If they hadn't died.

Questions and answers?

Harry awoke the next morning earlier than before. He could see the street lights outside his window were still on and their orange rays piercing the curtains and filtering onto the floor of his bedroom. He looked around his room. He had never really appreciated before, how big his room actually was. He was so lucky. He had a mum, dad, two uncles and friends that loved him and a house that was big enough to be comfortable. Harry shook of the sleepiness and sat up and reached for his round glasses and put them on. He looked around his room once again and jumped. There on the floor was the Big Black, shaggy dog that he saw the previous evening, just lying there on the floor watching him. Harry took a sharp breath and dove under the covers of his bed and held his breath. For the second time in 24 hours, Harry felt his heart beating in his chest fast enough that it was hard to think of anything else than the boom boom in the centre of his body. He peeked over the top of his duvet and saw that the dog had vanished. He looked frantically from his perch in his bed and couldn't see it anywhere. Where had it gone? How did he not hear it?! should he go and tell his Mum and Dad? All of these thoughts past within seconds and he jumped from the bed, without his slippers and ran out of his room.

It had been ages since Harry had gone into his parents bedroom at night. He hadn't needed to for ages. He had never been afraid like this before either. He ran in and gently poked his dad on the back who rolled over and reached for his glasses straight away and sat up.

'Harry!? What's the matter? Why are you sweating?! He said as he touched harry's head looking alarmed. He got up and gently lead harry out of the room and into his own bedroom.

'What ever is the matter?! He said finally as he shut the door as if not to wake his wife.

'Dad, there was a huge black Dog lying right there!!' he said as he pointed at the floor where it had been. ' I-I-I -' he said and he began to sob harder then ever.

'Harry, dont cry, its fine i know the dog, and he would never hurt you. The dog comes in the house sometimes in the night and you've never seen him because you are always asleep when he does.' James hugged the small boy in his arms. 'Right, i guess i should tell you to get some more sleep, but by the looks of it, you are fully awake and so am I.... how about a game of wizard chess and we can wait for your mum to get up, yeah?' he said looking at Harry.

'Yeah' he replied looking happier.

Two hours and three games passed before Harry finally saw the kitchen door swing open and his mom walk in looking perplexed. 'James?! What's going on?' she said with her hands on her hips and looking at james suspiciously, who was smiling and handing her a cup of coffee trying to look as innocent as possible.

'Nothing, just a bit of wizard chess is all' he said smiling, running his hand through his hair.

'Since when?! ... the bed was cold and look at all those knights and bishops you have destroyed!' she said still looking at him with her hands on her hips. Her red hair bouncing as she spoke. Harry saw a smile across her lips and she looked at him. She crossed the room to Harry,

'Morning my big boy' she said in an embarrassing mum voice.

'Hi mum!' he said as she sat down. James came over and sat on the other side of the table and looked at them both. Harry Looked up at his mum and told her about his triumph over his dad at Wizard chess. She laughed at said, 'he's always been bad at that game.' She said over her cup and looked at James who smiled back and looked at Harry.

'So, what do you want to know about what you heard?' he said putting his hands on his chin and resting on table like a schoolgirl.

'Well,' harry said 'I heard uncle Sirius say that you, dad, should tell me? What did he mean? Harry asked in a quiet voice as he looked down at his hands not wanting to look at his mum or dad.