Thank you for your patience everyone.

I have started my teacher training but I decided that before it gets too busy to give you guys a gift… a long new chapter.

Hope you guys enjoy :)

Chapter 16: A Soul Of His Own

Cold. Smooth. Hard. Flat?

The questions running through his mind as Harry slowly brought himself back to consciousness. A slight shiver made him open his eyes as he scanned the surroundings, trying to find out where the chill was coming front.

Blinking, there was white everywhere, blinding him, stabbing his eyeballs and making him want to close his eyes and curl back into a ball. As he sat up, his hand reaching up to rub the irritation away, he belatedly realised that there were no glasses on his face yet his vision was perfect.

"Hello?" he called out, looking for a sign that there was life somewhere around him.

A door flickered to existence, the kind that framed the entrance to the Great Hall at Hogwarts, heavy and ornate-looking, and taking it as a sign – as there was no one else to direct him otherwise – he walked forward and, glancing around for one last time, he knocked on the lion-shaped knocker and waited. The door creaked open and he slipped through… to what appeared to be a cosy living room.

Harry stared around him at how it was so similar to the Burrow, yet so different, but in a familiar way. Red and gold plumped-up cushions rested atop a cream sofa, a baby blue blanket draped across one end, with a matching armchair and footstool perpendicular to it. Facing a marble-arched fireplace topped with trinkets and gadgets, and what appeared to be a flat-screen TV with a DVD player in the cabinet that it was resting on. A coffee table with cups, mugs and a plate of recently eaten biscuits, judging by the crumbs that were scattered on the plate itself. A door leading to what Harry guessed was the kitchen and dining room was further along, but what caught Harry's eyes were the chest of children toys resting in the corner. A peek through the door to his left gave a glance through to the hall where a pram stood against a wall, ready to go out into the park.

Along the walls were framed pictures and when Harry crept forward silently to have a look, he stopped in shock.

A black-haired baby was being thrown into the air and back down into his father's arms, both laughing in glee; a mother making zoomies when trying to feed the fussing baby in the high-chair some porridge; the baby sitting on the carpet in front of the fireplace, a black dog lying next to him and wagging his tail as the baby tried to catch it whilst a little distance away was a cat that was huddled under the coffee table, not looking pleased at the mongrel; the mother and father holding the baby in their arms and smiling into the camera, a happy family of three… all magical, moving pictures showing the brief happy life of this small family.

"Hello son," a familiar voice said and Harry spun around, his mouth dropping open as his father walked forward, glasses hanging crooked and lopsided and hair messy from top to the sides, beaming in joy and opening his arms, beckoning for his boy to come.

Shaking, Harry leapt forward, and gripped his father to him to make sure this was not a dream, as he had experienced so many times in his cupboard. The lonely, neglected little boy inside of him jumped for joy at the feeling of love pouring off his father. His jealousness of Dudley having his parents alive and experiencing moments like this (very rare, but still there) disappeared at that moment as he soaked up the moment, and the smell of his father filled him up like a balloon.

After what spent like an eternity in his father's arms, he felt a warm hand rest on his shoulder and spinning around, he felt the breath knock out of him a second time as his eyes glanced into ones so familiar to him, ones that looked at him every time he looked into a mirror, and soaked up the sight of him mother in all her beauty, from her long red hair that shone like the fire she possessed in her soul, to her kind green eyes so very like his own, down to her petite frame.

"My beautiful baby boy," she breathed out, cupping his face with her hands as she soaked in the sight of her son, and vice versa, before pulling him into the biggest embrace. Harry felt the motherly love that the little boy, who was locked under the stairs for wishing his Aunt Petunia a 'Happy Mother's Day' and making her a card, craved for so intensely that he felt the tears trickle down his face in happiness. The little boy that had grown so much, that she had missed so much, was here in her arms, and as she felt James join them both, Lily cried in happiness that her family were reunited after that horrible tragedy 14 years ago.

"I'm so sorry," Harry said sorrowfully as he looked at both his parents, making sure they were still there with him.

"What for love?" Lily asked, taking his hand into her own and caressing it, soothing her boy like when he was a baby.

"You both sacrificed yourselves for me, and yet it's selfish of me to want to have you back, that I wish it were someone else instead of me that was the one to defeat Voldemort."

"That's not being selfish, but being human," James said, pushing his glasses up his nose and smiling at his son, who looked up at him in disbelief.

"How can wishing for someone else to have the same fate as me be not selfish?" Harry asked.

"We've seen just how you've lived your life since being given to by wretched sister and her whale of a husband and pig of a son," Lily said in pain, "and life has not been kind to you. It's normal for someone who's been through so much pain and neglect in their life to wish for these things."

"When Dumbledore gets here, I'll be having a few words of my own with the old geezer," James threated cracking his knuckles, "as well as your mutt of a godfather."

"Sirius is the best," Harry protested, "he's tried to be there for me but the oaf of a Minister refuses to see reason."

"As well as a certain Granger?" James smirked slyly as Harry blushed.

"James, don't embarrass my son," Lily said, poking her husband in the ribs, "she's a wonderful girl honey and we are so grateful she is in your life," she beamed at her son and Harry blushed slightly before hugging his mother.

How he craved for these conversations and this interaction, Harry thought as he watched his mother and father poke and tease each other lovingly.

"Now, onto the main business of why you're here," Lily said and James nodded.

"Voldemort will have felt the Horcrux in you be destroyed so you need to be extra careful. Start your training immediately with Salazar and ask him to teach you as much self-defence without your wands as well as with magic," James said seriously and Lily nodded, squeezing Harry's hands in comfort.

"I don't want to go back, I want to stay here with you guys," Harry said with pain stabbing his heart at having to leave his parents after just getting them.

"I know sweetie but we'll always be here," Lily said, tapping his heart gently and smiling sadly, "but this is not the time yet. You have Hermione, Sirius, Remus, and many other allies and friends that care for you."

"But I want you guys," Harry said sadly, not caring if he sounded like a young child, but the anxiety was starting to creep up and he was finding it hard to breathe.

"Take deep breaths buddy… come on, breath with me… in, out, in out," James coached as he watched his son take deep shaky breaths with his eyes squeezed tightly shut, Lily rubbing his back in worry as they worked together to destress their son.

Harry opened his eyes and met the concerned look of his parents and his breathing got a little easier.

Gripping his parents' hands, he shook his head and pleaded with his eyes, "come with me, but don't leave me…"

Lily and James squished their son between them and hugged him tightly, as Harry started to sob.

"We love you so much but we'll see you soon. When you complete the mission and have lived to a ripe old age and had lots of children with our daughter-in-law (Harry blushed brightly), we'll be waiting for you," James said and Harry nodded slightly.

"I love you both so much," Harry said and knew with a resigned heart that he would have to go back. He couldn't let everyone else deal with Voldemort, and if he stayed, the first think the Dark Lord would to would be to come straight for Hermione and his other family and friends.

"And we do too… we are so proud of you, never forget that," Lily said tearfully, yet with a sad but proud smile on her face.

Harry nodded and they started to fade away. A few more tears escaped before he wiped them away and squared his shoulders to face whatever came his way. He would win this war, for everyone… but especially his parents.

Hermione fiddled with her robe for what felt like the 100th time. She flicked her eyes down to the still form of Harry, as she did every few seconds, and was about to take the opportunity to go the bathroom as there seemed to be no change to her beau, when she did a double take.

"Harry?" she breathed, hovering over her, and mulling to herself how she always seemed to be in a deja vu loop with how much time her boyfriend spent in some sort of Hospital Wing.

"Mrrgh," the boy in question mumbled as he twitched and squeezed his eyes open the tiniest fraction before groaning at the light blinding his already poor vision.

"One second," Hermione said and she hurried over, forgetting she had a wand, and pulled the curtains shut across the window which was charmed to give in sunlight, even though they were in one of the private wings underground Gringotts, as per Ragnok's decision.

"How are you feeling?" she said worried, her eyes flitting to his scar which seemed to have faded even more than when they took the Horcrux out a few hours ago.

"My head aches, but I've had worse," Harry mumbled as he pushed himself upright and thanked his girlfriend when she passed him some water. He gulped it gratefully and closed his eyes as he leaned back briefly to remember the glorious moments he had spent with his parents.

"I've got just the thing, the healers left it for when you would wake up," Hermione said, walking over to the cabinet across from the bed Harry was in and came back with 2 vials.

"Pain reliever and a pepper up," she said and Harry all but snatched them from her, swallowing them despite their not-so-nice taste.

"I saw my parents," Harry said after a few moments of gathering his thoughts and deciding what to tell his girlfriend first.

"James and Lily?" Hermione clarified in astonishment, slowly lowering herself into her chair next to the bed and Harry nodded, rubbing his eyes and knocking is glasses askew in the process.

"What did they say?"

"They are proud of me, that I am doing a good job and that they'll be waiting for me when I've lived to a ripe old age and had lots of grandbabies with their daughter-in-law," Harry said and looked over to Hermione.

"Daughter-in-law? So… they've picked someone out for you," Hermione said crestfallen, yet happy Harry had a chance to meet his parents.

"Yes," Harry said teasingly, yet Hermione did not notice.

"Is it someone we know from our time or from here?" she asked sadly, mind racing as to who would be suitable for her Harry.

"Yep, her name is Hermione and they approve," he said and watched as realisation hit his girlfriend who whipped her head around so quick Harry was sure she had cricked it.

"You git!" she yelled as she punched his closest limb, which was his arm.

"Ouch! Hermione I was just kidding," Harry protested under the onslaught of the bushy haired girl he loved and grabbing her arms to stop her, he leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. He smiled as she melted into his arms.

After a few moments, they broke apart and Hermione sniffed before hugging him tightly.

"Don't scare me like that again," she mumbled into his shoulder.

Harry tightened his arms around her and nodded.

"Shall we get out of here? I'm sure everyone is probably wondering where we are," Harry said and Hermione nodded.

After thanking Ragnok for his generosity and Salazar for his concern, a quick trip to Zonkos later found the two students exiting the Floo in the Headmaster's office.

"Thank you, Headmaster, for letting us go visit the Goblins," Hermione said stiffly, not forgiving the man yet for wanting to sacrifice Harry.

"No problem my dear. Was it a success?" Albus said looking over his glasses in concern at the two students. No matter what time they were from, they were still his students.

"Yes, the Goblins managed to remove it," Harry said, still a little weak that he had to grip the back of the chair he was standing behind. Hermione glanced at him worried but he shook his head and reassuringly smiled back at her.

"Well I can't imagine it was a painless procedure, so go and get some rest. I'll send you the feast, or what's left of it, to the common room." Dumbledore said and the two students nodded and set off for the door, Hermione holding Harry's hand in case he fell down.

"And Harry," Harry was about to turn the handle but turned to see the old wizard staring apologetically at him, "I'm sorry my boy. I should have explored every avenue rather than take the worst course of action. I don't expect you to accept my apologies yet but in time I hope you will."

"I'm not a naïve little boy Dumbledore, and you should have kept that in mind before making me the sheep for slaughter," Harry said coldly.

"Of course," Albus nodded sadly.

"We'll see you in the morning Headmaster," Hermione said softly as the two of them left the office.

Crowded by four over-excited boys the next morning, as if they were celebrating Christmas – and it really felt like it last night when Harry and Hermione entered the common room and out came a shrunken down bag filled to the brim with Zonko goodies – Harry rubbed his temples as Hermione buttered some toast and shoved it on his plate with a glare that meant death if he did not eat it.

"Guys, for the last time, would you please shut up!" Harry said in an annoyed tone and the Marauders took the cue to settle down as much as they could in their seats – with the occasional twitch.

"And don't be pranking everyone around the castle the next few days," Hermione warned as she tried to shake the horrible thoughts that entered her mind, which involved floating students and teachers, dung bombs stinking up the corridors, and Merlin knows what else that these four troublemakers would conjure up…

Honestly, they were worse than Fred and George, up until the point where she actually missed them.

"Post is here," Remus pointed, trying to distract everyone and Harry and Hermione looked up to see a tawny barn owl land in front of them and offered his leg to them.

Another one with the Daily Prophet landed in front of Hermione, so Harry untied the scroll and gave the owl some bacon as thanks before it flew away to the owlery for a good sleep.

"It's from Sal," Harry said and Hermione leant in to read what Salazar had written.

Dear Harry and Hermione,

I hope you feel better Harry because training starts tonight.

Use the portkeys attached to the trinkets I bestowed to you at 9pm tonight.

The password is "Parsel".

Sal

Harry and Hermione looked at each other and nodded in determination. They would be ready this time round.

Before Dumbledore could stand to make the morning announcements, the doors to the Great Hall banged open and in marched the Minister for Magic and a dozen Aurors.

"Minister, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here on a Friday morning?" the Headmaster asked cheerily, making his way over swiftly with McGonagall and Flitwick following.

"Albus, Minerva, Filius," the Minister greeted with a slight nod, "I'm afraid I'm here with a warrant."

"A warrant?" McGonagall asked puzzled, "whatever for?"

"To bring in Harry Potter for questioning about the night he duelled He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named about suspicious activity and the use of possible Dark Magic," the Minister stated and the Aurors swivelled around, synchronously pulling out their wands on the individual himself, who started to rise from his seat, unsheathing his wand for defence.

The Hall was silent as Harry and the Aurors faced off each other.

"I'm afraid I will not permit this Minister," Albus said stone-faced, unsheathing his wand in case.

"Come now, it will be much easier for us if you come willingly Potter," the Auror to the left of the Minister said coldly.

"I think not Dawlish," Harry answered back in the same cold tone, recognising the same features as similar to the wizard in the future.

"Then we have no choice but to use force," the Minister said and Hermione scoffed derisively.

"You want a scapegoat Minister Bagnold," she snorted coldly and the Minister shook her head.

"Merely answers, Miss Granger. Perhaps you would like to volunteer some," the Minister said as a few Aurors turned to point their wands at Hermione but Harry snarled as he put himself in front of her.

"You leave her out of this, the only thing she was guilty of was spitting in the face of Voldemort when he demanded she be her fuck toy," Harry said enraged and fury sparking the end of his wand.

"Language Potter, we can make your life not so very pleasant," the Minister said.

"Try me," he challenged and lifted his wand higher in response to the threat.

"Wand away boy," another Auror said but Harry had had enough, a curse on the tip of his tongue, when the Headmaster spoke up.

"That is enough. They are my students and as far as I know, the Ministry cannot question a student without their guardian being here, what with them being a minor," Albus said and everyone took a step back.

"He has no guardian Albus, he is not even in the records in the Ministry," Bagnold replied defiantly.

"He had me."

Everyone turned to the doors of the Great Hall a second time, as a familiar figure strode up to the altercation.

"Dad?" "Charlus."

James was confused, yet silent as Albus walked forward to shake the Head of the DMLE's hand as they got to the group.

"I am in loco parentis for my nephew," Charlus said, looking disapprovingly to the Minister, but not before winking discretely at Harry.

"Charlus… I did not know you had a nephew," Bagnold stuttered.

"Well if you has asked me I would have happily told you," Charlus said before glaring at the Aurors who still had their wands raised to attack, "and tell your Aurors to put their wands away Dawlish before I disarm all of you."

Dawlish blushed but gestured for the squad of Aurors to put the wands away.

"Now if you follow me Minister, Charlus, Harry and Hermione, we can discuss this somewhere more private, where you will be free to ask Mr Potter as many questions as you want, within reason," Albus said, stressing the last part to an embarrassed Minister.

With that McGonagall ushered Harry and Hermione along in front, with Hermione trying to calm a still angry Harry down, as the entourage made their way to the Headmaster's office.

And that's all she wrote… until next week.

I am working on a new chapter as we speak so do not be disheartened friends!

Please read and review… I would be so grateful if you would.