Chapter 2: Pause. Rewind. Play.

Harry woke up staring at the ceiling.

The white ceiling.

'I could have sworn Ginny had me paint that scarlet when I painted the walls...' Harry thought. Then he slowly sat up in his bed. A quick glance around the room told him that it was not his. At least not the one he was used to. He could never forget his "ever so inviting" room at the Dursleys. Harry stared very confused for several minutes. This was obviously a dream...

Wasn't it? Petunia's yelling from downstairs caught his attention. So Harry groggily got up and walked over the bathroom, grumbling as to why he had to be forced to relive his horrid years with the want to be humans who hated him with every fiber of their very being in his sleep.

The sight that greeting Harry was a rather strange one. He found himself staring into the mirror, yet his reflection staring back was one that he hadn't seen for ten years, give or take a few. He had forgotten how hideous the glasses had looked, for he had long since ditched them for contacts. He was also scrawny and short, not very "chosen one" like, and definitely not the body of the head Auror sworn to protect innocent citizens from the horrors awaiting them in the world. Writing it off as part of the really realistic dream, Harry quickly got dressed and washed up, before heading down the stairs to meet Petunia's demands.

"Boy! Where have you been!" yelled Vernon when Harry finally made it to the bottom of the stair case. The man was red in the face, even though Harry had only heard Vernon call for him once, while he had been walking down the steps, only ten seconds ago. But if this was a dream, what should it matter? He wasn't going to be here for very long. Might as well have some fun.

"I apologize dear Uncle, but I don't have much to look forwards to during the day with my life being so mundane and exuberant. As jubilant as you have been in my company for the past several years, I believe I have found better accommodations with people whom I share everything but blood with. " Harry said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

In response, Vernon looked confused at him, yelled at him for using big words, then pulled him by the ear off the stairs and into the hallway and began yelling again. But Harry wasn't paying attention anymore. He had felt the pain when Vernon had pulled his ear, very sharp pain if he might add. He had not woken up. So this wasn't a dream. Maybe an induced illusion? But it seemed very real, for some reason or another, he was back in his old shoes, quite literally. But when the heck was he?

"...and you will behave yourself while Marge is here you hear me? I don't want any of your silly nonsense... "

And that answered Harry question. Third year summer? Not bad for a free one way ticket to the past. Besides, he never forgave his aunt Marge. So he was sent back in time, for a random reason, to relive his life. Maybe it was time to spice things up. Seems that fate didn't hate him so much after all. Harry quickly hid the growing grin he had so as to not angry his uncle any more.

Harry looked up and saw Vernon was finally done yelling at him. Harry nodded dumbly to whatever the man had said. Then he went over to help his aunt, while a plan was slowly forming in his head. After performing meaningless chores for a rather long time, and putting up with his pig for a cousin, Harry dashed back upstairs. He began to quickly pack up all his school things. If he remembered correctly, which he was sure he did, then he had been thrown out last time around. If he had been thrown out last time, things were going to get ugly this time, and Harry wasn't going to stick around. Cause he had a prank to plan. It was in his blood, and it was about time he let his fun take over. For the first time he could remember in what seemed like a lifetime, Harry smirked.

Harry venture back downstairs twenty minutes before the old lady was expected to arrive. He mostly just nodded to what he was told, did more meaningless chores, but more importantly, he used his wand-less magic skills to set up for the night.

Before Harry knew it, the doorbell rang and in came the old lady herself. After briefly conversing with Vernon and Petunia, and glorifying Dudley for being the fat pig he is, Marge turned to Harry, "Why are you just standing there boy? Take my bags and bring them in. Goodness gracious, where was I..." and Marge rattled on and on about meaningless things, and she had no idea what was in store.

Harry moved over to the large trunk, and lifted it up with both arms while squatting. It was very heavy. Harry made a mental note to adapt to a fitness routine soon, because he probably needed it. After panting and barely making it over the threshold before collapsing to his knees, Harry made an effort to gather his breath. Then Marge's dog came over and began barking at him. Harry only shot him a feral grin, before the dog went whimpering back to his master.

Oh yes, this was going to be very fun.

Harry made his way back to the kitchen, overhearing Marge speaking about how to properly raise children. The irony in that was very unamusing. Harry sighed, he only had to put up with it for a couple minutes.

Harry walked out of the kitchen with a dish of baked chicken, set it down on the table, and walked over to his own seat on the far end. Marge let out a wicked laugh, "Ah, so the boy isn't a complete drunkard like his father? What a surprise, it was obviously Vernon's gentle care that saved him. His mother was not much better either. She married that man and look where it got her. Died in a drunken car accident, what a way to go out!" Harry clenched his fist. He practiced Occlumency to get a hold on his emotions before he sent a cutting hex and the woman's throat. It will all be over soon.

Yes, the chicken's taste would be rather... explosive. No not that kind of explosive.

Harry waited patiently, until Marge helped herself to the chicken and put it on her plate. A small grin reached Harry's face as he waved his hand under the table, muttering simple incantations under his breath, loosening the joints in the chair, among other things.

Marge lifted her fork to take a bite. Then all hell broke loose.

The woman instantly turned red in the face and began screaming how much of a horrible person she was and how she need retribution. Vernon looked confused but quickly tried to get her under control. Dudley went wide eyed, before giggling when Marge started talking out how fat she was and how she needed to loose weight. Then Marge's chair broken underneath her, making her hit the cold hard ground. Her dog quickly jumped up on top of her, trying to eat the residue chicken off her shirt. The spell Harry had cast had no affect on animals so it was fine. Next up was what Harry believed to have been the best part. Marge spontaneously grew into a giant balloon form, flipping the table over and sending the dog flying across the room. Harry held his laughter in as Marge's bottom erupted in flames, sending her rocketing, quite literally, through the roof. Kicking and screaming all the way. She would be completely fine... mostly.

Besides being in an unknown area trying to explain what just happened to people who most likely wouldn't be speaking English. Maybe that was a bit overboard. Harry wasn't that cruel, and he knew the limits. Plus that would most likely set the ministry loose on him.

Harry had to keep himself from laughing as he tip-toed out of the room and upstairs to where his things were. This time he had no worries about getting caught by the ministry. Marge wouldn't be seen during her decent, as she was going to be port-keyed home by the fork that was glued to her hand, plus her ascent was so fast, people would have thought they just saw a rocket. Harry heard Hedwig hoot, and he noticed her for the first time since he had come back. He reminisced a couple seconds about his friend, also the first one lost that fateful year. Poor Hedwig, she had never been given the chance. Harry debated weather or not to simply release her now, for the birds own safety. Harry shook his head. He was going to be selfish for a bit. Harry patted the birds head to calm it down. Hedwig turned her head sideways and let out another hoot. Harry released her from her cage and told her to meet him at Hogwarts. Hedwig let out yet another hoot, nipped Harry's finger, and took off. Harry sighed, he missed Hedwig. Never the less, Harry gathered everything and set out the door quickly, before Vernon even knew what was happening.

The cool air against Harry's skin was a refreshing change from what he was used to. Being thirteen again definitely had its perks. Yet he felt strange, as he had retained all his memories and knowledge but his view upon them was different. Apparently getting thrown through time to your younger self will change you mindset upon things. Harry shrugged it off and kept on walking, before his mind began wandering again. He was going to his his friends again, all of his friends again. It was going to be refreshing seeing everyone young and full of energy. Okay, maybe he wasn't so excited about seeing Malfoy, but everyone else that had kept him company. In the future, he had little time to spend where everybody got together. Better yet Remus was going to be there. And even Sirius... Sirius Black.

Harry stopped walking and stood in one place. He briefly looked around, and found himself in the same place he had summoned the Knight Bus his first time around. Harry grinned madly and he turned and face the park on the opposite side of the road. A large, fearsome looking black dog stood on the opposite side of the road. Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized he had his beloved godfather back. Harry quickly wiped the tears from his eyes as a large grin settled on his face that he had to get under control.

Padfoot was back.