Change is a Good Thing
Summary: Changes are a coming in Harry's third year. New teachers, new classes, and yet, the same people, same friends, the same mother who works in the hospital wing, and same old routine. Change could be a good thing.
Harry settled into a seat at the Gryffindor table after a long day of classes. Hermione settled on the other side of him with Ron beside him on his left. They had returned to Hogwarts yesterday and they had started their third year. Looking up at the staff table, Harry had to grin at Remus and Sirius talking animatedly on the far side of the table, a few spaces down from Professor Snape. He could only imagine what they were talking about.
Remus and Sirius were teaching Defense this year. They taught together with Sirius filling in on the days leading up to and after the full moon. No one, so far, had questioned it.
"Why did they have to start out with the full day of classes on the first day?" Ron asked, picking up a biscuit.
"Because Ronald….." Harry tuned out the argument that was about to occur and turned his attention to the man on Sirius's left-hand side.
He had met the man somewhere before, but couldn't place him. Or maybe he thought he did.
"Hey guys, how was your summer?" Neville asked.
"We went to Egypt to visit Bill. It was a lot of fun. He took me and Ginny with him in one of the tombs and then we went to the beach," Ron replied.
"My family and I went to France. If Mum could, we would move to Paris." At the panicked faces of her two best friends, Hermione added. "We're not going to. Dad loves living in England and it would take a stick of dynamite to get him out of the neighborhood."
Harry and Ron took a collective sigh of relief.
"Geez, Hermione," Ron started.
"Merlin's muddy trousers, don't scare us like that," Harry finished
Hermione groaned. "Must you two do that?" She hated when they finished each other's sentences. But Harry and Ron had been best friends since they were six. Over the years, it was just something that they developed. That and being around Fred and George a lot.
"And you Harry?" Neville asked.
"We went to the coast where Mum's got a house. She inherited it from my grandparents. Then, Sirius, Dad and I went to Muggle London. Then we went on a family trip to somewhere that Mum wanted to go."
"In England?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah. At least there was an amusement park nearby."
"We also met in London somewhere and spent the day together. We went to the movies and roller skating," Hermione added.
"Think we could do that again?" Ron broke in. "Getting together and hanging out I mean."
"Sure, let's make it an every summer thing that we all get together and do something in Muggle London."
"Sure," Ron agreed, while Harry nodded. "But can we not go skating."
Hermione and Harry looked at each other and busted out laughing. Ron's ears went red.
"It wasn't funny," he grumbled.
Harry and Hermione eventually stopped laughing at the memory of Ron slipping and sliding all over the skating floor. At one point, Harry and Hermione were holding each other up, they were laughing so much, watching Ron slip all over the place before they finally helped him again. By the end of the day, Ron was able to skate on his own with minimal falls.
But that didn't mean that Hermione and Harry didn't share the story with their friends and Harry's family, whom all were just as amused as Harry and Hermione. Although Lily did ask if Ron was alright before she cracked in a pearl of laughter.
"Alright," Hermione agreed. She looked up at the head table. "Who is that guy sitting beside Sirius?"
"I don't know, I think I know him, but I'm not sure," Harry replied.
Dinner was served soon after that. Hermione made some small talk about their classes for the year with the boys half listening.
"Harry, can you pass me the potatoes?"
Harry handed Ron the bowl of potatoes, after scooping out some for himself. His mind was working overtime trying to think of how he knew the new professor. He obviously knew Sirius as they were talking like they had been old friends.
He had talked Lily into letting him help Sirius and Remus get their classroom strengthened up. He remembered seeing a picture of the man with Sirius, Remus, and James before and didn't ask Sirius or James who it was. Of course, it was because Sirius had Harry busy putting books on the shelf. For lunch, Sirius took Harry down to the Three Broomsticks, just the two of them. Since James had signed Harry's Hogsmeade permission form, Sirius thought he'd give Harry a sneak peek at the small village.
"Harry?"
Hermione broke Harry out of his thoughts. "Huh?" he asked.
"I asked if you wanted some carrots," Hermione repeated.
"Sure," Harry replied. He took some carrots and put them on his plate. He jumped at the note that suddenly appeared beside his plate. He picked it up and read it.
Put something green your plate
Mum.
Harry sighed. "The one thing I dislike about having Mum here." Glancing what was within reach he picked up the bowl that held peas. He lifted the spoon and the turned to meet eyes with his mother. She nodded in approval and Harry dumped the spoon full over the pile of mashed potatoes.
Lily watched from the head table. "Why do I feel like I'm back to the toddler stage?" she asked.
Madam Pomfrey chuckled. "Did you say that Harry was a picky eater?"
"Yes, I did." Lily cut up her chicken. "Though he's gotten better on vegetables, I wished he eat more of them."
"Harry is at the age where you need to pick your battles," Poppy said. "As long as he eats some vegetables, should be all that matters."
Lily agreed, knowing that she was right.
Back at the Gryffindor table, the discussion turned to the first day of classes, which included their first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson with Remus and Sirius, and their first Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid.
"Hagrid asked us to tea this weekend," Hermione informed the boys. "Should we go?"
Harry and Ron shared a brief look before telling Hermione that they would go. "Can we go after lunch, Fred and George are organizing a pickup game of Quidditch on the pitch this Saturday after dinner," Harry said, softly, not wanting to be overheard by the other tables.
"Okay, that's fine," Hermione agreed.
They ate dinner making small talk about how much more interesting their Defense lessons will be now that they had a confident teacher, one who knew what he was doing. When they finished and moved on to dessert, Harry got up and headed to the head table.
He approached Lily first before heading on down to Sirius.
"What time is Dad coming tomorrow?" He asked. James usually came the first weekend back to Hogwarts to find out how the first week went for Harry and how he is liking his classes.
"He is coming at five and will be here for the weekend," Lily replied. "Do you know what your plans are?"
"On Saturday? Visiting Hagrid and the Quidditch game that Fred and George are organizing for Oliver," Harry answered.
Professor McGonagall leaned over and said, "Make sure that you all are back in the castle before nightfall."
"Yes, Professor," Harry murmured.
When Professor McGonagall left, Harry asked his mother, "What time do I need to be down to your quarters?"
"You can come when your classes are over. I have some of your clothes, so just come on when your class is over," Lily said.
"Okay, Mum."
He left his mother to speak with Madam Pomfrey and headed down to where Sirius and Remus were sitting.
"Hello, Favorite Godson," Sirius greeted.
"I'm your only godson, Sirius," Harry reminded him. "Neville lost his textbook and I gave him mine, can you get me another copy?" he asked, quietly.
"Sure, I need to run an errand to Diagon Alley for a few things and I'll pick one up for you. I won't tell your mother neither."
"Thanks, Sirius."
Remus turned to ask Sirius something and seen Harry standing there, talking to Sirius. "Harry, this is Professor Williams. He is replacing Professor Binns for History of Magic."
"Nice to meet you," Harry said.
Professor Williams nodded back in greeting before he realized that he recognized one of his oldest friend's son.
"My Merlin's son, you're the spitting image of James," he said.
Having heard this throughout his life, Harry replied, "I hear that a lot. Thanks."
"Remus tells me that you play Quidditch on the Gryffindor team. What position?" Professor Williams asked.
"Seeker."
Professor Williams smiled. "I figured you would play chaser like your father, but James was an excellent seeker as well."
"I can play Chaser if I need to," Harry added.
"He has a good arm on him," Sirius said, absent-mindedly rubbing his shoulder. Harry had hit him in the shoulder with a quaffle over the summer during a Quidditch game. Harry had apologized profusely and had volunteered to help him until his shoulder healed. But Sirius said all it did was leave a bruise and Lily's charms showed no broken bones.
"But then, your mother had filled in as a Seeker a few times when needed," Professor Williams explained. "She preferred to keep her feet on the ground, but that didn't mean she was an excellent flyer."
"My mother? Lily Potter? Lily Marie Evans Potter? The woman who sees Quidditch as a dangerous sport and almost pulled me from the team three times?!"
Professor Williams chuckled. "Yes."
Harry looked at him for a second and then held up a hand and then a finger. "One second."
Shock still written all over his face, Harry walked to the end of the table where Lily was sitting.
Before Lily said anything, Harry said, "Dear Mother of mine, you have some explaining to do."
Sirius heard him and he howled with laughter, especially with the shocked expression on Lily's face. Remus snorted, shaking with silent laughter.
Lily calmly as she could, sat down, her empty tea cup and stood up from her chair.
"I think that this is a conversation we need to have in my quarters."
She led Harry out of the Great Hall and to her quarters. She figured that one day, she would have this conversation when her son found out she once played on the Quidditch team.
"It was a brief time when I was a fourth year," Lily began. "A friend of mine was the seeker. Remember my friend Emmaline?"
Harry nodded, remembering the brown-headed woman who came to visit a few weeks in the summer and having tea with Lily. She often brought back stories about her travels and the places she had been over the last year.
"She was the seeker and I filled in for her when she was sick or couldn't play for a reason or another."
"Oh," Harry said.
"You're probably thinking why I get so protective over you when you're on a broom and have come close to pulling you from the team when I've been on the team and so as your father."
Harry nodded once more.
Lily smiled. "I don't think I can really explain it in a way you'll understand. But one day when you have a son, you'll understand then."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry walked into the library on Saturday in search of something read for fun and for his History of Magic essay. The library was his only friend in primary school, his escape from the bullies on the playground. His time in the library had made his love of reading grow. Ron didn't quite understand it, but he let Harry alone when he decided to head to the library.
The library in Potter's Bar was somewhere he could go without Lily or James. He often walked to town and head to the library where would check out two or three books at a time. Mrs. Phelps, the librarian, thought that Harry was different than the other teenagers that came into the library. She was surprised at how prompted Harry was in returning the books he checked out and then would select more.
Mrs. Honey, the librarian at the primary school Harry attended, said that Harry was a quiet and shy child, but she welcomed him in the library because she didn't want to turn down a child just because they wanted to read a book.
Harry's reading level had risen to above his grade level as a result and while most kids struggled to read aloud in class, Harry didn't. This did, however, make him an even bigger target for bullies. He was picked on for his reading and was even called a bookworm.
In truth, he was a bigger bookworm than Hermione. Lily sometimes had to pry the book out of Harry's hands and make him go outside. One time Harry took a book outside with him and Lily summoned it and told him it was time to play.
The books Harry read gave him an escape. He got so into the book that he kept reading chapter after chapter, sometimes until he finished it.
He loved books on Quidditch, didn't matter what it was. In terms of Muggle books, he loved books about fantasy, mysteries, and suspense. He had read The Hobbit over the summer and had gotten the complete Lord of the Rings series from Remus for his birthday.
Today, he was in search of a book for his History of Magic essay, about a famous witch or wizard from the 19th century.
Since Professor Williams had been taking over the History of Magic class, it was more engaging and it was as boring as it was when Professor Binns taught it. He had been banished from the classroom, but not from the castle. He was now living with the ghosts, according to Gryffindor ghost, Nearly Headless Nick.
Hermione had told Harry the general location of the History of Magic books, so Harry knew where he needed to go.
Ron was waiting for him when Harry approached the first table to drop off his bag.
"Do you have an idea of who you're going to search for?" Ron asked.
"No, not yet," Harry replied.
Hermione approached the table and dropped into a chair. Since she was going to be sitting there, Harry and Ron went off to the History of Magic section and were able to find the books that would help them with their essay.
Professor Williams didn't give a required length but had asked they provide a full list of their accomplishments and a small biography.
They worked quietly for three hours and in that time, Hermione had gotten up and went to different sections of the library.
"Is it just me or is Hermione, taking more classes than us," Ron whispered to Harry.
"I think she is, but I don't know how."
They kept working when Hermione returned to the table and asked Harry and Ron how their essays were going. Ron, to her surprise, was almost done with his and Harry was reading over his to see if he needed to make some changes to it. Lily would read over it before he turned it next week.
It wasn't until it was nearing dinner that Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the library, all the homework for Monday ready to turn in. They made small talk on the way down to the Great Hall.
As they reached the Great Hall, Ron and Hermione noticed that people were giving Harry some funny looks. It wasn't until they sat down at the Gryffindor table that Harry noticed it too.
"What's going on?" Hermione pondered.
"Did Sirius prank someone?" Ron asked Harry.
"Who?" Neville inquired, joining Ron, Hermione, and Harry at the table.
"Professor Black," Hermione replied. Turning to Harry she asked, "Did he?"
"How would I have known that?" Harry reminded her.
Hermione glanced at Ron, trying to find out what was going on.
Fred approached the group, sitting down beside Harry.
"I think I know what happened," he said.
"What?" Harry asked.
"I think it has something to do with a conversation Lily had with Professor Snape in the potions lab. We overheard, actually, everyone heard. Lily was pretty mad. I don't think I ever saw her that angry."
"Did the ground shake?" Harry inquired.
"What?" Fred deadpanned.
"When Mum is really angry and reaches full volume, the ground shakes."
Ron and Hermione glanced at each other. So that's where Harry's temper came from. They had wondered as James was calmer and well mannered and while Lily was kind, she was also a redhead with a temper to match.
When Fred left Harry wondered what it was that made Lily that angry. It didn't take him long to figure out what.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Lily entered the dungeons, thinking she should have had this talk with Severus three years ago. She didn't know why she didn't. Maybe things would be better for Harry and Potions. She knew Harry's potions work was spectacular because she had spent a few weeks over the last two summers, reviewing the potions that Harry brewed over the past year. The potions were flawless. She had even asked a fellow potions master at St. Mungo's to look them over and he said they were perfectly brewed.
It confirmed everything that Harry has told her regarding why he had a low potions grade. Severus didn't know the Harry she knew and loved, instead, he saw Harry as James's twin, which Harry was quite literally, but with her eyes.
As she approached the Potions classroom, she noticed that she wasn't the only one who needed to have a word with Severus.
Professor Dumbledore was in the classroom when she entered. Apparently, he was finishing up with his talk and had noticed Lily entering the room.
"Am I interrupting something, Professor?" Lily asked the headmaster, sweetly.
"Not at all Lily, as a matter of fact, we had just finished. I assume Professor Lupin has settled in well?"
"Yes, he has," Lily confirmed.
"Good. And Severus, Lily is going to be brewing the Wolfsbane potion, do heed my warning. I will see you both at dinner."
When Professor Dumbledore left, Lily turned to her former friend.
"Severus, could I have a word with you for a moment," she asked, staring him straight in the eyes.
"What can I help you with?" Severus inquired, giving Lily his full attention.
"I don't know," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "Is there something you think you can assist me with?"
"I don't…."
"He's thirteen years old Severus," She scolded in a low whispered tone, a tone that was usually reserved for James. "My son is thirteen years old and you treat him and every student that isn't in your own house like they are no better than a wad of gum under your shoe!"
"How I teach my students…"
"Considering the fact one of your students is my child, I make it my business to know what and how you're teaching him. This is exactly my point. You aren't teaching them!"
"I do believe that that girl your son is friends with still manages to complete the work I assign," he retorted.
"Are you talking about Hermione? Like many students, not that you would recognize it, is an extraordinarily bright and talented young witch."
"Not unlike yourself," he whispered under his breath.
"And Harry and Ron and the rest of the students deserve the same recognition," Lily scolded, this time in a tone she reserved for Harry.
Lily paused to take a breath before she started again. "Harry may have James's aptitude in Potions….."
"He certainly has his arrogance."
"Have you ever stopped and taken notice that the rest of the first year class you were in isn't here anymore. This isn't 1971, it's 1993. They all graduated and grew up, Severus. Right now, I don't think you've realized that.
"I see his almighty attitude has worn off on you."
"James…"
"Don't!"
"James Potter is the only person you have a problem with here, Severus!" She shouted. "Harry is just as much my son as he is James's son and I can't help it that Harry is literally his twin with my eyes. The only reason you treat him and the rest of the students the way you do is because you are still so bitter about that fight we had in our fifth year."
Lily paused once more for a breath.
"Harry is not James, and James isn't the 'Potter' you still seem to think he is. Get that through your incredibly thick skull already. Have you ever thought that maybe our friendship couldn't work because you are incapable of learning that people change?"
"Are you done?" Severus asked.
"Harry may be James's younger identical twin, but he is so much more than either James or I ever was. All I ask of you is to consider that the kid you met two years ago isn't your worst enemy reincarnated. He's my son. My thirteen-year-old son and I expect more from you, the person who once made feel invincible when everyone else was tearing me down."
Lily turned to leave. She had opened the door and was about to walk through when she turned around.
"Just so you know, I read over Harry's homework before he turns it. If he returns another low graded Potions essay to me, I'll bring James into this and I don't think you would want that."
Lily had to hide her smirk when she saw the look of shock on Severus's face.
"I bid you good day."
With that, she left, slamming the door behind her.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
"I can't believe that you did that," James murmured, shaking his head. Lily had just finished telling him about the talk
"Well, I'm tired of it, James. Harry and any other student in his classes deserve to have some recognition for the work that they do. I mean I've read Harry's potions essays and while I know I can take the credit for teaching him how to write an excellent essay, he's doing the work. They are at least an Exceeds Expectations and not the Troll that Severus gives him. I did tell him that I read over the essays and what Harry turns in are ones I approve. He looked shocked when I told him that."
Lily paused to take a drink of the wine James had brought with him.
"This talk had been coming since Harry's first year, so don't tell me that you're surprised."
"It's not that I'm surprised Lily," James began. "More like I didn't think you would actually go through with it."
"I know. Because once upon a time he was my friend, my only friend," Lily said, softly.
"Until he…."
"You don't need to remind me, James," Lily retorted. "I don't think I could ever forgive him for what he called me."
"I don't think I could either."
Lily sipped her wine, while James refilled his glass. "On a different note, I was talking to Remus. I don't think I've seen him this happy in a long time. He seems to enjoy teaching."
"He does," Lily agreed.
James picked up his wine glass and took a sip. He wrapped an arm around Lily and pulled her close, kissing her cheek.
"I'm still in shock. You told off Severus Snape," James murmured.
"James, it needed to be done. I'm tired of his….." Lily trailed off. "I don't even have a word to describe how he treats his students who aren't in his house."
Their conversation was paused when Harry entered the portrait hole and came in the sitting area, sitting down heavily beside Lily. She smiled as he snuggled close to her and she wrapped an arm around him and began to card her fingers through his hair.
Harry would never admit it to anyone but there wasn't anything he loved more than when he was resting near his Mum and she combed her fingers through his hair with her long delicate fingers. Her nails were the perfect length and never sharp. She would do it unconsciously and he would revel in it, especially when she would scratch his shoulders and back. She sometimes would rub his neck, shoulders and back if he was sitting still long enough. If he laid his head in her lap, she would gently run her fingers along his side or rub his stomach if he was lying on his back. It was a routine they developed when Harry was little and it didn't go away when he got older. Harry never got a chance to miss it, because if he was staying in Lily's quarters, he was often found sitting near Lily with his head on her shoulder or in her lap.
"Hello to you too son," James murmured, smiling softly.
Harry cracked an eye open and noticed James sitting beside Lily. "Hi, Dad."
"How was your day?" Lily asked.
"Long," Harry replied, yawning.
"Did you finish your homework for next week?" Lily inquired.
"I did, it's in my bag."
"Good." Lily smiled as Harry snuggled closer to her. Glancing at the clock, she realized why. It was almost ten o'clock at night.
"It's getting late. Are you staying here?" James asked.
"Yeah, I was going to." Harry yawned again.
"Why don't you go and get a shower and get ready for bed," Lily suggested.
"Okay."
Harry got up from the couch and headed towards his bedroom.
James glanced at his wife and smiled at her. "What do you say about heading to bed after we get Harry tucked in and we…."
"No, James. Not here."
Lily took her empty glass to the kitchen and placed it in the sink. She opened the cupboard and seen she had the ingredients to make pancakes in the morning. She decided not to tell James or Harry and to keep it a surprise. She returned the wine to the cold box and cleaned up the kitchen from the small snack James had when he first arrived. She was thinking about what she wanted to get into the next day when she felt arms wrap around her.
"What's going on in that pretty little mind of yours?" James whispered in her ear.
"What I'm going to get into tomorrow is one and I need to make a trip for potion supplies next week. We've used up some of what we've collected over the summer to stock up the potion cabinets and I need some things to make potions to stock my own cabinet."
"Can you send some home when you do? I've been using what was left in your cupboard in the basement."
"Of course," Lily murmured.
"Mum?" Harry called from his bedroom.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Is okay if I read for a while?" He asked.
Lily glanced at the clock and noticed it was now exactly ten o'clock. "Lights out in an hour," she called.
"Thanks."
"I blame Remus for turning my son into a bookworm," James said, but Lily knew he was teasing.
"You know how hard Harry worked to learn to read. All Remus did was introduce Harry to the mystery books that he prefers."
"I know."
"Are you two going to play Quidditch tomorrow?" Lily asked.
"It will depend on whether or not you make him rewrite an essay," James replied.
"I'll read over them tonight and let him know in the morning."
Silence followed the brief conversation as Lily quietly cleaned up the kitchen and headed to the armchair where Harry had laid his rucksack in. She opened it and pulled out the small stack of parchment and collected her blue self-inked quill and began to read over the essays Harry had written.
The clock ticking and Lily laying the parchment down to begin reading the next essay was the only sound in the room. James headed to the bathroom for a shower, deciding to go ahead and take one while Lily was busy. By the time James returned to the sitting room Lily had finished reading over Harry's homework.
"I'm impressed. Harry has improved his research skills and writing skills. I would guess an Exceeds Expectations at least."
James hummed. If it was up to Lily, Harry would be a straight O student. James didn't want to put that kind of pressure on Harry this early.
Lily laid the essays on the coffee table and headed to Harry's room. She smiled when she saw that Harry had finished reading and had fallen asleep without turning off the light. She tucked the duvet over her son and kissed his cheek softly.
"Goodnight, Sweetheart," she whispered. "I love you."
James came in behind her and whispered his own good nights to their son and softly kissed the side of his head. He turned the lamp off before he left the room.
He stood in the doorway, watching his son sleep for a moment before bringing the door to a partial close and headed to Lily's bedroom.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry entered the hospital wing, one afternoon a week later. He had gotten back his History of Magic essay and Lily had been curious as to what grade he had gotten. He had been shocked at the grade he was given and he knew Lily would be too. History of Magic was the class Harry struggled in, despite Professor Binn's teaching. Now with Professor Williams, he was improving and was really starting to like the class, even though he and Ron missed their usual nap time.
"Hello Harry," Madam Pomfrey greeted. "Your Mum is in the lab today."
"Thanks."
Leaving the hospital wing, Harry walked down the hall towards Lily's private quarters. He passed the portrait of Helga the nurse and then turned the corner and approached the door to the potions lab Lily used. He turned the knob and went inside.
"Mum?" He called.
"Hi Sweetheart," Lily greeted when she looked up from the potions book she was reading. "How was class today?"
"We got our essays back in History of Magic," Harry began. He laid his rucksack on the desk and opened it, pulling out his graded essay. Lily came over to the table and was waiting when Harry pulled out the essay. He handed it to Lily and she unfolded it, then looking down at the essay.
She felt herself fall back in surprise, catching herself before she could fall on the floor.
"Harry, you got an Outstanding!" She exclaimed.
"I think Professor Williams was surprised as well," Harry added.
Laying the parchment down, she pulled Harry into an embrace.
"I'm so proud of you," she said, hugging him to her.
Harry smiled softly. Hearing that 'I'm proud of you' made it all the better. He hoped that he made his parents proud of him that was all he wanted to be able to do.
"Well I have to say since Professor Williams has taken over History of Magic, I've seen that your grades have improved," Lily commented. "Good job, sweetheart."
"Thanks, Mum," Harry murmured, hugging her.
"Now, why don't you help me in the lab a little bit before we head down to dinner?"
"Okay." Harry helped her sort through old potions and clean the vials for fresh potions. As they worked, Lily asked Harry about his other classes, partially potions. Harry assured Lily that things were slowly improving and that he would be getting his essay back the next class. Lily nodded, hoping that Severus took her warning seriously.
When it was time to head down to dinner, Lily put the clean vials on the work counter beside the caldrons, so that they would be ready to be filled when she returned the next morning.
"Go on to dinner, Harry. I'll be there in a minute," She called over her shoulder when Harry told her he had finished his task of wiping off the counter where Lily cut up the potion ingredients.
"Okay, Mum. When you talk to Dad, can you tell him to bring me my purple hoodie? I think I left it in my room."
"I'll pass the message along, and I'll tell him to bring your black winter coat. I think you'll need it sooner up here in Scotland then you would back at home."
"Thanks, Mum, I'll see you later. Love you."
"Love you too, Sweetheart."
Harry left Lily's potions lab, feeling that all things were right in the world. His grades were improving, making his mother happy, he had his godfather and 'uncle' with him here in Scotland giving him another place to go and someone else to talk to when he felt he couldn't go to his parents and most importantly, the one thing that hadn't changed was the friendship he had with his friends, especially Ron and Hermione.
Yes, this was the year was the year of change, but change can be a good thing.