Chapter 4: The Return

3rd, August, Tuesday, 1998.

Barley a minute after Death stopped speaking a door shaped portal opened and a figure floated out followed by seven people.

"Ah, Life, how nice of you to join us." Death said to the figure.

The figure, identified as Life, looked like the opposite of Death. Where Death was black or grey, Life was white or cream coloured, the only similarity was the eye's. Like Death's, Life's eyes were glowing with a soft golden light.

"Yes well you know how Lady Fate gets when it comes to us entering the human world." Life said with a chuckle.

"True," Death replied then turned back to the people seated at the table, "This is my brother Life everybody. Life have you explained to the returnee's what has been done?"

"Of course I have do you really think I wouldn't, brother mine?" Life said looking insulted.

Death just rolled his eye's as Life turned to the people behind him.

"This is where we leave you. Please be more careful with your lives we wont be able to bring you back if you die again." Life said sternly to the returnees who nodded.

Then both Life and Death floated back through the portal and dissapeared.

Everyone just sat or stood in silence staring at the returnees. Fred Weasley looking exactly the same as his twin, but with both ears. Remus and Nymphadora Lupin were looking younger as was Sirius Black as they had been aged back to thier 21 year old bodies, the two Potters not looking any older than they did when they died and Regulus Black looking like a younger version of Sirius at 17 years old.

The silence was broken by George saying, "Fred?" in an unbelieving voice that croaked a little.

Fred grinned and said, "Missed me Georgie?"

All of a sudden George was up and hugging Fred crying with happieness at finaly having his twin back then Molly was hugging them both. That seemed to break the silence and everyone was on their feet and hugging everyone. Andromeda was hugging her daughter and son-in-law with Teddy in her arms. Harry went and hugged his godfather and his parents. Narcissa was hugging Regulus and Minerva just went around and gave everyone a hug and a smile (She even hugged Regulus who looked surprised).

After the greetings and hugs were done Sirius turned to James and said, "I think they missed us Prong's."

James laughed and said, "I think your right Padfoot, what do you think Moony?"

Remus smiled at hearing the familiar banter again after so many years. "Of course they did Prong's." he replied smiling as Teddy, in his grandmothers arms, changed his hair from looking like Harry's to looking like Sirius's then going through the colours of the rainbow finaly settling on turquoise with Remus's style.

Harry then spoke up, "Welcome back all of you, we have missed you all terribly." he said smiling and took Teddy from Andromeda.

"I'll seccond that." Ginny said.

"So how are we going to get caught up?" Lily asked getting nod's from those who retuned, "None of us know anything that happened after our deaths other than that Voldemort is gone for good and that it involved Harry somehow." she said sounding a little confused and a little worried.

"Well I think we will use a pensive and show you what you have missed, but how about we do introductions first? We know all of you but I'm pretty sure you don't know all of us." said Hermione wisley.

"True," said James, "we only recognise people who were either in the afterlife with us or were in the Order of the Phoenix during the first war." he said pointing to himself and Lily.

"I don't know who you all are, as I wasn't in the Order, but I think I've seen most of your face's somewhere. Only the people that had been born before I died though, obviously." Regulus said. "Also I don't know if Dumbledore told you but he used to have someone who sent him information on Death Eater activity anonymously, it was me, I just want to make it clear that yes I was a Death Eater, but I wanted out a year before I died." he explained.

Harry nodded, "It may be best if you don't explain how you died yet, Regulus, your death is explained to us by Kreacher in our seventh year which we will be showing later on." he explained. Regulus nodded when suddenly Sirius ran and hugged his little brother.

"I knew it. I knew you'd see sense and see that I was right!" Sirius was whispering to his brother.

"Get off Sirius, remember I've already told you this when we were in the afterlife, just not how I died." Regulus complained.

"Right well, Introductions. I'm Hermione Granger, one of Harry's best friends." Hermione then motioned for the rest to introduce themselves.

"I'm Ron Weasley, the youngest Weasley son and Harry's other best friend."

"I remember you." Lily said suddenly, "You and Harry used to play together at order meetings with Neville Longbottom."

"Really?" Harry and Ron said together then laughed.

"I'm Ginny Weasley, the youngest Weasley child and the first female Weasley born in ten

generations. I'm also Harry's girlfriend." Sirius wolf-whistled and was smacked over the head by Lily while Harry said "Shut it Snuffles." sending everyone into fits of laughter, except Sirius, who pouted.

"I'm George Weasley, Freds twin." George said once everyone had stopped laughing.

"I'm Percy Weasley, the third oldest son."

"I'm Charlie Weasley, the seccond oldest son."

"I'm Bill Weasley, I'm the oldest Weasley son, and this is my wife Fluer." Bill said putting an arm around Fluer.

"And obviosly I'm Aurthur Weasley and this is my wife Molly."

James and Lily nodded remembering the Weasley family.

"I'm Andromeda Tonks, Nymphadora's mother and Sirius and Regulus's cousin. Just call me Andy." Andy said smiling.

"Don't call me Nymphadora, Mum. Everyone just call me Dora." they all nodded.

"I'm Narcissa Malfoy, this is my son Draco. We are both the cousins of Sirius and Regulus. Like with my sister, Andy, just call me Cissy. We are also both changing our last name's to Black as I'm divorcing my husband."

Sirius stared. Cissy noticed this and said, "Sirius I've changed." Sirius looked suspicious but nodded then turned to Draco. "He has changed as well Sirius."

Sirius looked to Harry for comformation and Harry said, "They really have changed. Draco is becoming a good friend. He's a great Uncle figure to Teddy as well, despite being cousins." he added to Remus and Dora who smiled at Draco.

Sirius sighed but wasn't as suspicious as before.

"I think you all remember me don't you?" McGonnogall said.

"Minnie." James and Sirius shouted.

"It's nice to see you again Professor." Lily said rolling her eyes at her husband and Sirius. Minerva smiled.

"And I'm Harry Potter, obviously. Oh and this little boy is Remus and Dora's son Teddy Lupin." Harry said finishing the introdutions.

"Well its nice to meet you all and see you all again." Lily said.

"Yes, definatley." Remus said smiling at everyone.

"Well why dont we have dinner." Molly said. Everyone agreed. Soon they all had a plate of food in

front of them and were happily chatting. Teddy was fast asleep on Harry's shoulder.

"So everyone," Harry said when everyone had finished eating and were seated in the living room which had been expanded when the Burrow was being rebuilt after the war, "we can go through all my years at Hogwarts as I know hardly anyone here who knows everything we've been through. It's really only Ron, Hermione and myself that know everything. Professor can we borrow the pensive until everyone is caught up?" he asked McGonogall.

"Of course Harry and I've told you before as you are no longer my sudent you can call me Minerva." she replied with a smile, "And that goes for the rest of you as well." she added.

"Oh Harry." Aurthur said suddenly, "I forgot to mention, Kingsley gave everyone here who work's at the ministry as long as we need off." he said while Percy nodded.

"And we can shut the shop for as long as we need to." Fred and George said together after a whispered conversation.

"We don't have to go into work until the end of the month." Bill said pointing at his wife then himself.

"Okay we will start with my first year in the morning then. And your all welcome to join us. Minerva, you too. Andy and Cissy as well, Draco it's up to you but remember you will look like a prat." Harry warned, Draco shrugged.

"I know I was a prat and I have apologised for it but there are some things I'd like to find out if they were true or not." Draco said. "You never know what to believe when it goes through the Hogwarts rumour mill. There was quite a few about you three." he added.

"What's todays date by the way? And what year is it?" Lily asked. "Life never told us." she explained.

"It's the 3rd of August, 1998." Harry replied. The returnees nodded.

"Thank you." Regulus said.

Molly soon sent everyone to bed and the Malfoy's and Andy, taking Remus and Dora, carrying Teddy with them, left for thier respective homes. Lily, James, Sirius and Regulus were staying at the Burrow in the one of the new guest room's.