Chapter One: Home Sweet Home

Harry was being attacked, at least his eyelids were. The sun wasn't very happy with him and he had no idea why. In fact the sun shouldn't have been here at all. The clock had just struck midnight hadn't it? Yet his surroundings were soft and familiar and there was a warm spot on his shoulder, a hand shaking him gently.

"Harry dear wake up, its me, mum."

"Huh, what ma..." Harry responded still lost in his sub-consciousness.

"C'mon my little Prongslet, wake up, that Bludger didn't hit you that hard did it?"

These voices, Harry lazily thought, they sounded familiar. It was as though a locked part of Harry's mind had just woken up. He surrendered to consciousness and opened his eyes: "Mum, dad, what's going on? Did I die?" He gasped in realisation.

"Harry stop being so melodramatic, we're all here breathing aren't we?" said James.

"But you can't be. Th-this is another trick. You can't be breathing, you died!" Harry exclaimed indignantly. He sat up to get a better look at those two faces he had longed to see his whole life. He reached out his hand towards Lily's face, as his fingertips met with her cheek a dizzy sensation engulfed him. His head fell hard against the soft pillow.

"He's lost consciousness again James, if I were to go to Mungos-"

"Don't worry Lily, he'll wake up soon." These were the last words Harry heard before the world faded away again.

Harry awoke sometime later and slowly got up. His hands instinctively reached for his glasses and found nothing. A small container containing contact lenses was on his bedside. He had never worn contact lenses before and by the time they were in his eyes all sleepiness had gone. He looked around the room: the curtains were drawn, but the hallway door was open, allowing for some light. It was a room from his dreams, and he was now occupying it. This idea of having his own room stung deep, as he had always known he could never have it, and yet here he was.

A sigh came from the bed and Harry looked down surprised to see an overwhelming mass of red hair with a density that challenged Hermione's bushy hair. What was going on?. Was he in a waking dream right now? The last thing he remembered was that everyone had died and it had been all his fault (of course they would deny that). He'd killed them, all of them, he was their murderer. The spell had taken everything he had to destroy Voldemort, and in return Voldemort had done something which resulted in the deaths of everyone Harry had come to love. Harry should have known, this was Voldemort, and when dealing with the devil... Harry sat there numbly as all the regrets within him boiled to a whistling point; he had no way to breathe for they were caught in his throat.

He considered the red head on his bed, was it really his mother? In the moment that thought was ruminated, his heart held it tightly, unable to let it go. He could feel it. This was no trick. Reaching out like earlier Harry's fingers touched the red hair, hesitantly, hoping she wouldn't disappear. She didn't. Her hair was soft and real. Her hand, he moved to hold her hand, her hand was tense, yet delicate. Warm. His own felt rough against them. So this was what it felt to hold a mother's hand. He cupped it with his own and sat there stroking her head not noticing a shadow had fallen upon the doorway.

James Potter stood at the door smiling gently at mother and son. It wasn't until he cleared his breath that Harry looked up like a deer caught in the headlights, a baby deer, innocent and frightened. James laughed, "Welcome to the world of the living Harry, your mother has been fawning over you ever since you passed out. Was this your evil plan all along, getting hit by my Bludger so you wouldn't have to accept defeat? I was winning that match you know."

Harry played along. "Yes dad." 'Dad', the word sounded so alien in his mouth, as though it didn't quite fit him, it would though, in time. Harry felt he could get used to it. His parents, his parents were alive. Excitement was running through his veins, but apprehension was the shadow that tailed it. He nodded, "It was my plan after all."

Lily Potter's fingers twitched and she rose from her slumber. Looking worriedly at Harry she stroked his forehead. "Aaaah, James that scar you left him is quite a-"

"Bugger, I know Lily." Lily looked disapprovingly at her husband meanwhilst Harry pulled his hands to his forehead, he felt a small bump and a faint scar but the familiar lightning bolt shaped scar, it wasn't there. "Is there a mirror?" Harry asked weakly.

"Accio mirror", a floral glass mirror appeared in front of Harry and what Harry's reflection revealed shocked him. "The scar, it's gone" he whispered.

"No Harry," said James his tone lightly bordering patronising, "I think you'll find it's a new one, and it'll clear up in a few days, after all it's only a scratch."

"But-" Harry frowned.

"Don't worry, it'll clear up before school, we Potter men have standards to keep." James nudged him.

Lily yawned re-alerting the boys to her presence, "I think I'll go freshen up and start on a dinner since you slept right through the day Harry. James since this was your fault, you're doing help him down."

"Yes, Professor Potter" James grinned. "She can get quite strict sometimes, she refused to make dinner earlier while you were passed out, and I'm bloody starving, lets go son."

James aided Harry down the stairs. Harry felt with delight that his father, his father whose embrace he couldn't remember, was walking him down the stairs. The feeling was irrevocably wonderful. For the first time he was holding onto his father, leaning on him in his time of support. His dad. Harry started grinning from ear to ear. "Something funny Harry?"

"Just that dinner smells good," it did indeed, for the smell had wafted in from the kitchen and infiltrated their noses.

As they entered the dining room, Harry had a good look around; there was a high fireplace on one side, obviously connected to the Floo Network, and the whole room was furnished in a cream and olive green. The table sat elegantly, yet modestly in the centre of the room, and Harry and James' places had been set as had Lily's, but there was another seat. Noticing Harry's confusion James said "Sirius". Harry's stomach did a backflip. Sirius was going to be here. A knot tied in his stomach. Twisting and struggling so much, it pulled in on itself. The last Harry had seen Sirius was when he had fallen through the veil.

Harry took a seat and dwelled on his thoughts. Panic after all was not the best solution to a situation like this. Harry was in his parents, his parent's home, alive and relatively well. He was scarless. And Sirius was alive. What was going on? First his thoughts dwelled on the prospect that this was all Voldemort's doing, after all it could have been another part of his spell, but if it was, Harry didn't mind. His parents were here, and if they turned out to be hallucinations, he didn't care. After all, he was lingering on the verge of total self-defeat. Asides from Voldemort, Harry had other ideas which sprung to mind; ideas that seemed so obvious yet so incredible and far removed from every possibility. First thing Harry would do was check his room for any useful books on other realties, Hermione would have scoffed at him, but upon further research he concluded she probably would have found it quite answerable, and that's what he needed, answers.

Harry was woken from his series of possible theories by a familiar voice, one he yearned to here beyond everything, one whom he'd most wanted a second chance to see, if only to apologise. "Harry." Sirius' voice warmly greeted him. Harry got up and immersed himself in a hug that left Sirius unable to make use of his own breathing apparatus. "What's bought this on?" Harry clung tightly, his emotions askew, he feared if he moved his head all would be lost. Sirius took off his motorcycle gloves and instead gloved Harry with his own arms. Harry, feeling foolish, removed himself and regained composure. Sirius was here, and alive, and apparently very well. This ignited an animation in Harry akin to a puppy; behaviour he had not indulged in, at least not in a very long time. "Sirius, I'm so glad to see you, sit down. Oh and I'm fine, see? And you're well too aren't you, look at you. You're absolutely fine. What have you been upto? Did you do anything since I last saw you, what-?"

"Harry I'm fine, that Bludger hit you hard, really hard, I don't think I've ventured a hug from you since you left for Hogwarts, and that was years ago. To answer your questions, I am simply splendid although I have been resting little since I last saw you falling from you're broom, very dramatically too; you'd never had made it were it not for Remus' attentiveness and quick chase. With James too far from you, and my stern concentration on the balls, when you were hit Remus grabbed a broom and flew. Bloody hell Harry! You've never seen him fly. Then again neither have I, I wonder where he gained the ability. He's uhm tied up with other things right now, however you shall probably be seeing him in a few days. And as far my life story is concerned you know it well!" Sirius swallowed a gulp of air and collapsed on the chair; a fish that had been returned to water after tasting air. "And that was the condensed edition, Glad to see you're so chirpy." Upon this finishing note Harry's parents came in with the food, and for the first time Harry sat with his family. Although he was unable to taste the food, his stomach was full with the joy of this company. Remus was the occupant of the conversation and Harry for the most part kept quiet and watched on in silent wonder at the antics of his parents, his family, and felt once again that feeling of living.

Dinner was over and Lily insisted on Harry's rest so he would recover enough for a traditional school trip to Diagon Alley; but now at double expense, for Harry's wand had apparently snapped when he had fallen, and a replacement was in order. He walked upstairs and his mind caught up with his body as got into bed. Thus it was with an unexpected peace of mind, and an overwhelming tiredness that the Boy Who Lived fell asleep.

AN: Thanks for reading! Re-Edit: 06.05.12 (key change – no glasses).

Disclaimer: HP and its world belong to JK, this is only a fanfic.

~iLoveLilies