DISCLAIMER: Not mine… yeah

AUTHER'S NOTE: I just realized that in chapter four I didn't say where I had found that lullaby. It's called "Goodnight" and it is by Miss Amy Lee, the lead singer of Evanescence. If you have some time listen to it… It's really pretty. Okay… Well this chapter is a bit graphic, but if you've read the rest of it, I think you can handle it! Anyway on to chapter 11!

Chapter Eleven: Girlfriends and Nightmares

"Whoa!" Ron exclaimed. "Harry, those are your parents!"

"Really? I hadn't noticed," said Harry, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Help me get her on the couch!"

"Right, sorry, mate…" said Ron, not taking his wide eyes off of the two other Potters. He slowly made his way backwards to where Harry had barely caught Hermione when she fainted. He hadn't removed his eyes from Harry's parents, who were staring at Hermione in concern.

"Ron!" Harry nearly shouted. "I kinda need your help… like…. I don't know… uh… NOW!" He was getting irritated.

"R-right!" Ron replied, shaking his head to bring himself back to reality. Harry and Ron lifted Hermione and set her on the couch in the middle of the sitting room.

"I'll go get her a cool washcloth," Lily said softly.

"Okay, thanks, mum," Harry replied, sitting near Hermione's feet. Ron took a seat in a squishy armchair near her head.

"So… You're Ron, eh?" James started awkwardly.

"Er… yeah," Ron replied. "Sorry about that, it's just for some reason, someone didn't let us know that you two were back!" He threw a look at Harry.

"Sorry!" Harry said defensively. "I just figured it was one of those things that you needed to find out in person! Oh, and Sirius is back too."

"Here's a washcloth, dear," Lily said walking back into the room. She folded the washcloth and laid it across Hermione's head. The cool water made Hermione stir a bit before her liquid chocolate eyes fluttered open and focused again.

"W-what happened?" she asked, sitting up slowly, putting a hand to her head.

"Well you fainted," Ron told her.

"She knows that, mate," Harry told him rolling his eyes. "Do you remember anything?"

"I remember flooing here and t-then we saw… OH MY GOSH! WE SAW YOUR PARENTS!" Hermione said, realization playing on her features. She looked up to the faces of Lily and James Potter and gaped openly.

"Hello… Um… You must be Hermione," Lily said, a bit embarrassed at being gaped at. "It's very nice to meet you! I'm Lily and this is my husband James, and, as I'm sure you've guessed, we're Harry's parents!"

"Er… um… y-yeah, um… it's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Potter," Hermione responded trying to pull herself out of her shock.

"Please, it's Lily," Harry's mother said smiling. "Anyway I was just about to start dinner, so make yourselves at home. I'll call you when dinner is ready." With that, she left the room and went into the kitchen to start dinner.

The next half an hour was spent with James, Harry, Ron, and Hermione chatting away about their adventures at Hogwarts and about life in general. James told Ron and Hermione how he, Lily, and Sirius came back, and received a shocked reaction, before Hermione noticed something.

"Hey, shouldn't you be helping Mrs. P- I mean, Lily make dinner?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, I know when my dad doesn't offer to help he has to sleep on the couch," Ron teased.

"Well not with Lily," James stated. "The last time I tried to help in the kitchen she told me that I was just in the way and that if I ever came into the kitchen while she was cooking again, then I would have to sleep outside. So I just stay out of the way."

"Wow, Harry! Your mum sounds like Ginny!" Ron said teasingly.

"Shut up!" Harry said, pushing Ron, but blushing nonetheless.

"Who's Ginny?" James asked. Harry had failed to mention her, "accidentally" of course.

"She's my sister, but she also happens to be Harry's girlfriend," Ron said smirking.

"Harry's got a girlfriend?" Lily asked, suddenly walking into the room.

"Yeah, apparently her name is Ginny Weasley," James said. "Ron's sister. A red head I assume." Harry nodded.

"Wow, Harry, you didn't tell them?" Hermione asked innocently, but Harry could see the horns. "Why ever not?"

"Shut up, you guys!" Harry said, his blush deepening. "Besides, Ron, I thought you were against it?"

"I was," Ron said. "But I talked to her about it and I think you're the best person for her."

"Gee, thanks, mate," said Harry rolling his eyes.

"Well we'll have to meet her too," Lily said happily. "But for now, let's eat!"

The five of them stood and went into the kitchen where an amazing-smelling meal was waiting for them. They all sat around the table and began to eat. They all complemented Lily on her excellent lasagna. They talked and laughed

"So, Harry tell us about Miss Ginny," James stated after they had finished a dessert of chocolate cake.

"Well what do you want me to tell?" Harry asked, again blushing.

"When did you start going out with her?" Lily asked.

"About a month ago," Harry said.

"Is she cute?" James teased.

"Yes," Harry admitted, shyly.

"Is who cute?" came a voice from the doorway.

They all turned to see a young redheaded girl standing with her hands on her hips. She had a threatening look on her face.

"Ginny!" Ron said surprised. "We weren't expecting you!"

"We were just talking about you!" James said.

"Don't play cute with me Harry Potter!" she replied.

"What? Oh! I'm not Harry!"

"Excuse me?"

"Gin, that's my dad," Harry told her.

Her eyes snapped over to Harry and then back to James. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped in shock. "Whoa! You do look just like him!" she said in awe. "Oh, but he's got hazel eyes."

"Yeah, and we really were talking about you," he said.

"Aw… You think I'm cute?" Ginny asked smiling.

"Er… y-yeah," Harry muttered, blushing yet again. Ginny giggled at the blush, her eyes shining. "Well, h-how did this happen?" Yet again James and Lily told the story of how they had return through the veil that Sirius had originally fallen into.

"Wow! So Sirius is back too, then?" she asked looking at Harry.

"Yeah," Harry replied nodding.

"Harry! That… that's AMAZING!" said Ginny, happily.

"I know!" Harry replied equally as happy. But he turned around too far to reveal the cut along his cheek from Uncle Vernon. Ginny gasped.

"Harry! What happened to your face?" she nearly shouted in concern.

"N-nothing," Harry said turning away. "It's not a big deal."

"We noticed it too," Hermione said.

"Yeah… We just figured it had something to do with your mad, uncle," Ron said.

"Well you figured right," James told him.

"What. Did. He. Do." Ginny asked, acidly, through clenched teeth. Her blue eyes were on fire.

"Well… he uh… h-he did some… er… stuff…" Harry told her.

"What do you mean stuff?" she asked. "What kind of stuff?"

"I… Gin, I… I don't know i-if…" Harry tried. Ginny's expression softened. She took a seat next to Harry and took his face in her hands.

"It's okay, Harry. I understand," she told him softly. "You don't have to tell me now. Just tell me when you're ready. I'll be there. I'll wait."

"Thanks," Harry said. It didn't really seem to be enough to say but he didn't know what else to say. But he didn't have to say anything at all. She understood him perfectly.

"So… uh why are you her anyway, Ginny?" Ron asked.

"Oh yeah! Mum says it's time to come home," Ginny said. "She said that Hermione's staying with us tonight because we are going to Diagon Ally tomorrow."

"Oh! Well we should probably get going then!" Hermione exclaimed. "Thank you so much for the meal Mrs. Po- I mean, Lily!"

"Yeah! Thanks!" Ron said.

"Bye you guys! It was nice to meet you!" Lily said.

"Yeah feel free to drop by any time!" James told them.

"See ya," said Harry. Hermione threw her arms around Harry's neck in a hug.

"Bye, Harry. It was so good to see you again!" she said.

"See ya, mate!" Ron said, pounding his fist with Harry's.

Ginny rushed forward and gave Harry a forceful kiss on the lips. Harry's eyes widened at first but then he kissed her back. Everyone else averted their eyes. Ginny pulled back and smiled. "Bye," she said. Then her, Ron and Hermione flooed back to The Burrow.

"Er… bye," he whispered after her. Then, he remembered that both of his parents had witnessed the scene. "Er… uh… I… um… well…"

"Really?" James teased. "That was intriguing."

Harry blushed.

"Oh leave him alone, James!" Lily scolded. "I thought it was cute! Well, anyway, sweetie, it's well after 10 o'clock. Why don't you go get ready for bed?"

"Okay," Harry agreed. He would do anything to get out of that awkward situation.

One hour later found Harry in his pajamas, face washed, curled up in his giant bed in his new room. His parents had tucked him in just like they had the past few nights and Harry began to drift into sleep.

He was back. Harry was back at the Dursley's. How did he get here? Where were his mum and dad? They had to come and get him out of here! Then, he looked up.

Harry felt fear seize him. Uncle Vernon was above him hitting him with his belt. The man was laughing at him. The pain was unbearable Then, Harry heard it. The sickening sound of a zipper being unzipped. He struggled to get away from the beefy man. He screamed.

"Shut up!" Uncle Vernon spat. "You'll like it you little shit!"

"No please, don't!" Harry begged.

Uncle Vernon began to pull Harry's pants off of him.

"NOOOO!"

"Harry," this voice was different. It was soothing… kind.

"Harry," the voice was louder now. His room at the Dursley's was beginning to fade into darkness.

"Harry," Lily called desperately trying to get her son to wake from his nightmare. To her relief Harry's eyes began to flutter open. She watched as Harry's tear-filled emerald eyes darted around the room trying to remember where he was. She was again grateful when his eyes landed on her and filled with overwhelming relief. He relaxed in her arms, buried his face in her shoulder, and sobbed. "Shh… It's okay now, love. It's going to be all right. Shh…"

"It's over now, son," James said laying a hand on Harry's back and rubbing circles in between his shoulder blades, soothingly. Harry choked out the rest of his sobs as he cried himself to sleep on his mother's shoulder.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay so if you haven't noticed I'm a really big Harry and Ginny fan. I just think it's soooo cute! So anyway in my story Harry and Ginny get together at the end of the 5th book, rather then the end of the 6th book! So yeah R&R if you'd like!