Understanding potter's struggles

02 | Meeting The Potters

James turned back into his normal self and stood smiling at the two strangers, relieved that they finally believed them.

"Can I ask who you are now?" said James grinning.

"Oh! right yeah," laughed Ron, "I'm Ron Weasley and this is Hermione Granger."

"Weasley?" said Lily, "any relation to Molly and Arthur?"

"Yeah that's my mum and dad," replied Ron.

"Pleasure to meet you Mr and Mrs Potter," smiled Hermione.

"Lovely to meet you too, and please just call us Lily and James," said Lily sweetly.

"So, what we miss?" James asked jumping straight to it, Ron and Hermione exchanged nervous glances.

"What year do you think it is Mr- I mean James?" she asked cautiously.

"1981 of course," replied James somewhat confused: his confusion increased when the two shared yet more worried glances.

"Eh, its well," Ron said trying to find the right words, "no actually, its eh, its 1998." This news came as a massive shock to the Potters who stumbled back slightly.

"What?!" he blurted out as he looked nervously at Lily, "so we've missed quite a bit then.

"Harry," Lily mumbled as tears once again surfaced and ran down her cheeks, "what happened to Harry?" Once again, the two glanced at each other. "Is he alive? Is our son alive?"

"Yes, Harry's alive," Hermione said softly.

"He managed to escape?" exclaimed James in shock as relief swept over him, Ron and Hermione nodded, "unhurt?"

"Came out with just a scar on his forehead," Hermione said gently.

"How?" asked Lily.

"Well when you refused to move out the way and Voldemort killed you Mrs- I mean Lily, you cast a protection over him that meant when Voldemort tried to kill Harry the curse rebounded on him and he lost his power. Unfortunately, he came back in our fourth year," explained Hermione.

"Our son lived," said James in disbelief before turning to the love of his life, "you saved him." James threw his arms around her in happiness as the two sobbed into each other; Ron stood watching awkwardly as Hermione began to cry.

"They call him the boy who lived," said Ron trying to make himself feel less awkward.

"Where is he?" Lily asked barely able to contain herself, she just wanted to see her son.

"I don't know exactly, last we saw him he was off out to hunt down some death eaters," Ron replied, a huge rush of pride flooded through them.

"You've met him then?" asked James.

"Met him! He's my best mate," Ron exclaimed to which massive smiles stretched across their faces.

"Tell us about him," said James eagerly barely able to contain his excitement, he wanted to know everything.

"Where to start," chuckled Ron, "I suppose I could summarise him into a bloody modest hero."

"We'll just let you see for yourself," said Hermione smiling, "would you like us to take you to him?" Of course, she knew what the answer would be.

*****

The four of them apparated to Hogsmeade and began the long walk up to the castle.

"Why didn't we just apparate into the castle?" asked Ron.