Harry stood in the centre of the empty classroom staring at the snitch in his hand, almost scared. Harry thought back to McGonagall's word, "Potter, you might not like everything you see." What if he saw… Harry shook his head. It was too late to think about that now.
"Show me," Harry whispered to the snitch, "show me my parents, show me Lily and James." If Harry had been in first year, if he hadn't won the war he would have felt very stupid talking to the snitch. Yet this was something Harry had done before, in the forest…
Some sort of weird fog began to flow out of the snitch. Harry stared at it, transfixed. The fog began to swirl around him until he couldn't even see the snitch in his outstretched arm.
Before the fog cleared he could hear voices. Two girls playing tag or some other game. "Tuney you're it!" Harry could hear a very young Lily call.
His vision began to clear; there directly in front of him was Lily Evans. She appeared to be about eight years old. "Tuney it's your turn to chase me!" She called happily to her sister.
Petunia laughed, "Oh Lily aren't you tired. I'm worn out. Could we not stop for some lemonade?"
"Lemonade? Yes lets. I love lemonade." Lily smiled up at her big sister, running over to her and grabbing Petunia's hand. Petunia didn't pull away or look at Lily resentfully. Instead, she merely smiled at her little sister. They walked back to the house, chatting away friendlily, completely unaware that they were being watched. Harry went to follow them but quickly the fog began to swirl again and he lost sight of little Lily Evans.
Harry could hear new voices. This time they were coming from some place distant. As his vision cleared Harry saw a child, a young boy sitting at the top of the stairs. He appeared to be deep in concentration. Harry quickly realised that the young black haired boy was eavesdropping.
"My dear what do you expect me to do?" Harry could hear a voice coming from somewhere down the stairs.
"Charlus, I expect you to put your family first!" A woman cried.
"Don't you see that is exactly what I am doing? I became an auror so that I could keep you and little James safe."
"Charlus, we won't be safe if you die!" The woman replied.
"Dorea, please be reasonable. I am not about to go and get myself killed." Charlus laughed humourlessly. "I am merely doing my job. The attacks on the muggleborns are increasing. If the ministry doesn't act soon, well I fear the worst will happen."
"But Charlus, you aren't the only person working for the ministry. Let someone else go for once."
"Dorea, don't be so selfish," Charlus scolded his wife, "You would rather someone else's husband, someone else's father died just so that you might keep me here with you?"
"No. No, of course not. I just wish you didn't have to go. I get awfully scared when you are away." Dorea said with a tinge of shame and regret in her voice.
"I know dear." Charlus replied lovingly, "Just remember there is strength in numbers. I am not alone."
"I know. I'm sorry Charlus. I don't mean to be so selfish. I know you are just trying to do what is right." Harry, although unable to see his grandmother, could imagine tears rolling down her face as she finished.
"You could never be selfish, Dorea. You just sometimes wish you were." Charlus mused.
Harry looked at the boy sat next to him on the step; he couldn't have been more than eight, perhaps nine. Harry saw his hair was as messy as his own. But the thing that really caught Harry's attention was the tears streaming down his face. His face was red and blotchy and completely soaked from tears.
Harry wanted to comfort his father but it was impossible – he couldn't interfere. The fog began to swirl around his feet, but unlike before it didn't completely cover him. He saw it all, as if a movie on fast forward. He found he hadn't moved, but Charlus had left for the ministry and Dorea had caught James on the stairs.
"How much did you hear James?" She asked gently.
"Everything," James replied, an apology in his voice.
Dorea laughed softly, "You shouldn't have been listening, Jamie. When you listen to adult conversations you always end up hearing something you'll later wish you hadn't." Harry got the impression that she had said this same sentence time and time again to her son. Dorea began to walk up the stairs towards her son, before sitting on the step just in front of him.
"I don't want daddy to die." James whispered.
Dorea began to play with her son's hair, "I know dear, neither do I." She seemed unsure of how to reassure her son. "Jimmy, your father is a very brave man. We must be brave to."
"What if I don't want to be brave, mummy?"
"Do you know what? Sometimes I don't want to be brave. Sometimes I get scared, and I imagine all the terrible things that could happen but then I remember that bravery isn't about not being scared. It's about standing up to your fear and saying I, Dorea Potter am bigger and stronger than fear… So many bad things could happen Jamie, but so many amazing things will definitely happen. We just have to believe that."
"I'm not as big as fear though mum, I'm only eight!" James sniffed.
"My dear boy! You are much bigger than fear. You are much bigger and stronger than me even. Maybe not as tall," she laughed, "but inside you are stronger and braver… maybe one day you will be even braver than your father."
"I don't think that's possible mum. Dad is the bravest person in the whole world." James giggled. The fog began to swirl again, and the sight of little eight year old James sat in the arms of his mother began to fade.
In the distance Harry heard a voice, "But even your dad gets scared sometimes, James."
So another edit down. Before you know it the countdown will be done and we'll have a new chapter in book seven.