bun. He'd managed to grow his hair out a fair bit, with it reaching just below his shoulders by the end of the summer. Apparently that helped to soften some of his features in a way that James would have thrown a hissy fit over having, so it helped stop a bit of the Twilight Zone feeling that came from seeing Harry looking so similar.

It seemed there was still enough of a similarity to get a second glance, but at least he wasn't being mistaken for James Potter, as he'd originally thought would happen. The two hovering just inside the door were testament to that, as he was quite certain that they'd have spat out 'Potter' should they mistake him. "You can come in, if you want? I was hoping to meet some of my new classmates on the ride in anyway." Harry offered, hoping against hope that they would agree and he could properly meet them.

They shared a glance before nodding, conviction in their eyes. They lugged their luggage in, setting it on the rack above the seat opposite Harry. He took the opportunity to study them further. He was pretty certain they were who he thought they were, but he didn't know absolutely. For all he knew, there could have been another dark haired, dark eyed boy who was best friends with a vivacious red-head with emeralds for eyes. The boy he thought was Snape was looking much better than he'd feared. He wore clothes that seemed to be fairly new and fit him well. He couldn't see any evidence of bruises or other hurts, and the boy was brightly bickering with his friend again, making Harry smile.

"I'm Lily and this is Sev–"

"Severus," he cut in, rolling his eyes affectionately.

"Anyway, are you new? I don't recognize you, though you look a lot like someone else who goes to Hogwarts."

Harry could admit to being a bit nervous, he knew his father was a bit of a prat at this point still, and he didn't want to scare Lily by mentioning that she was his mother right away. For all that she was a witch, some things are just a bit too odd for even those raised with magic to handle all at once. "I'm Harry, Harry Potter. I'm just transferring in this year."

Severus seemed to see how fidgety he was getting from this line of questioning, and apparently chose to help him out. "What year are you in? Third? Fourth?"

"Er– No, I'll be retaking my Fifth year, there was an issue with my OWLs so the Ministry and Dumbledore told me just to do it again." He ended with a weak smile, sort of hoping to move away from this subject too.

"Well I'm a prefect this year, and Sev's well– Sev, so if you need anything come to one of us, okay? Since I'm a Gryffindor and he's a Slytherin you've got two out of four houses covered. Are you going to be sorted tonight at the feast?"

"I think so, Dumbledore told me to head in on the carriages but to wait where the first years do instead of going into the Great Hall. So, being a prefect, do you have time to have joined any of the clubs? And you, Severus, are you in any?"

"We're both in the Slug Club, where old Sluggy collects all who have connections or the potential to make connections. I got in on my potions talents and Lily excels overall, in Charms especially."

"Oh hush you. I do well enough, but you know as well as I do that I almost lost top spot many times throughout the years. And Professor Sluggy– Slughorn– Professor Slughorn really isn't that bad." Lily glanced over at Harry, as if she didn't want to be seen as disrespectful to a professor in front of someone she wasn't sure the reaction of. Harry himself was pretty sure that she called him 'old Sluggy', just like Severus did. He smiled at her, trying to convey that it was fine and he wasn't going to jump down her throat for perceived disrespect.

It seemed to do the trick as she smiled back at him, relaxing slightly and letting the conversation carry itself naturally. They chatted for hours, all the way up until they had to change into their uniforms, at which point Harry and Severus evacuated and then switched with Lily after she'd thrown on her robes. When they eventually parted ways after the carriage ride, with Harry heading over to the side room of the Great Hall and the duo going into the Hall proper, he felt that they'd made great strides in becoming friends. And he'd gotten to learn a lot about his mum, which was entirely new and refreshing.

Being sorted wasn't anywhere near as nerve-wracking as it had been the first time around. Granted, that could be because he'd done it before and knew what to expect. That even if he didn't truly fit into any one house, he wouldn't be sent packing for the Dursleys'. It also didn't hurt that he didn't have Ron going on about the test being trolls, or Hermione muttering passages from "Hogwarts: A History" behind him. Though he found that he did miss having them at his back, as they'd so often been before.

The first years he waited with just gave him a few side-eyes, as if wondering what this very tall – to them – young man was doing waiting in the side corridor instead of sitting at his table. He'd nodded his greeting to Professor McGonnagal, she hadn't been around much over the summer as she'd been to visit her family – her brother and his wife and kids, who had been taken from her far too young by the war. She hadn't said anything, merely nodding back.

McGonagall led the lot of them into the Great Hall, the little firsties following like ducklings and Harry trailing behind them. He'd be sorted after all of them after all, so why not stick to the back. The hat went through its yearly song, though it did notably sing more about coming together than any Harry'd experienced in the future.

There seemed to be a fairly even split between the houses, and there was a lot more cheering for the Slytherins than Harry was used to. He supposed that the war hadn't hit too hard yet and no one knew about the Slytherin connection. He did remember hearing about guerrilla attacks popping up across the UK but that no one really knew what was happening with it yet, no one but Dumbledore, that is.

After all the first years had been sorted, there was an awkward pause and plenty of whispering as Dumbledore began his small speech about Harry's entry to Hogwarts. He didn't announce that Harry was from the future, just that he would be joining the 5th year of whatever house he was sorted into. Harry didn't look off to the side, keeping focused on the front. He knew he'd get lost in his thoughts if he let his eyes or mind wander. And being called upon multiple times in front of the entire school wouldn't be as easy to laugh off as when it happened in classes, it'd be a fair bit more embarrassing.

"Potter, Harry."

"What?!" Harry heard James practically yell from the Gryffindor table. He ignored it and walked up to the stool. After he'd sat down, he made eye contact with a very shocked looking James before the hat covered his eyes.

Ah yes, Harry Potter. Albus told me about you. Granted, he didn't tell me much as he prefers not to tip this old hat, as it were, before I meet new students. I can see you used to be a Gryffindor, though I apparently did push for Slytherin. Tell me, do you feel you made the right choice? You may be brave, loyal, and have more brains than many would think, but do you not wonder how things would have gone if you'd nurtured your cunning and self-preservation?

Harry had, in fact, wondered that very same thing. He'd wondered if he'd have even gotten into all of the messes he'd found himself in over his Hogwarts years if he'd never whispered the words, "not Slytherin". But then he'd also wondered whether he'd have been able to make the friends he did, and gain the family he had in Sirius, Hermione, and the Weasleys. He wondered if he'd have even met most of them, or Luna and Neville. After all, there were so many people in other houses that he couldn't have picked out in a lineup.

Well I suppose there is no use in wonderings when what's done is done. I hope you enjoy rebuilding your family in… "Gryffindor!"