Harry watched from where he, Hermione and Dudley had perched themselves on a sand bar just a ways out from the beach where the rest of his family sat, his aunt and uncle sitting a little ways aways from the rest. His uncle's belly looked like it would win a contest for the largest tomato if he were to enter a contest. The thought made him laugh, earning him a look from Ron who was sat nearest to him. He whispered his observation to Ron who nearly got carried away by a wave when he lost his balance.

"Think when we get back we might be able to practice a bit?" Ron asked, making a motion with his hand to signal the broomstick.

"Yeah," Harry said, excited, "Do you think your parents would mind if I stayed over a bit if we did?"

"Not at all."

"What's going on?" Hermione asked, leaning towards them a little more.

Harry was about to answer when they all heard Dudley stomach rumble. His cousin's face went as red as his uncle's stomach before he shrugged, grinning slightly.

"Guess it's time for lunch then," Ron said with a laugh.

Dudley looked down at his stomach then back up at them. "My stomach most definitely agrees."

Hermione stood up before diving into the water, heading to shore. "Come on," she called back.

"Not that I'm complaining," Ron said as they were swimming, "It's great to be away, especially from Fred and George for a bit, but are we just going to sit at the beach everyday?"

Harry shook his head adamantly. "If it starts to look that way, we'll hijack a car again," Harry grinned.

Ron laughed loudly.

"What now?" Hermione asked when they finally made it to where she stood on the beach, her towel wrapped around her. "Just say it, Ronald."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Tell you later."

Hermione gave him a blank look. "Does anyone know if lunch is even ready?"

"I think I smell burgers," Dudley responded.

"There they are!"

Harry and the others looked up to see James and Remus greeting them excitedly making Harry shake his head in disapproval.

"See, I still got it," he could hear his dad brag to Remus.

"Saw lunch being prepared then?" Remus asked the group.

"That and Dudley's stomach timer went off," Ron teased, nudging the boy next to him. "It was wicked," he added as they continued to trudge towards the deck where the rest seemed to be gathered.

"What did you guys get up to last night? Nothing I wouldn't do I hope," James asked, putting a hand on his son's shoulder as they pulled up the back of the group with Hermione.

"Jonathan and Matthew got a sugar high which at first was bloody annoying, but after a while Isobel and Anderson gave up on trying to calm them and just let them ride it out," Harry recounted, "Isobel got them to bed eventually while Anderson took what he called a 'well-deserved break' on the couch with the rest of us."

"Mrs. Evans—"

James chuckled. "You can call her Isobel, Hermione."

The girl blushed. "Isobel then suggested we play a game, though I expect she thought it would be more civil than the other night since you and Sirius would be gone…"

"Did she actually say that?" James asked.

Harry and Hermione nodded, taking a little bit of joy in Harry's dad's expression.

"Harry! Hermione! You have to see this!" Dudley called out to them from the deck where he and Ron were already getting ready to sit down with the others.

"Isobel made a treat for dessert," James explained. "Go, go on and see. He and Ron look far too excited," he added. Though Harry noticed Ron looked both excited and confused, a look he sported less and less these days then he did last summer. Hermione walked on ahead.

"So you had fun?" James asked.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, it was nice. The game got a little out of hand…partly my fault," he added after receiving a look. "But it was nice to get to hang out and get to know mum's family a little more."

James genuinely smiled. "They're really great people. You never got to know your grandparents, either of them, but for your mum's parents…Anderson and Isobel are pretty close. Your grandparents though, from the little I knew of them and from the little that I had the opportunity to interact with them, were pretty irreplaceable. Your mum would agree ten-fold."

"Yeah…speaking of mum. I haven't seen her much today," he said as they made their way up onto the deck, her red hair nowhere in sight.

"About that," James said, leading his son a little ways away from the others who were all seated round the multiple tables they had pushed together. "Sirius got it into his head that your mum was er, pregnant?"

"Oh," Harry said, looking at his feet.

"We haven't quite had the chance to set him straight. Hestia only explained it all to us last night—."

"Is mum hungover?" Harry asked suddenly.

James practically barked when he laughed, half choking as he did. "No… well maybe a little. Did one too many shots after the whole revel— that wasn't the point Harry."

"She needed a day," Harry shrugged as if it was nothing. "You could have just said that."

"You need to stop being smart," James remarked, ruffling Harry's hair.

"So is mum just in your room? Or…?"

"She stepped out for a bit actually, she and Eva and Emily headed into the town for a bit of a girl's day," he explained.

"No Hestia? Or…" Harry asked, motioning his head towards where his aunt sat.

"They were both asked. Hestia was a little more hungover," James said with a smirk as he eyed the women who wore her sunglasses and big hat as she slowly picked at the food before her. "Your aunt," he said in more of a whisper, "Actually looked tempted to go but I think your whale… well you know…"

"Right."

The two stood in silence.

"So are you two going to talk? To Sirius then?" he asked, glancing at his godfather.

James merely shrugged.

"I know that look," Harry said, hitting his dad in the arm to catch his dad's drifting attention. His dad gave his infamous grin, nudging his son in return. "What are you planning? Let me help."

"I can't— that is music to my ears," James grinned. "But your mother would kill me."

Harry shrugged, returning the grin.

"This almost beats hearing you make it onto the Quidditch team in first year," James admitted.

Harry laughed.

"Are you two planning on joining the rest of us anytime soon?" Isobel asked, startling James and making Harry double over in laughter after seeing his dad jump. Isobel smiled with Harry.

"Here, let's get you fed," she said, leading the both of them to the table they had set up for all the food, Harry's eyes going wide when he saw the dessert that had made his friend and cousin so excited.

"You are going to let me help you, right?" Harry asked as he and his dad made their way down.

"If we just don't tell your mum," James said with a wink. "We will talk more later," he said when they were through, "Don't want Sirius catching on or anything."

"Deal."

"There you lot are!" Emily exclaimed as she, Lily and Eva hopped up from their respective seats in the living room the moment that the front door to the cottage flung open and revealed their large family, all talking at once as the two youngest carried what appeared to be stuffed monkey's. "Er, hi?"

The entire group turned to her at her second greeting. Emily received a variety of greetings in return as they all shuffled in.

"Where's your dad?" Lily asked when Harry, Hermione, and Ron made their way towards her, slumping down onto the couch in unison when they reached her. "Harry?"

Harry lazily pointed to a point past his mum before dropping it back to his side, his eyes fluttering shut.

"Helpful, darling. Extraordinarily helpful," she grumbled, leaving them be. "Hi, Dudley," she said, passing her nephew. "You haven't seen James have you?"

The boy shrugged. "He was outside but he went to find Harry or something."

She nodded, smiling softly at him, trying to mask her annoyance at her son once more. "Thank-you Dudley."

"There's my girl," her uncle greeted her as she made her way to the kitchen, her eyes hungrily searching the group amassed in there. He gave her a hug before stepping back, observing her anxious movements. "Missing something? …someone?" he asked when she didn't respond.

"Any clue why your husband and the idiot I live with are acting all serious and ignoring my questions?" Hestia asked, her voice still groggy as she made her way towards her friend who she continued to slump against for support.

Lily pet her friend's head. "You really need pepper-up," she said before shoving her off on Sam who was passing by. "Wait what did you say about James?"

"He's being all…you know."

"He said something about work and urgent," Sam explained a little further catching on.

Anderson nodded behind her, leading his niece through the group. "He went back to the other cottage. I think he got some sort of…" he said, leaning closer to avoid others overhearing, "message from the ministry," he said, his voice sounding slightly uncertain as he uttered those words. "I think he and Sirius have to go."

"I-."

"Go on," he said, shaking his head at her as she took off across the lawn between the cottages, faster than he had ever seen her.

"You both have to go?" she asked, leaning against the wall at the top of the stair as she watched both James and Sirius shove their stuff back into their bags.

She caught her husband's sad expression as he shrugged zipping the bag before making his way over to her. He pulled her into a hug, which she fell into, letting her whole body rest against him as he placed his hand comfortingly on the back of her head, her arms wrapping tightly around his torso. He pulled back, placing a kiss on her forehead. "We'll be home when you get back," he promised.

Lily eyed him sceptically which made him laugh a little as he turned round to Sirius. "Ready?"

"All set," Sirius nodded, grabbing both their bags. "I'll meet you down there," he said, giving Lily a quick kiss as he passed and his signature grin, hoping it might calm her a little.

"Be careful," she said, calling after him.

Sirius glanced back up at her from the bottom of the loft stairs. "I always am."

"It's a few days…you've been gone longer before," James reminded her as he took her hand and gradually followed Sirius.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Not purposefully."

James stopped. "I know," he said solemnly, "I don't tend to forget being panicked for days on end, being completely useless and driving both Hestia and Marlene insane when I wouldn't stop pacing round your flat."

She smiled a little at the image. "You better not make me mad with worry, James Potter," she warned him, squeezing his hand.

"Lily," he sighed for the umpteenth time. "It's a standard in and out mission. Just because we're leaving the country doesn't mean it is any different from the other missions that Sirius and I, or any one else in the office has had to go on over the years. We faced far worse before."

"Really? I didn't know," she grumbled, shoving him slightly.

"You're really worried," he sighed.

"No," she said quickly, stopping him before they emerged out onto the deck, "I mean…I'm always worried about you because you're you. You think you're fearless… a trait I sometimes…all the time hate to admit that you have passed on to Harry. I know you've come out of everything we've ever fought…you've ever fought. But don't fault me for worrying," she said, seriously, looking him square in the eyes. "I will always worry about you. The same way we will always worry about Harry no matter how safe he is."

"Invoking our son…that's dirty play."

"I don't care."

It was James' turn to roll his eyes. "I know."

"So if you're only going to be gone a couple of days, why can't you both just come back here? That way I know?"

"I do know how to use a phone."

"That was not my point."

"Lily."

"I get it. I'm obsessing. Go…before I decide to somehow attach your feet to the floor."

"You could just use-."

"Do you actually want me to?" she threatened.

"I'm going," he said, shaking his head as he kissed her soundly before running to catch up to Sirius on the sandbank, giving Harry a quick hug before taking off.

"We will see you soon," Anderson said, shaking his hand. Isobel nodded behind him as she wrapped her arm around her niece who had gradually followed her husband out of the cottage.

"Very soon, I hope," James said. "Take care of them for me."

"Always," Isobel promised, squeezing Lily, making his wife smile.

"I had an idea."

All of the family gathered round the fire groaned in unison.

"Sam, do you not think you've had enough of those for a lifetime?" Petunia said, slightly shocking Lily who tried hard to mask her surprise.

Lily chuckled with the others, sending her sister a warm smile that was returned to a degree. The surprises just kept on coming. They had all be convinced that after James and Sirius' departure a few days earlier that Vernon would have begun to enjoy his vacation a little more, but the opposite effect seemed to take place to the point that he demanded to go home. Her aunt had assumed Petunia would have gone but much to everyone's surprise she had stayed, claiming that Dudley only had so much time before going back to school and that Surrey just was too hot. At least here they had the water. Vernon had fallen for it. Lily's draw had to be picked up off the floor.

"What is the idea…exactly?" his wife had asked.

"Well there is still quite a bit of time before we have to go back to our various homes," he started, "So I propose that we make the most of it."

"How?" Ron asked.

"Excellent question!" Sam exclaimed.

Ron looked at Harry. "Your uncle is—."

"Yup," Harry nodded, watching it all with amusement.

"I say we go to Alton Towers!"

"Yeah!" Matthew and Jonathan exclaimed, nearly knocking the smores out of Dudley's and Hermione's hands.

"Boys!" their mother chastised.

"That's at least a five hour drive from here," Anderson pointed out.

"Not to mention that it is in the exact opposite direction from where most of us need to go," Isobel piped in.

"Where is your sense of adventure?" Charlie asked them all, clearly very much on board. Eva nodded with him, the excitement evident. "Not that there isn't a ton left to do here but think about it!"

"What is it?" Ron asked, leaning near Harry.

Harry shrugged, Hermione likewise.

"It's an amusement park. It has these…they're like mini cars sort of that are on these metal things that…it's like flying a broom if it were to be attached to a track…sort of," Lily whispered to the three of them, the latter part more directly to Ron.

"Ah. Wicked," Ron grinned.

"It's pretty bloody brilliant," she told him, her eyes smiling.

"Are we actually going to go?" Dudley asked, having been the only one who had known what it was. He turned to look at his mum who seemed divided.

"I-," she started.

"It might be fun," Lily said, turning to her sister, talking directly to her in a manner that they really hadn't interacted for most of their stay. "Come on, Tuney. It'll be like old times."

Petunia looked at her sister. "I'll have to phone Vernon. He might not be able to meet us but I don't think he'd mind too much. Especially now…"

Lily had to stop herself from rolling her eyes, knowing very well she was referencing James.

"Woohoo!" Sam and Charlie yelped.

Lily grinned as she looked at her sister who in her own way returned her greeting before both of them turned their attention to the excited kids, Lily's three listening intently, their excitement growing as they listened to Dudley describe the park they were headed to the next morning, a place he himself had never been but apparently knew quite a few stories about.

"And there's this one—it's completely in a tent. Pitch black."

"Brilliant," Ron and Harry chimed.

Lily and Petunia were on the verge of wanting to clap their hands over their ears as the noise of the kids got louder and louder the more they drove on. Hestia was too passed out to care. Lily had taken to the passenger seat after Petunia had offered to drive the rest of the way at their mid-way point, and almost felt bad that the kids, her kids were probably the loudest of them all. Not kids, Lily, she reminded herself with a shake of her head.

"Is something wrong?" Petunia asked, seeming a little bothered.

"No, sorry," Lily said quickly. "I swear I wasn't shaking my head at you…"

"Alright," Petunia said, keeping her eyes on the road.

"I was just thinking about this lot…I keep saying kids in my head but they're not."

Petunia nodded, understanding and visibly relaxing. "It seems a tad absurd, doesn't it?"

"Mum would be laughing at us right now."

Petunia smiled at that.

"Are we there yet?" Harry and Dudley asked at once.

Lily and Petunia both glanced at them. "But then again," Petunia said, after telling them that they still had a ways to go, "Perhaps not."

Lily looked at her sister who had surpassed any expectations she had had since learning that she was at the cottage. "Perhaps not."

"Any word from him at all?"

Lily sighed into the phone. "No."

"I didn't get the chance to thank-you the other day when you dropped Hermione off for taking them out there and—."

"Emma," she said with a laugh, "It wasn't a problem. They kept Harry more occupied than it would have been otherwise. Plus it gave my nephew some others to chat to as well."

"Hermione mentioned that your sister was there," she heard Emma say, her voice somewhat hesitant to approach the topic.

"My entire family was there," Lily admitted.

"That must have been—."

"Completely unexpected. Shocking. Startling. Exciting. Thrilling," Lily said, trying to think of anything that would possibly accurately sum up everything she had felt that day.

She heard Emma chuckle lightly. "Hermione suggested something along those lines. When was the last time you had seen them? I'm sorry. You don't have to answer that. That was terribly intrusive."

"1980. Almost fourteen years ago was the last time I saw them."

"I can't imagine."

"We thought it was best. Professor Dumbledore agreed that it might help and after I lost my mum and dad—."

"I was sorry to hear about that too. I never knew."

"Why would you? But leaving them be, to live their own lives safely out of reach was what was important. I missed my grandparents funeral and everything. I knew…I knew they passed but I couldn't risk them again. They passed just before I had Harry." Lily looked up to see Harry walk into her bedroom at that very moment, his face going bright red before making to leave. She waved her hand to stop him. "One moment, Emma," she said, "What is it sweetheart?"

"You're talking to— nevermind," he said, shaking his head. "I'm going to Ron's—."

Her heart dropped a little. "Are you—."

"I'll be back tonight," he said quickly.

"You can stay over if you want. If it's alright with Molly and Arthur that is… I know you're bored," she said when he seemed on the edge.

"I'll send a message to you if I end up staying," he relented, though she could see him relax a little. She knew she had put him on edge over the past few days with her constant worrying.

"If you do stay," she said quickly, "Can you have Molly contact me? We need to figure out when we are meeting tomorrow."

"Ok," he said, giving her a little wave before he quickly took off, his feet sounding on the stairs as he took off.

"Sorry," she said to Emma, putting the phone back to her ear. "Where were we?"

"We were talking about your family, but Hermione and Dan have just gotten home from the clinic so I should—."

"Of course, of course. We will see you tomorrow," Lily said.

"Let me know when you can—."

"Why don't you and Hermione just come here for lunch? I don't think we will be going before then," she suggested. "Then we can flow from here and avoid the hassle of parking around the Alley."

"That sounds lovely. We will see you then."

Lily placed the phone down, sighing as she did. She looked around her room, her wardrobe half exploding from her unwillingness to unpack until her heart stopped beating out of her chest. Until James got home. She glanced sideways to where his side of the bed laid untouched, missing the days when Harry used to lay with her during the day when she was preparing for a late shift, wishing he would do that again now.

"You better be coming home soon," she said, before shifting herself till she was laying her head on his pillow that still smelled faintly of his cologne and aftershave and never of hair gel. She laughed a little to herself at that.

Her eyes scanned the list of books and supplies as she maneuvered her way around the packed Flourish and Blotts, actively avoiding the long line up, even though she had made Harry and his friends stake out a spot the moment they arrived.

She counted the books already in her basket.

"The Monster Book of Monsters," she said, rolling her eyes a little at the course, slightly shuddering at the memories. She checked it off, eyes moving to the—

"Harry!"

She saw her son's eyes meet hers from where she stood, near Emma on the stairs. Harry merely shrugged, looking so like his father in that instance that she almost wanted to let it go.

"She figured it out. I told you she would," Hermione said to him.

Ron and Harry both groaned.

"I actually thought it might work," Ron admitted.

"What did you two do now?" Ginny asked, returning from her conversation with one of her own classmates she'd run into along the way.

"Harry thought he would be able to get it past his mum that he's taking Divination even though his mum and dad said no," Hermione said. "What do they have against it, though? I know it's not highly regarded and I hear Trelawney is quite…something…"

"Why do they care though?" Ginny questioned, unfazed. "It seems like something your dad would have taken for a laugh," she added.

"Beyond me. It's more mum then dad. Would have been way easier to pull it over on him," Harry noted, Ron nodding in agreement. "Tried to convince me to take Aritmancy or Ancient Runes."

"Hermione," Ron started, "Just how many courses are you taking?" he asked, taking note of the number of volumes in Mrs. Granger's arms. "You can't—."

"Ron, take your books," Molly said, cutting his line of thought off.

"Did you actually think that would work?" Lily asked. "Did you forge dad's signature or mine?" she asked, teasing him just a little as she unloaded some of his books off onto him.

"Dad's," Harry admitted, "He writes like a child."

She smiled, knowing all too well what he was referring to. "McGonagall tried, she really did."

"I can't imagine," Harry chuckled. "So about Divination…?"

"What is that, exactly?" Emma asked, reading the book title that Lily had held up earlier.

Molly and Lily blanked.

"It's like crystal balls and—." Hermione went on to explain.

"Even Hermione is taking it," Harry tried to argue.

Lily rolled her eyes. "That's your argument, Harry?"

The boy shrugged.

"I'll wait here, why don't you go over to Madam Malkins?"

"But—," he started.

"We will talk about Divination later," she said, though she seemed neither mad nor alright with it which almost scared him more.

"Do I have to go to Madam Malkins?"

"Harry."

"Meet you guys after?"

Ron shrugged while Hermione and Ginny nodded. "We'll me at Fortescue's when were done here," Hermione supplied. "If we are— Harry, I actually have to go there too. Why don't we go there together," she said quickly before effectively dragging him out of the store. Ron and Ginny right on their heels after being dismissed by Molly.

"Hermione. Hermione! What are you— dad?"