"Dad," Harry said, stepping up to his dad before capturing him in an embrace. "When did you get here?"

"Hey, Mr. Potter!" Ron, Hermione and Ginny all chimed.

"Hey, guys," he said, shaking Ron's hand as he approached them. "Where's your mum?" he asked, turning to his son.

"Flourish and Blotts," Harry responded, pointing to the shop behind him.

James peered in the dusty window, taking in the long line of Hogwarts students and parents purchasing their books for the fast-approaching term. He spotted Emma Granger first, followed closely by Molly then his wife just behind the latter.

"While you er, catch-up, with mum," Harry said, pulling James out of his own head, "We're going to Fortescue's," he said, backing up a little as he did.

"I thought we were supposed to go to Madam Malkin's," Ginny whispered.

"Harry," James warned.

"We'll go there after," Harry said, waving his father off. He turned then, walking away alongside Ron who was talking enthusiastically about the new display in the Quidditch Supplies window.

"See you later, Mr. Potter," Hermione said as she and Ginny made to catch up.

James stared slightly dumbfounded at his son. He thought that was an actual conversation. "That'll go over well later," he said to himself, turning once more to Flourish and Blotts. He searched for his wife in the line again which appeared to barely have moved. Still she was only a few spots away from the cashier. There was a lot that could be done with that, he thought as he gave her one last glance before ducking into the shop next door, putting on his best face as he did.

"Can I help you, sir?" Madam Malkin said as she stood, her wand pointing at what appeared to be a young first-year getting fitted for school robes. The child himself look absolutely petrified.

"I have a favour, actually," he said, eying the knickknacks on the counter. "You don't happen to sell that lovely hat you're wearing, do you?"

The women's overly done and dark eyelashes fluttered as she gazed at him, a little too long for comfort. "Just give me one moment, dear," she said, winking at him before returning to her customer for the briefest of moments. He glanced down at his watch for a moment before realizing he'd left it at home before taking off.

"Didn't startle you, did I dear?" the woman asked as she popped up before him like a firework.

James allowed his heart to slow down for a moment. "No. Of course not."

"So you like my hat?" she asked, carefully lifting it off as she placed it down on the counter between them. "Are you looking to purchase for anyone in particular?" she asked, drawing out her words as she leaned slightly over the counter, vying for a look at his left hand. Seeing it empty her eyes nearly smiled as much as her mouth.

James remained tight lipped.

"Say no more," the woman said, "I'll wrap it up for you—."

"Actually," he said quickly, her eyes darting back to him.

"Yes?"

"I was just wondering if you had a loo, here? I feel the need to wash my hands before er, handling any of your…fine products," he said, trying to sound as smooth as possible but feeling on the verge of complete failure at that.

She grinned. "Just back through there," she said, stepping aside to let him past into the back room. "I'll package this up in the— what do you think you're doing?" she started, her attention thankfully diverted by a pair of youngsters in the front.

James moved quickly through the boxes and piles of fabric, trying to make out the sport in the wall behind all of it that he needed to get through, and quickly. He glanced back towards the front, reminding himself to at least attempt to track down those two later to thank them for their distraction. "Ah," he exhaled, when after shuffling through and pulling the boxes back he spotted the crack he'd been looking for, pulling out his wand to unseal the old door before letting it swing open, then closed swiftly behind him as he snuck through, coming face to face with a startled employee in the back store room of Flourish and Blotts.

"Sorry," he shrugged. "The cash is—."

The kid pointed, his jaw still on the floor.

"Right, thanks."

James followed the path around the back, till he came to the opposite side of the well-known archway behind the cashier he had seen many, many times before. He peeked, briefly as he slipped to the other side seeing just the back of his wife's head as she stood next, deep in conversation with Molly as she did.

"Wils— who are you?"

James grinned sheepishly as the man he knew to be the manager from his previous visits over the past two years eyed him down. "James Potter," James answered, reaching out to shake the man's hand.

The man took his for a second before he found himself being pulled towards James. "Sir—."

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't risk my wife seeing you."

The man stood stunned.

"I just got back from…a place that isn't really important but I've been gone for a couple of weeks and my wife. My brilliant wife is next in your line in there and she doesn't know I've come back—"

"Say no more," the manager said with a slight smile as he glanced back into the shop front. "Did you have something in mind?"

"I don't want to interrupt your sales," he assured him, "Just go back out there and serve the next customer. My wife, she's the red-head. The taller red-head," he added, remembering Molly. "When she steps up, she'll look down at the books, checking them. When she does, let me slip in?" he asked.

"Can do," the man agreed. He showed James where he could slip in behind him without being sighted before calling once more into the storeroom for his other clerk. The dangly boy seemed practically out of breath when he came before James again, giving him an odd look as he followed his boss into the front.

"Is he, I mean he must be excited."

"I believe he is, though he's been fretting, worrying about some of the others prefects," Molly said with a shake of her head. "I swear if that boy does not stop worrying his face is going to freeze in that state."

"It's an incredible position to be offered, though I'm slightly biased. But he shouldn't worry. Dumbledore doesn't do things for no reason…most of the time. Percy should just focus on doing the job justice. He can't control the others, but he can lead."

"You were Head Girl?" Emma asked.

"I had a similar path to Percy's in that regard," she said with a small smile.

"Was James?"

Lily laughed. "No, not a prefect. He became Head Boy though…it shocked us all truthfully. Though he managed to deal with the first few duties of the Head role by himself, and my friend Marlene. I almost turned the—."

"Next!"

"That's you," Emma said, turning her attention back to the front.

Lily pulled her basket up to the counter.

"How are you doing today?" the clerk asked as she continued to pile the books on the counter, grateful that the basket finally weighed a little less.

"Well," she said, finally setting the basket down with the others piled to the side of the path. "Your—."

"And here I was thinking you'd actually recognize my voice after all these years."

"I think you shocked her, dear," Molly said with a chuckle as she and Emma came up behind Lily, having been trying to hide their laughter for the better part of the last minute as they watched James pop out of nowhere and their friend clueless all the while.

"Mind finishing up for me?" James teased the manager as he slipped between the two counter's, gathering his wife in his arms the moment he was in reach of her.

"Why would you do that?" she nearly shrieked when he finally managed to get her out of the store, Harry's school books in hand and Molly and Emma closely behind.

James chuckled as she gathered his hand in hers, pulling him closer.

"And where in the bloody world have you been?" she actually yelled that time.

"All in good time, Lils. All in good time."

"Who taught you how to answer a question," she grumbled. "Where are you leading us to exactly?" she asked when James led them across the street instead of into the shop just next door.

"Kids are this way," he said simply.

"Apparently Madam Malkin's was not on their list," Emma laughed a little, knowing them all too well.

"But apparently ice cream most certainly was," Molly said when they stopped before the table their children were gathered at, eating their ice cream, completely oblivious to their surroundings.

"Do you have everything packed?" Lily asked as Harry made his way through the steps between his parents, dropping the bag of grocery's onto his dad's lap as he did.

"Pretty much," they heard him respond as he pushed into the house.

"It was a yes or no question, champ," James turned to call after him, watching as their son seemingly ignored them as he took the stairs two at a time. "Remind me to tell him how informative he is later."

"Will do," Lily nodded, teasing him as she poked him. "Third year. I feel so old."

"You are."

"You can disappear back to wherever you came from," she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

"You forget love that if you are old than I am old."

"I'm still older than you," she said.

"You're the one who said it this time. Therefore I am off the hook."

"You've never been off the hook."

"No. No I haven't."

"I'm going to Ron's!"

"Harry. Hold on for a moment," Lily exclaimed, both parents watching as their son walked backwards till he was in view in the foyer once more. "First you didn't even ask," she said.

"May I please go to Ron's?"

"Second," she said, picking the bag up off of the stoop. "You could at least put this away."

"But—."

"I'm not done yet so I suggest you do this first and then come back," she warned, passing it to him.

"Are we not letting him go?" James asked, leaning closer as he whispered to her.

"No, he can," she answered after checking he was most certainly out of hearing range. "Though I wish he would stay. He leaves tomorrow."

"We can say no," James reminded her with a smirk. "We are the parents."

"Are we really?"

"Ok, I get it…Is everything all right, Lils?"

His wife sighed, leaning into his embrace. "Yes. Just a melancholic, emotional mum."

"My favourite," he smiled as he planted a kiss in her hair.

"They're in the fridge mum," Harry informed them as he came up behind, standing in the door frame. "I'll be back before— do I have a curfew?"

"Nine, champ," James answered, feeling his wife nodding her head in agreement in his lap.

"And Harry?" she said, not bothering to move.

"Yeah?"

She glanced back at her son, taking in just how much he looked like James at that age, but how much, how despite the resemblance he was so very different as well. "Just be safe, sweetheart."

"Mum," he groaned but she could see him smile a bit.

"We'll be up when you get back so if we're not down here, come check in when you get back, alright?" she asked, her voice soft again.

"See you later," he said before whisking off. They heard the fire roar a little as it always did when he left, or when any of them left for that matter.

"So are you going to tell me what's wrong?" James asked as he brushed through her hair with his fingers. "Or am—."

"Why do you assume something's wrong?" she asked, sitting up. "Besides. I've been out of harms way for the past two weeks. You've been Merlin knows where—."

"Ah, I was wondering when we were going to get to that."

"Now?" she asked hopefully.

"Alright," he grinned, standing up and pulling her with him as he went. "But not here. let's go up there," he said, pointing to the small iron balcony above them that they accessed from the first floor.

"Yes, much more discreet," she said, rolling her eyes as he led them in, picking up their wine glasses along the way. "Should I be concerned…more concerned than I am?" she asked. But he didn't answer.

"Why don't you tell me first?" he said, grinning as he pulled her down next to him.

"I see we've just foregone all furniture today," she said with a roll of her eyes as she sat down next to him on the iron balcony, parts of it slightly burning her skin while others cooled it down. "I'd do it myself but can you just do something about this mixed temperature first?"

James rolled his eyes back at her as he pulled out his wand and muttered the spell, neutralizing the temperature of the railings against their skin.

"Thank-you," she quipped.

James grabbed her hand, tracing it as they sat there, Lily sipping her wine while he did, both basking in the warm afternoon light. "So…?"

"Well we didn't really do anything that differently than when you and Sirius were there, really," she shrugged. "We did end up going to Alton Towers."

"Alton what?"

"That amusement park up near the Lake District," she said, searching his face for any sign of recognition. "It has that ride that you ride the coaster into and its pitch black… never mind," she said, waving it off. "It's thrill seeking entertainment. It was complete insanity—"

"So naturally it was Charlie's idea," he smirked.

"Naturally," she said, smiling a little at him. "Hestia and Remus took off before that though," she said, back tracking her thoughts. "Remus left claiming that he had some work to do before term started, but I think it was because he missed you and Sirius. Hestia left with him so he wouldn't be alone when he got back…not that he'd of minded it too much I think.

Vernon left quite soon after you did too, which was perhaps the greatest relief of my life. If you thought Petunia was civil before you should have seen how free she was once he was gone. We had a kind of cousins outing that made me feel like I was Harry's age again…I never realized how much I missed her until now. She…she had it inside of her to be who she was before I became this. It was nice to see her again.

We ended up driving together with Harry and Dudley and Hermione and Ron to the park. Stayed there a couple of nights and then drove back afterwards. Then the Petunia you met on countless occasions came back. Think she was annoyed after some insanity that ensued and probably driven slightly mad by the loudness of Harry and his friends before they all ended up passing out on the drive back. She wanted me to drop her off at Waterloo station. I don't think she quite trusted me to drop her off at home, though she did let it slip that she lives somewhere in Surrey. Can't tell you how tempted I am to drop in randomly—."

"That is perhaps why she didn't tell you."

"Did I ask for your opinion? Sam is headed back to America with his crew a couple of days ago but apparently they are coming back at Christmas so we've been invited to dinner at my aunt and uncle's…who we've also been summoned to visit at least once a month," she added, handing him the piece of parchment with their address written in her aunt's neat script that she'd held onto tightly ever since receiving it.

"Ah," he said with a small smile, "I didn't really expect any less."

"Me either I suppose," matching his grin. "But that's all…essentially, except for Harry," she said with a shake of her head and her frustrated groan.

"What now?" he said, taking amusement in her expression.

She pulled his school book list out again.

James read it over. Glancing at her when he didn't quite see what she was looking at.

"Are you actually reading it?" she asked, exasperated.

"Give me a moment," he said, picking it up again and adjusting his glasses. "Defense, Potions, Magical— did you lock that up separately?" he asked. She nodded her head before tapping the paper again. "Right…ok…Magical Creatures…already has that…Standard Book of—," James broke out laughing.

"James Potter!"

"He thought that would work?" he laughed, "Merlin I did not train him— I mean, er, what are we doing about this?"

She shrugged. "I'm a little up in the air bout that honestly."

"Ah. So you thought that I'd figure this one out."

"No, not that either."

"We're giving up?"

"I don't particularly like that phrasing. But no…"

"Is there a yes in there somewhere?"

"Yes," she said, teasingly. "I mean…why try to simply beat him using the usual tricks when we can take a page out of his book."

"I may not have taught him well, but I most certainly—."

She glared. "Don't even think about taking credit for me, Potter."

He squeezed her hand.

"Your turn," she said, squeezing it in response.

Harry rolled over, pulling his pillow with him when he heard his dad knock on the door again for the second time that morning.

"Harry! Get up," he could hear his father say haphazardly as he walked down towards his own bedroom at the end of the hall. Harry groaned incoherently in response.

He lay there, staring at the ceiling of his still dark room, trying to see just how much he could make out without his glasses before he realized it was useless. He was practically blind, or at least that was what Hermione and Ron had told him on the countless occasion they had tried his glasses on. He stretched his arm out, reaching for the nightstand where he'd left his glasses the previous night, tapping around and knocking things over as he did until he felt the familiar frames in his hand.

"James!" he could hear his mum calling, the distance of her voice suggesting she was in the foyer shouting up. "James! Is he up yet? We've only got an hour!"

"I'll try again," was his dad's response.

Harry listed for the sound of his dad's feet but heard nothing. Grinning a little to himself he glanced at the clock and upon realizing there was plenty of time—how long did it take really— he tossed his glasses back on the nightstand and readjusted his pillow.

"James!" he heard again just as he dozed off.

"Are you flat out choosing to ignore me now?" Lily asked from where she stood on one of the top steps, glancing from the stairwell into her bedroom that her husband was currently standing in, doing nothing she considered helpful in that very moment. "James," she grumbled.

"Give me—."

"Don't even think about finishing that sentence."

He rolled his eyes. "You have no faith in me, love."

"Not much at all at this moment actually."

He smirked, winking at her as she walked in. "I half expected you to go barging in there with some pots and pans like you were in a marching band," he teased, kissing her as he passed.

She crossed her arms across her chest as she watched him move about with what appeared to be very little purpose. "I'm assuming the reason you haven't done just that is because you think you have a more brilliant plan."

"So you have a little more faith than you led me to believe," he said, wriggling his eyebrows at her.

"If it makes you put said plan into action within the next thirty seconds so that we can manage to get to the station on time and so he doesn't miss the train like last year and so he can have a proper meal before he sits on the train for hours then yes. Yes I have a little more," she said, showing him how little with her fingers, "faith in you than I led you to believe."

"It's like music to my—."

Lily watched her husband disappear before her eyes.

"What the bloody hell did you do that for?" she heard her son shout moments later. Lily smiled.

James met his wife in the hallway outside their son's room that thankfully was now full of light with the curtains finally opened, her son glaring at both of them as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and started lazily moving about before closing his door to them.

"So maybe a little more than a little more," she said to her husband who merely laughed in response.

"You said something about being fed?"

She stepped aside, giving a little flourish as she pointed to the stairs heading down. "After you."

"Eat this," his mum said, shoving eggs and bacon on a muffin into his hand, served onto a napkin when he came stumbling down the stairs.

The front foyer looked like a bomb had exploded, his trunk down there when it hadn't been the night before, he noted, questioning when that had happened. His rucksack was thrown near the door, random things piled neatly next to it alongside his trainers.

"Harry, we have fifteen minutes till you need to be on the train," his mum said, exasperated at his state as she came rushing past, picking up the bag he'd just been staring at and shoving him an envelope he knew was filled with his money for the term, and his permission form for Hogsmeade—

"Did you—."

"Sign the form you forgot to ask about," she asked, not bothering to look back at him.

"I signed it. Next time, you won't be so lucky," his dad said as he came in with the rest of the supplies, shoving some into the top of his trunk with the rest into his mum's awaiting hand.

"What exactly are you two doing? I packed everything…"

"Snacks, your homework you left laying in the library, your new books, your Quidditch gear that was still lying downstairs waiting to be washed after you came back from Ron's last, some more clothes you'd also left in the dryer, snacks for the train," James listed off, "Your broom and the cleaning kit."

"Huh."

His parents exchanged a look.

"Harry, I really wasn't kidding. We need to get moving," his mum fretted, tossing his trainers at him the moment his hands were free from his breakfast. "Harry."

"Sorry," he said, actually picking up his speed as he helped to organize the last— "Hedwig," he said, before taking off up the stairs at record pace.

"One day I'm going to let that bird fly free just to see if and when he realizes," James said, latching his son's trunk shut, and picking up the broom from where he'd left it leaning along the hall.

"I vote next year he does this all on his own," Lily said with a smirk just as they both heard their son's feet hit the stairs. "He's going to break the house," she whispered, laughing at the reality. "He used to be so quiet."

"I blame Hermione."

"I'd blame Ron."

"Blame him for what?" Harry asked, as he arrived next to them, Hedwig in her cage in hand.

"No time," James said, glancing at his watch. He tossed Harry's broom at him whilst his mum handed him his rucksack, ushering both him and his father into the living room and quickly passing them the floor powder, watching as they both were engulfed by the fames before following suit herself.

A/N: In hopes of trying to make Harry's third year interesting but 'normal' per say, if any of you have any ideas you would like to pitch for random shenanigans that could happen with anyone in this story please don't be afraid to message me/comment.

Also I've made the executive decision to make the chapters a bit shorter because I can handle that much better.

Also, also sorry that it took so long for these last two. Writer's block. Majorly.

Also, also, also, the reason I started this story was to explore how I thought Harry's parents would react to the events in his life (in canon) if they were there and not just looking at them in memory as they often do in other stories that I have loved. So while I can understand that some may not enjoy how similar it is, I wrote it for this purpose and while it has evolved that has always been my purpose, especially and mainly for the fourth book and on. My writer's block is mainly from me trying to find an engaging way to tell this story from where I am at now to those events then. So wish me luck.