Living Again

Summary: 20 years after the fall of Voldemort, something extraordinary happens. Nymphadora and Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Lily and James Potter return to life. Can they catch up with what they missed in the years since they died? And can they help Harry to move on from the death of his daughter? Non-Epilogue compliant. Set in a parallel world to my other fic Heiress of Slytherin.

Rating: T for potential language and violence.

Chapter 1: Meetings and Miracles

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Minister Shacklebolt sat in a meeting being briefed by his department heads and trying to figure out just how such an otherwise non-remarkable day had turned into a nightmare. Everyone was on edge as the events of the day were explained. Currently, Patrick Nielson, head of the auror division had the floor.

"At precisely 1:13 PM, this day, September 06, 2018, a massive magical blackout ripped through the ministry of magic, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the village of Godric's Hollow. During the time of the blackout's effect, all magic was temporarily rendered useless in these areas. No less than 27 people within the ministry were injured trying to flee including two employees and one travelling dignitary from Bulgaria. All were treated at St. Mungos and have since been released. When the blackout cleared at 1:18 PM, five people previously thought dead appeared in the locations of their deaths.

Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin, recorded as deceased on May 2, 1998 in the final battle against Voldemort, appeared near the south towers of Hogwarts and were immediately escorted to the head office. Headmistress Fawcett immediately contacted the ministry, and said subjects were escorted into ministry holdings until such time as their identities can be verified.

Notorious Azkaban escapee, Sirius Black, listed as presumed dead on June 6, 1996, appeared in the department of mysteries. Additional circumstances regarding his appearance remain classified level 17 per DoM request. DoM personnel escorted Black into ministry holding until such time as his identity can be verified. Sirius Black was cleared of all charges against him in post-war hearings dated June of 1998.

The most notable appearance of the day was of Lily and James Potter who appeared just in front of the rubble of their former home in Godric's Hollow. Neighbors contacted the ministry and both have been brought into ministry holdings until such time as their identities can be verified.

All person's mentioned appear to be in perfect health aside from being confused as to what has happened to them. None appear to have aged since the day of their deaths, and the last memories of each are of the events just prior to their murders. An arrangement has been made with the healers at Saint Mungos for Harry Potter to be escorted in tomorrow in hopes that he can verify their identities.

There are no leads yet as to the cause of this phenomenon, but ministry aurors in collaboration with the department of mysteries are working closely to find the perpetrator of these events."

As he finished speaking, Nielson took his seat. The press had been allowed to attend the briefing in hopes that they could placate the magical community's curiosity about the events. The room was immediately abuzz with questions from media representatives wanting more information. Kingsley cleared his throat and cast a voice amplification spell on himself in order to insure that he was heard.

"Thank you, Nielson. That was most enlightening. The rest of this meeting will be a closed session, so I must ask that all media to please leave at this time. You will be updated by my office as new details become available."

Disappointed, yet clearly excited, the media began to make their way out. When the last of them had left, Kingsley turned to Nielson, "Are you certain that it is a good idea to bring Harry here? There are others who could make the identifications."

"True but there are none who know them as well as Harry does. There are contingency plans available should he be unable to assist us, but according to his healers he has been doing very well lately. Precautions have been accounted for. There will be a contingency of six healers standing by and I'll have an auror team there as well in case something goes wrong."

"Good. That sounds reasonable then. What about Ted Lupin? Has he been contacted?"

"Yes. He will arrive shortly after Harry. We are hoping that his presence may prove calming to Harry. He has shown remarkable skill in talking him down in the past, and I want this visit to be as safe as possible for Harry."

"It sounds as though you have everything taken care of on that account. In that case, I want everyone," glancing around the room to emphasize his words, "and I do mean everyone working to get to the bottom of this case. I want the one responsible found and in ministry custody as soon as possible. We will hold another briefing tomorrow evening. Does anyone have anything further to add before we adjourn?" When no one volunteered to speak, Kingsley continued, "Dismissed."

Returning to his office, Kingsley wearily sunk into a chair. It had been a long day, and Kingsley knew that it would only keep getting longer. Shaking his head, he murmured to himself, "I will never take normalcy for granted again."

SBRLDLJPLPHPTL

Sirius sat in the ministry holding cell nervously awaiting his fate. The last he recalled, he had been dueling with his cousin in the department of mysteries. Then, suddenly, the battle had disappeared, and he had found himself surrounded by Unspeakables all with their wands trained on him. They had taken him into custody and placed him in a holding cell in the lower levels of the ministry. He had tried to ask what happened, but everyone had promptly ignored him. Now, he sat awaiting his doom. Any minute now, he knew, a dementor would come through the door to kiss him. He shuddered at the thought and couldn't help but be afraid. There was nothing to be done. No one could help him now, and not even Padfoot could walk through solid walls. All he could do was wait and hope that somehow things would work out in his favor.

Remus and Dora Lupin looked around in utter confusion. Only moments previously they had been engaged in duels with Dolohov and Lestrange. They had been surrounded by the chaos of battle and the rubble from the once great school. All of a sudden, everything vanished and they found themselves next to a perfectly restored castle on a bright, sunshiny day. Even more surprising was the person standing in front of them, "Miss Fawcett? Is that you?" Remus asked, vaguely recognizing the girl as one that he once taught. Fawcett had been a Ravenclaw in the same year as the Weasley twins. This girl was much too old to possible be the same girl as he remembered, and yet she answered, a look of utter shock on her face, "Yes. That is my name. I am the headmistress of the school. You both must be very disoriented. Please come with me, and we will try to sort out what has happened." Both had dazedly followed Headmistress Fawcett to her office and waited patiently as she contacted the ministry. They went with the aurors willingly, both wanting to get to the bottom of what had happened to them as soon as possible.

Lily and James Potter shakily surveyed their surroundings. Lily shrieked when she saw the house. The last they recalled was that Voldemort had somehow found them and showed up at their house. Now, seeing the remains of their home, the same thought ran through both of their minds. Where was Harry? Running forward Lily began desperately shifting the rubble, calling for her son all the while. James just managed to keep his head, and when he read the plaque set in front of the rubble, he called his wife to him. "He's alive! Lily, he's alive!" His smile faltered some as he realized what else he'd read, "But…according to this…we're dead…" Confusion stole over both their faces. How could they be dead if they were standing right there? Sensing movement to his left, James looked up to find they were surrounded. With a pop, aurors arrived on the scene and Lily and James were escorted away, screaming for answers and receiving none.

Sirius screeched loudly when the cell door opened. "I didn't do it. It was Pettigrew. Please believe me! PLEASE! I'll submit to Veritiserum. I'll…" Sirius cut off as he realized who had walked through the door. While he found it surprising that Remus and his cousin would be allowed to visit, it was the other two people that confused him. His mouth dropped open in shock. "James? ...Prongs? ...Lily? ...What, what, what…?" Deciding he must be dead, Sirius fell promptly to the floor in a dead faint. When he woke again, it was to the same image as before. Pinching himself, "OWWWW! That hurt…Wait a minute, this is impossible," he said pointing his fingers at them in an accusing manner. He looked to Moony hoping for answers. After all, he was always the smart one. The answer he received, however, only served to add to his confusion.

"I could say the same thing." Moony replied quietly, "You died two years ago Padfoot."

"Are we all dead then?" asked Lily as James hugged her close to him, "Is this the afterlife?"

None of them had an answer.

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AN: I originally planned to write out the scene between Harry and the "reborn" in this chapter, but I felt that I needed to expand the back story a bit before I brought him in, so that will be the topic of the next chapter. I will also explain why Harry currently resides in St. Mungos. Let me know what you think so far and hopefully I'll post more soon. The more reviews I get, the more motivated I become when writing. Thanks to the two who reviewed within the first few hours that this story was published. I hope you enjoy the new chapter.