Hey, my uni exams started just about two week ago and I should be busy studying, so of course, I decide to write a short story. Figures. My mind is crazy and I'm waaaay too good at procrastination.

Anyway, this is a very short four-shot and it's not romantic in nature, rather orientated on family. I just got this craving to write this and did it over two days, though the editing took longer.

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Harry Potter, otherwise I wouldn't be posting this here. I find that these disclaimers are royally annoying, so I'm not going to post one with every chapter, instead this one counts for the entire story.

And so, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 1

"Hermione, I'm fine! Really, it was just a normal nightmare, nothing more." Harry sighed in exasperation as Hermione continued biting her bottom lip, wringing her hands as she scrutinized Harry.

"But Harry-"

"Honestly Mione, give the man a break. Voldemort's been dead for over two months now, why would Harry still have visions from him? Your nagging isn't doing him any good." Harry smiled as Ron gave Hermione a quick kiss, effectively distracting her. Rather than continue looking at Hermione's reddening cheeks and happy smile, he turned his thoughts inwards.

The nightmare really was nothing new. Ever since Voldemort died, he's been having vicious nightmares, ranging from his parents' deaths to the faces of everyone who died in the Second Rising of Voldemort, accusing him of not doing enough for them. It didn't help that just walking around Hogwarts caused memories of blood and sightless eyes to rise up in his mind.

Every time he so much as looked at Ron or Ginny, he saw Fred's lifeless body. There were a few times he almost called out to Colin Creevey, only to realise it was his brother Dennis. Every weekend, when he went to visit Teddy at Andromeda's, he would be swamped with guilt and could never stay longer than an hour.

Of course, he never told Hermione and Ron the content of his dreams, knowing they would try and convince him it wasn't his fault, that they would try to find some solution. As it was, he couldn't keep the fact that he had violent nightmares from them and Hermione had already come up with a theory as to why he had these nightly terrors.

She said that the various books on psychology and trauma mentioned something along the lines of Post-traumatic Stress disorder.

Yet despite Hermione's lectures on what he should do to better his condition, Harry was sure that this wasn't what he had. After all, he didn't really get flashbacks when he was awake, he didn't have certain triggers, nor was he startled easily, by loud noises or crowds. Sure, he didn't like crowds, but that had been true before the war ever started and he didn't find himself prone to panic more easily than before.

Harry thought it was simply that before he didn't have the time to harbour these thoughts. During the war, he always had a purpose, he was always on the move to save someone or fight someone. Before Voldemort was dead, he wasn't allowed to relax and let go.

Now however…

"Harry! Honestly, where have you been? I've been calling you for the last minute and you completely ignored me. What are you thinking about?" His head snapped up at the ire in Hermione's voice and he smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, I was miles away. I was thinking about this year. Do you think we're going to be taught the normal seventh year, or do you think they're going to make some changes? Will all the students do their year over?" Sighing imperceptibly in relief, he listened as Hermione's eyes lit up and she started babbling about the new year. If there was one thing that could distract Hermione, it was school, or Ron for that matter.

"Oh, it's really quite logical! Every student will do the year they spent under the Carrows' over. That means that the new First years coming in will be having classes with last year's First years. However, Professor McGonagall announced that if you had special permission from the school and from your parents, then the First Years who had to do their first year over can receive permission to go to Hogsmeade in their Second year, since they're technically thirteen. I'm not sure what happens when they turn 17 in their Seventh year though? Also, the Ministry must have it bad, with almost no new graduates coming this year…"

Harry tuned out Hermione's excited babbling and shared a grimace with Ron, before both snorted in amusement. Hermione abruptly stopped as she flushed, sheepishly stating, "I did it again didn't I? Sorry guys." Slinging his arm over her shoulders, Ron grinned.

"No worries Mione. You wouldn't be the Hermione we know and love if you didn't ramble over boring, yet fascinating stuff." Ron yelped as Hermione casted a stinging jinx towards his hand, sniffing because he mocked her as he emphasized 'fascinating' in a soprano voice that she correctly assumed was meant to be her's. Harry just chuckled, leading the way to the Great Hall to get some breakfast.

A voice calling his name had him turn his head as he entered the Great Hall.

"Good morning Harry!" Smiling, Harry accepted the hug from Ginny. Since the war ended, he and Ginny hadn't yet talked about resuming their relationship, which Harry was thankful for. It wasn't that he didn't still love Ginny, it was just that he didn't want to burden her with him as he was now. His demeanour had gotten to the level of his Fifth year as he battled with the exhaustion his nightmares induced. While he was still unsure about his mind and himself, he didn't want to start anything he might end up damaging with his temper.

"Morning Gin. Sleep well? Did the First Years settle in all right?" Ginny, who was a sixth year prefect, nodded as she smiled.

"Yep, they settled in just fine. There were one or two who had the waterworks, but nothing a few Weasley Fireworks couldn't cure, courtesy of George." Harry smiled but inside his heart contracted at the thought of the lone Weasley twin. He was once again working at Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, using the making of products to keep his mind off the death of his other half. Angelina Johnson, their old Quidditch chaser and captain, as well as Lee Jordan, a close friend and Quidditch announcer, were helping him with the store. Ron had plans to become an auror when they finished Hogwarts, but he had also considered helping George out at the store part-time.

"Anyway, I wanted to ask you when you think Quidditch try-outs will be held? You've been made captain again this year and I know a few people who are dying to get in the air and game!" Smiling, Harry's face lit up as he thought of Quidditch. That, at least, was one thing he could use to distract himself from the morbid thoughts he had these days.

"Not sure, but I'll set it up as soon as possible. Keep an eye on the Notice board in the Common Room. I'll post it there tomorrow or the day after." Nodding, Ginny said her goodbyes and happily walked back to her friends. Grabbing a seat at the table, Harry listened with a smile as Hermione and Ron bickered, all the while looking on in amusement as Hermione dished for Ron without breaking a stride in her scolding.

Looking around the Great Hall, he saw students chattering as the sun shone down on them from the enchanted ceiling and ignored the painful twinge as he saw Professor McGonagall sitting in the Headmaster's chair.

All in all, it was good to be back home.

HP

Groaning, Harry sat back as Ron thoroughly trounced him in Wizards' Chess. He just didn't have the strategic mind Ron had. Sure, he could make good plans, but they're usually the at-the-moment type, not anticipating-five-moves-ahead type. Watching as his king was beaten to rubble by a knight, he sighed. He had never met anyone as brutal as Ron at chess and he didn't want to ever play against the person who taught him.

"Another go Harry?" His eyes glinting with humour, Ron leaned back and guffawed at Harry's death glare. Holding his hands up, he was about to reply when Hermione dropped down next to him.

"Beating Harry at chess again Ronald? Honestly, why don't you try to teach him your tricks if you want more competition?" The bushy-haired girl asked her boyfriend next to her.

"I've tried! He just doesn't learn!" About to protest in defence of his learning abilities, he was interrupted as a post owl glided through the window and dropped down in front of Ron. Sticking out its leg, Ron curiously untied the small parcel and the owl took off as soon as he delivered his burden.

"From who is it?" Hermione inquired curiously, her eyes analysing the shape of the parcel that Ron held. Opening the small note that came with it, his blue eyes scanned what was written, before he turned to the parcel with a look of excitement.

"It's from George. Apparently, it's something he and F-Fred worked on before… well, you know…" There was a sad silence, before Harry forced a smile on his face and chirpily asked what everyone was thinking.

"So? What does it do? Something nasty, something funny or something dangerous?" Chuckling at Harry's question, Ron answered as he unwrapped the parcel to reveal a small potion's vial filled with a clear sunny yellow potion.

"Well, he said it's something they made that can either be a magnificent prank or be used to have a day of happiness. However, they haven't sorted out all the glitches, so they can't be sure of exactly how long the potion is going to last."

"Let me guess," Hermione said, disapproval on her face, "he wants you to test it on students, preferably some Slytherin's right?" Correctly reading the expression on her boyfriend's face, she crossed her arms.

"Absolutely not! You have no idea what that potion can do. What if it harms them? What if it's irreversible? You cannot test it on some unsuspecting student, even if they are Slytherins!"

"Oh come on Hermione! It's not as if the slimy snakes don't deserve it! Let me test it on Malfoy and his cronies! You know they came off too light in the trials because of Harry's interference."

"Harry interfered because they didn't deserve Azkaban, even if they were on Voldemort's side. He knows-"

Harry's head whipped back and forth as he watched the argument between Hermione and Ron escalating. Personally, he could see the funny side in pranking the Slytherins, but that is only if the potion was really as harmless as George claims. With George, harmless is puking your guts up or growing a tongue three meters long and nearly suffocating.

"Hello Harry. I see the Bumbledingers are making Hermione and Ron lose their senses and become unaware of how loud they are." Starting as a blond sat down next to him, Harry rubbed his eyes in confusion, sure he was mistaking her for someone else.

"Luna! What are you doing here?"

"The Gozzlegaps told me to come here and then tempted Ginny into opening the Portrait from the inside for me. They were quite worried about you." Harry stared in perplexed awe at Luna, the state he usually was in when in the Ravenclaw's company. Looking around, he saw Ginny shrug her shoulders in bafflement, and decided to just accept the eccentrics of Luna. She usually knew far more than she let on, though it always took a while for others to reach that same level of understanding.

"Why would the G-Gozzlegaps be worried about me? Is something bad going to happen to me?" The dreamy-eyed girl hummed, swaying lightly to her melody, before she turned to look at Harry, seeming to stare into his very soul.

"It depends on how you look at it. I think it is something very exciting and could very well help you keep these Babbling Bezonks away at night. They babble so much when it becomes dark, that they cause terrible nightmares for those who have to listen to their incessant chatter."

Harry snapped back to Luna. How she had known about his nightmares, he had no idea. Only Ron and Hermione knew about those and he knew they would never tell anyone else. But then again, this was Luna and he was used to her knowing stuff that no one else knew.

"So, this thing that's going to happen to me is supposedly going to help me overcome my nightmares?" That couldn't be too bad then right? He just wondered why Luna had to come now, so close to curfew, and not tomorrow. His musings were cut short as Luna started talking again.

"Hmmm'mm. Did you know that The Ministry has an entire room dedicated to Timely Trupnuffles? As the name might suggest, they live outside time. They are distant relatives of the phoenix, though when they burn on their burning day, they don't rise from the ashes. Rather, their ashes are used by the ministry in Time Turners, since it possesses the quality to manipulate time. But a Trupnuffle's ashes are too strong for the Ministry to control, so they place it inside a container. However, if a person makes contact with the ashes without the container to buffer them, it's so much stronger."

Harry stared at the happily humming Luna in mystification. He was faintly aware that Hermione and Ron's argument were heating up and soon Hermione would explode, but the majority of his attention was focused on the odd puzzle of a girl next to him.

"Luna…" Harry started carefully, "Why is this important for me to know?" The blond stopped humming and turned her eerie gaze on the Boy Who Lived.

"Why, because otherwise you wouldn't know how to get back of course."

Before Harry could reply, a scream of frustration echoed through the Common Room as Hermione lunged for the potion held in Ron's hand, who tried to keep it away from her. In their struggle, the potion was knocked out of Ron's hand and the cap slipped off.

Things happened very fast after that.

Harry was barely aware that the potion spilled all over him, soaking into his hair and skin. He had the disorientating sensation of falling, mixed with the slight queasy feeling he remembered from drinking Polyjuice Potion.

"I'm sorry Harry. But it will be better this way, you'll see." Before Harry could respond or even think about what was happening, Luna had upended a small hourglass-figured vial over his hair, sprinkling him with the glittering sands within, before she whipped it away.

And before Harry could even so much as gasp, he vanished in a blinding flash of light.

HP

Lily slammed her book shut as the loud laughter of the band of misfits by the fire interrupted her studying once more. Breathing deeply, she tried to keep her mother's advice in mind and slowly counted to ten, only to have a shriek, followed by another peel of laughter interrupt her once more.

Knocking back her chair as she stood abruptly, she ignored Alice's pleadings for her to sit back down and not trouble herself with those who didn't matter. It was rare that she had the chance to spend an evening with her friend in the Gryffindor Common Room, seeing as she had Head Girl duties and also resided in the separate rooms set aside for the Head Girl and Head Boy. Of course, it just had to be the day that Potter and his gang decided to spend their time fooling around in the Common Room as well.

Striding across the common room, she planted herself behind the couch with her hands on her hips, glaring down at the two black-haired boys, one brown-haired boy and a mousy blond.

"Potter, Black! Will you stop your childish actions and boorish laughter so that those of us who would like to study for the NEWTs can do so in peace!" Laughing grey eyes and sheepish hazelnut eyes turned to look at her, while the other two boys tried to make themselves look inconsequential.

"Lily petal, how wonderful to see you!"

"Shut up Potter. I expected better of you, since you've been made Head Boy this year, but it seems I'm to be disappointed. Don't you care about your NEWTs?"

"Oh come on Evans! NEWTs are only in May and June! School just started!" Sirius Black, notorious prankster, disowned heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black and Seventh year Gryffindor, leaned back folded his arms behind his neck as he grinned roguishly up at the redhead Head Girl.

Sniffing, Lily glared down at him. "School hasn't just started, it's been more than two months. And in case you didn't know, the NEWTs handle all of the work we covered this year, as well as sixth year work. It would be in your best interest to study throughout the year instead of the usual magic tricks you do."

"Aw Lily Petal, have we ever failed an exam? Plus, we do a lot more than just magic tricks. They are works of art!" Feeling her face redden as she became angrier, she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. It wouldn't do for the Head Girl and Head Boy to start a shouting match. Of course, Black just had to open his big mouth.

"Besides, the slimy gits deserve it, especially Snivellus. He's the worst of the lot! Hah, I remember that beautiful time in fifth year that we taught him a lesson." Remembering the moment she lost her only childhood friend, the moment he called her a mudblood, caused fire to rush through her veins. She also remembered how he had been doing nothing more than reading quietly when Potter and his groupie attacked and taunted him. The incident of the other day, with Black and Snape duelling it out in the corridors popped up in her head and her ire boiled over.

"AND WHOSE FAULT DO YOU THINK THAT IS? You guys are so childish, always playing these stupid pranks like they mean something! You are a shame to Gryffindor and act as if you are God's gift to mankind when really, you are just dull little kids wanting some meaningless attention. You disgust me!"

Sirius' face had steadily reddened and he stood up with his clenched fists by his side. James, knowing that his friend was thinking of the words his hateful mother had spewed last summer when she disowned him, hurriedly stood up, trying to defuse the situation.

"Now, now Petal, that was uncalled for-"

"DON'T call me Petal! I'M SICK OF YOU ALWAYS TALKING IN THAT SUGARY SWEET VOICE! It's time you grow up and stop imagining that anything is possible between us, James Potter!" James face crumpled and paled and he dropped the hand he had been reaching out with. Then his eyes hardened and he sneered.

"Well Evans, then I'll be glad to tell you-"

A flash of bright light and a pop interrupted whatever James was about to say. In an instant, Alice was by Lily's side, with Remus and Peter, the two boys from before, next to James and Sirius' side. Lily blinked her eyes, trying to get rid of the bright afterimage and she looked around. The entire Common Room was quiet as everyone tried to see what caused the light.

The silence was interrupted with a slight sniffle and the sound of someone sobbing.

Alice was the first to move, as she moved towards a couch next to the one James and Sirius had sat on. A bundle of robes were lying on the couch, slightly quivering as the sobbing continued to emanate from the robes. Kneeling next to the couch, she ignored the numerous wands pointed towards the bundle and gently lifted the fabric, gasping as she saw what was beneath.

A sudden movement from the robes had everyone tensing, spells on their lips, only to stop in puzzlement as the robes slipped off to reveal a tousled head of black hair and big green eyes with a pair of glasses hanging off one ear. Seeing the many wands pointed at him, the child shrieked and launched himself off the couch, terrified to be surrounded by so many strangers. Reflexively Sirius fired a stunning spell towards the child, startled by the shriek and sudden movement.

However, before Lily could gasp in fear, the child nimbly dodged the spell without looking and dived behind an armchair in the corner of the Common Room next to the fireplace. They could all hear the renewed sobbing from behind the armchair.

"Black! What do you think you're doing! He's just a child!" Alice rounded on Sirius, poking him roughly in the chest.

"I…I-I'm sorry… It was just a reflex. I didn't mean to try and hurt him." Sirius stammered in the face of Alice's wrath. Damn, she was just as scary as Lily.

"But… H-How did h-he get h-h-here?" Peter stuttered, peeking out from behind Remus. Alice shrugged as she moved towards the armchair. She held up a finger to show that everyone had to be quiet, before she knelt again and called out.

"Hello? You don't have to be afraid, we won't hurt you. Can you come out please?" The sobbing continued as the boy seemed to ignore Alice. Thinking for a bit, she slowly took out her wand, ignoring the scrambling sound that came from behind the chair. Flicking it, various coloured bubbles emerged from the tip, twinkling happily as they floated around. It wasn't long before the crying tapered down and the boy just sniffled, his eyes fixed on the bubbles, at least as far as Alice could see.

"There you go. See, I won't hurt you. It's going to be ok. Come on out and we'll try and find your mummy and daddy." She was a bit unnerved to see the big emerald orbs pinning her in place, before he inched a bit closer.

"Mummy? Daddy? Whewe mummy an' daddy? Dwey left Hawwy." Alice didn't know what to say to this and looked over her shoulder at Lily, pleading with Lily to help her. She was an only child and didn't have much experience with children. But Lily had a sister, shouldn't she know what to do? Alice completely ignored the fact that Lily had an older sister and so wouldn't know what to do with a small child.

"Peter, go call Professor McGonagall." At the sound of Lily's voice, the small child inched closer to the opening, peeking out from behind the chair. As Lily turned and walked towards Alice to try and help her coax the child from behind the chair, the child perked up.

"Mummy!" Like a shot, the small child ran from behind the chair and barrelled into Lily's legs, wrapping his tiny arms securely around her. Lily wind-milled her arms to try and keep her balance as the child continued clutching at her. She looked at Alice in confusion, automatically bending to pick up the small body, making sure she had a secure hold on him through all the excess robe he was still wrapped in. As soon as he was in her arms, he buried his head in her neck and hair, his small hands gripping the back of her robes. He was continuously babbling, though Lily couldn't hear a word of what he was saying, as it was muffled by her hair.

"Wha- What is going on?! Evans, you have a kid?" Glaring at Black, Lily answered while trying to calm down the strange child that had wrapped his legs around her middle and was clinging to her like a monkey.

"Of course not! I'm almost seventeen, why would I already have a child that looks to be around a year old? Did I miss nine months of my education without me noticing? His mother probably has red hair or something, so he's confusing us."

"Well, he's holding onto you pretty determinedly. He sure thinks you're his mother." The small head lifted from where it had been buried in Lily's hair, blinking as his eyes landed on James. One tiny hand released Lily as he reached out, calling loudly as he was able to.

"Daddy!" James blinked once, confounded, before Sirius burst into laughter. "Oh no, no way, I'm no one's dad. I'm not your dad kid, you got the wrong person!" As James continued to stutter his rejection, the jade eyes filled with tears as his small rosy bottom lip trembled.

"Daddy…?" Sighing in exasperation, Lily glared at James. "Get over here Potter! Even if you aren't his dad, he thinks you are and it's the easiest way to keep him calm." James gulped, before his head slumped and he walked over, taking the small reaching hand in his own. The entire face of the tiny boy lit up and he sighed in contentment as he laid his head on Lily's shoulder, smiling at James as he fell asleep clutching both Lily and James.

There was an awkward silence, before the portrait opened and Professor McGonagall entered with a wheezing Peter behind her. Her eyes immediately alighted upon the strange sight of the Head Boy and Head Girl holding a small child. Pursing her lips, she strode forwards.

"What on earth is going on here?"

Lily and James glanced at one another, before they both smiled sheepishly. Where to start explaining…?

HP

Viola! What did you think? I will warn you now, there's not going to be any bigger plotline to this or anything like that, it's really just a short, sweet four-shot focusing on the time Harry spent with his parents, and most of it is out of Lily or James' perspective.

Please leave thoughts, reviews make me wiggle in happiness!