The Hidden Room.
In the days following the war, Harry had spent most of his time in Dumbledore's old office. McGonagall had been named the new Headmistress of Hogwarts and he had offered to clear out Dumbledore's things.
One afternoon, after reading through a stack of Daily Prophet articles Dumbledore had saved, he found a strange indent in the wall next to the bookcase. He pushed his hand against it and heard a pssshh sound. A door opened up leading to a hidden room. Harry was puzzled. What could Dumbledore have needed a hidden room for?
Curious, he stepped inside. Two faces peered at him and Harry nearly fainted when he realised who they belonged to.
James and Lily Potter stared at the young man standing in front of them. For James it was like time had rewound and he was looking in a mirror.
Harry was in shock. He walked back out into the office and sat in Dumbledore's old chair. To distract himself from the shock, he opened the top drawer. Inside was a letter addressed to him. He recognised Dumbledore's handwriting. Intrigued, he opened it.
My dear Harry,
When you read this I will be gone. Do not be too mad with Severus. It was at my behest that he did what he did. Beside my bookshelf you will find a hidden room. I must ask your forgiveness forgiveness for what you find inside. It was for your own protection.
That fateful night I created an illusion of James and Lily to draw out Voldemort. I had not realised that he would try to kill you and therefore you were quite alone in the house. When I realised that Voldemort had killed your parents or rather the illusion I had created, I sent Hagrid straight to the house. It was an oversight and I was ashamed that I had let harm come to you. Your mother and father had no idea of what I had done but I had to keep them hidden to protect you. It was better that the world thought they were dead and you were safe. I hope you can forgive me.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
Harry had to read the letter numerous times. His parents had spent the past 16 years hiding in this hidden room. Did they know anything about him? Had Dumbledore told them what had happened during his school years?
James and Lily came out into the office.
"Son, your mother and I are so proud of you." James said moving to hug Harry. Harry grabbed his father and hugged as tightly as he could. Then turned to his mother and did the same.
"You look so much like your father." she said. Harry laughed.
"Yeah I know, but I have your eyes." He started to laugh more hysterically, causing James and Lily to exchange worried glances.
"Everyone has told me that since I was little." Harry explained once he had calmed down. James and Lily grinned. Then Lily grew serious again.
"There's something else you should know." As she spoke a figure came out of the room and stood behind them. A girl a little younger than Harry.
"This is your sister, Violet. She's 15. We kept her in here because it wouldn't have been easy to explain her family background without someone finding out we were alive and Dumbledore thought it was too big of a risk." Lily explained.
Violet stepped forward. She was almost as tall as him with long red hair like Lily's. Except she had brown eyes like James. Harry grinned. Violet was the reverse of him. Looked like Lily with James' eyes. She frowned wondering why he was grinning. When he explained she and Lily giggled and James chuckled and wondered aloud how he had never noticed before.
Everyone was gathered in the Great Hall eating lunch when Harry, Violet, James and Lily walked in. Sirius fell off his chair when he saw them. James couldn't help laughing as he pulled his old friend to his feet. Remus was in tears as he embraced James and Lily. As everyone started to get over the shock, Harry introduced Violet.
When Lily heard about how Petunia and Vernon had treated Harry as a child, all she could do was cry. The fact that they had made him sleep in a cupboard broke her heart. That Dumbledore had left Harry there broke it even more. James tried to console her but nothing would cheer her up. When Remus told them of how Harry had mastered the Patronus charm in his third year, Lily perked up a little. Remus went on to tell them how much Harry was like them and Lily began to smile again. She was proud that Harry had overcome how he had been treated and of all he had achieved.