Harry was late. A raid on the far side of London had kept him way longer than intended. It was a Friday evening and the family was gathering to spend the weekend together. They tried to do this at least once a month in addition to their regular Sunday dinners. He appeared at the apparition pointed and rushed towards the door. He opened it and found the house already full of the Weasley family and their partners. He spotted Bill and Fleur drinking tea at the table with Molly. Arthur was speaking to Audrey and Hermonie, the two muggle-born spouses in the group. Ron was engaged in a chess game with Percy, with George and Angelina watching. Charlie was using his wand to grow his hair back out on the stairs. He and Harry shared a knowing wink. Molly was still after him to cut his hair.
As Harry stepped inside, a red-headed missile collided with him.
"Harry! You made it!"
He smiled as he pulled his wife, Ginny Potter nee Weasley into his arms.
"Sorry I'm so late. The mission ran over. Did you bring me a change of clothes?"
She gave him a sly smile. "Sure, but your way sexier in your Auror robes."
The heads of the Weasley men all looked their way and though he knew they wanted to, they did not save anything. Ginny had made it clear now they were married there would be no protectiveness now.
"I better change then. Wouldn't want one of your brothers trying to steal me."
The Weasley spouses all snickered at the idea and Harry winked at his sisters-in-law before heading up to Ginny's old room. 'Our room' he amended as he walked up. He still could remember the first time Molly had taken his bag to Ginny's room and not Ron's. He smiled fondly as he changed into a muggle shirt and jeans.
Once changed, he returned downstairs to find everyone standing, wands drawn. Harry pulls out his wand from the holster on his jeans.
"What's going on?" He switched to Auror mode, wishing he had not left his badge on his robes upstairs.
"There was a loud pop outside," George supplied. "And now there is chanting going on out there."
The fact that George Weasley was not cracking a joke spoke volumes on the situation. Harry waved for all of them to get down as he crept to the window. What he saw chilled his blood. Cloaked figures were forming a circle around the Burrow and they were reading from books that glowed with crimson light. He couldn't make out what they were chanting at all. He started to edge to the door as the chanting stopped and there was a large flood of crimson light. He went back to the window and saw the light had formed a massive sphere. They thrust their arms towards the Burrow.
"EVERYONE, TAKE COVER!" Harry screamed as he jumped towards Ginny and embraced her. Everyone around him tried to move as the light overtook them. The world turned red and Harry knew no more.
Harry woke in the darkness. He reached out, trying to find the comforting warmth of his wife but found nothing but cold sheets. Harry's eyes opened and found himself in the last place he ever wanted to be. He was back in his old bedroom at the Dursleys. He felt his pulse quicken in dread. He had not seen his aunt or uncle since they had parted ways before his seventeenth birthday. He quickly sat up and grabbed his glasses. The first thing he did was check over his body and found his fears were correct. He was back in his body prior to his Auror training.
"I guess whatever that light was, it sent at least me back in time to my younger self." Harry paced around his room. "I hope the others came too." His mind went to Ginny and he felt his stomach clench. He didn't think he could survive going back to just being friends. He looked down at his bare left hand and that was a mistake as his eyes watered. He shook his head and forced himself to be productive.
He checked around the room and found the letters from his friends where they had sent him food and sweets. He felt his blood chill again, this was the summer of the World Cup. The Summer before Voldermort returned.
"BOY! GET DOWN HERE!"
Came a roar from downstairs. Harry sighed, he was sure he knew what this was about. He then smiled at the thought of seeing Ginny. He really hoped his wife was back here with him. He moved his trunk and Hedwig's cage into the hall, before heading down to wait for his true family to come and collect him.
Notes: I am cross-posting this from AO3. There will be 5 chapters posted quickly and this will then be updated as the AO3 version is.
