Chapter 5 : Getting an Old Life Back

I've come to a decision; I do not like Apparating. It's weird, it's un-natural and it makes me feel like throwing up. Thank Merlin Ginny's carrying me at the moment because I really don't think my legs would support me if I was standing on my own.

It's been about three days since we first met up again and now it's time for me to meet up with everyone else. Apparently, the entire Weasley family, including Hermione who's now a Weasley of course, plus Sirius and Remus, all decided that I had to be reunited with them immediately. Well, they took some convincing that it's actually me by all accounts, probably much more than Ginny told me in her first letter back to me, and that was to be expected. It's a bit extraordinary after all. They've come around now by all accounts and are all desperate to be reunited with me.

I would've met with them sooner but this is the first day I've been able to get out. Alice has taken the day off to go to the doctors, (I told you she would after she "passed out") and the house-elves were instructed to keep an eye on me and make sure I got anything I wanted. However, our house-elves being our house-elves, (ie, they're mean) they will only do something for me if I ask them and they won't bother to check on me if I don't ask for anything. So, it was simple for me to sneak out and floo to Diagon Alley. I met up with Ginny in the Leaky Cauldron at about eleven o'clock, we had a bit of a chat and a drink and just now, at quarter past eleven in the morning, she Apparated us to just outside the Burrow.

And now I'm nervous and my legs feel like jelly. It's ridiculous really; (the nervous part, not the jelly legs) these people are my family and I'm terrified to see them again. What if they don't actually believe it and Ginny just didn't have the heart to tell me? What if I look so completely different that they can't accept me? What if everything is too different and I can't accept them? There's such a huge possiblity that things will never be how they used to be and I'll never have the wonderful relationships I had before.

Ooop, Ginny just set me down. Woah, my legs really are like jelly, I can't stand up properly. I quickly cling to Ginny's hand to stop myself from falling completely and she's instantly stooped down to better support me.

"Are you all right Harry?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little wobbly. It's just, well, I've never Apparated before. It felt a little strange." I tell her with a small grin as I try to sort myself out. My legs are going to support me and they're going to support me now.

"Do you want me to pick you up again?" She offers, a little too enthustiastically for my taste.

"No, no, that's fine, I'll be okay on my feet...Although...Um, would you mind if I, uh, hold your hand?" It's just for balance I swear! Just in case my legs stay wobbly and I can't walk steadily and I need something to keep me up, that's the only reason. Ginny gives me a smile and a look which both appear to be far too knowing for my comfort, and holds out her hand for me to take. I do so, albeit a little shyly, and her fingers curl around mine in a loose but secure grip. And then, hand in hand, we head for the door which leads into the Weasley's house.

I have to admit, holding Ginny's hand like this is nice. Her hand's so much larger than mine and it's so soft and warm. I bet this is what holding your mother's hand is like. The second I realised fully what had happened to me, about a half hour after I was born, I have to admit I was actually rather pleased. I thought that this was going to be my chance to be part of a family; a real family. I'd have a mother to hug and hold my hand and who would read me bed-time stories. I'd have a father who would play football, (if I was a muggle) or Qudditch, (if I was a wizard) with me in the garden. I might even have a brother or sister or maybe both who I could share a loving relationship with. But then I realised I was stuck with Phil and Con and I became intent on getting back my old life; I'd rather be Harry Potter than pure-blooded Charlemagne Frank whose parents forever ignore him.

Ginny's just opened the front door and we're instantly met with a wave of heavy warm air and the scent of freshly baked pastry. I know it's cliche and corny, but this is seriously like coming home. The Burrow hasn't changed and for that I'm infinately greatful. My hand's been released now so I wander over to the family clock and see what everyone is up to. Predictably, Mrs Weasley's hand is at home as is Ginny's. Mr Weasley's is at work and, for some reason, Hermione and Ron both have hands which are also at work.

"Hey Gin, do Hermione and Ron live here as well?"

"They're between houses at the moment." Ginny tells me as she hangs up the cloak she was wearing and shakes her hair with her fingers to loosen it. "When they heard Hermione was expecting, they decided they were going to need a bigger place than the one they were in at that moment. They managed to sell it almost the instant they put it on the market and since they hadn't, and still haven't, decided on a suitable new place yet, they're staying here rent free until they do."

"How comes they're still at work?"

"None of them could get the day off so I've got to fire call them at around twelve with a "family emergency" so that they can all skive the afternoon. Ron thought they should just stay home completely with the same excuse but both Dad and Hermione just frowned at him for that." She recalls with a grin, walking over to me and then past me before calling out "Mum" at the top of her voice.

Seconds later, the back door's opened and there stands Mrs Weasley in all her motherly glory. She hasn't changed a bit and it's reassuring for me, (though if I'm brutally honest to myself, she wasn't the one I was afraid had changed). Her eyes go to look at Ginny first and then they flicker over to me where I'm still standing by the clock. Even as she stares at me, I can see her eyes glassing over as tears spring to her eyes and her hands slowly rise to cover her mouth. I throw a quick glance over to Ginny but she's busy looking at her mother happily. I turn my eyes back to Mrs Weasley and that seems to be some sort of cue because she chooses that moment to almost run over to me.

"Oh Harry, look at you!" She gushes as I'm scooped up into her arms, lifted off the floor and crushed to her body. As with the hand holding, it's rather nice though I'll be damned if I admit that out loud. "You're so small! How old are you again dear?"

"Six." I answer and I can almost see the sparks of motherly delight shooting out of her at the sound of my immature voice.

"Six? You're far too small for a six year old. And you're so skinny! Do your family not feed you?" She sounds genuingly concerned and it makes me wonder just what Hermione and Mr Weasley think of the Franks.

"Don't worry Mrs Weasley, I'm well fed." I have to bite back adding "but that's the only thing" simply out of spite for Phil and Con; that sort of revelation isn't going to be of any help at this particular moment. It is true that I am small for a six year old however. The other children I associate with, both in my ice skating class and the children of Contessa's friends, are all at least an inch or so taller than me and I am extremely skinny. I would say it's just a genetic thing but it can't be because Phil and Con are both tall people and, although they aren't fat they're not thin either. Oh well, recessive genes I imagine, like with the dark hair and green eyes.

"Well I hope your hungry today because I've been baking all morning and we'll all have a wonderful lunch when..."

She still hasn't put me down yet. In fact, she's adjusted me into a better position so that she can hold me. It must be those mothering instincts. If it's small and looks like a child, even when you know inside it's not really a child, it must be mothered. It must be fed, it must be carried around or its hand held and it must be cooed over. Once again, I can't complain. I'm actually rather enjoying the attention. But, of course, I'd deny it if anyone ever asked me out loud.

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Mrs Weasley's mothering went on for a full thirty minutes before it stopped. No, actually, scratch that. She hasn't stopped, she's just toned it down a bit as the time has come for whatever it is she's cooking to be payed attention to. Every five minutes or so she'll pop back in and ask if there's anything she can get me or just to check I'm all right. Each time I tell her I'm fine and that I'm quite comfortable and I'm not hungry which is completely true. I've been back in the Burrow for thirty-five minutes and I'm already stuffed. I've had: three glasses of homemade lemonade; six freshly baked cupcakes, three with icing and three without; a slice of fruit cake which had only just come out of the oven at the time; two butter bread biscuits the size of saucers and I've just now finished something which I'm not sure how to describe but it was bloody delicious whatever it was.

At this very moment, Ginny and I are sitting on the sofa in the Weasley's living room, me on Ginny's lap, (don't ask me how I ended up on her lap because I honestly don't remember; one minute I was sitting beside her and the next I was on her lap) and we're looking and Ron and Hermione's wedding photos. It looked like it was a beautiful day and in every single picture with Mrs Weasley in it she's crying or at least has tears in her eyes. When I noted that in the pictures of the actual service, Ron didn't appear to have a best man, Ginny simply said that he didn't want one and, although it was never spoken, I picked up on the reason why Ron didn't want/felt he couldn't have a best man.

We turn the page of the album the photos are in and continue looking at the pictures of the party which was held afterwards courtesy of Fred and George, (I was surprised to hear that they never returned for their Seventh Year and instead started their own joke-shop; good thing they did too as it really took off and now it's a multi-chain business). My eyes fall onto a picture of Hermione and Ron dancing and I reckon it must be their first dance as husband and wife because they're the only ones who are out on the dance floor. As they twirl around with each other, I can't help but feel a slight pang in my heart. It reminds me of Fourth Year when Draco taught me how to dance for the Yule Ball. Of course, the git taught me with him leading so when it came to the actual dance I was still rubbish because I had no idea how to lead. Looking back at it I can laugh but at the time it was awful. I didn't speak to Draco for three days. At the time it seemed justified but now I often wish I hadn't wasted the time.

Turning the page again, I can't help but laugh at the next picture I see. It's of Fred and George dancing together, rather hyperactively. I hope that whatever song they were dancing to was fast or else it would've looked far stranger than it already does. It looks a bit like they doing a Jive. A really sloppy and inaccurate Jive, but a Jive none-the-less, (I've picked up the basics of most dances from my ice-skating lessons). Next to the picture of Fred and George is a photo or Ginny dancing with her dad which is rather sweet I think.

We're about to turn another page when there's a knock at the front door. Ginny and I both look up from the album and turn out heads to see Mrs Weasley scurry out of the kitchen over to the door. She grabs the door knob and pulls it, opening the door and revealing that it's Remus on the other side and, big cheer here everyone, he hasn't changed a bit either! Well, unless you count that he doesn't look as beaten up as he did the last time I saw him but that's a positive thing so I'm ignoring it.

"Morning Molly." He greets her cheerfully, pulling off his cloak which is promptly seized by Mrs Weasley.

"Good morning Remus. Where's Sirius?"

"Sorting out that bloody motorbike of his. I swear he loves that thing more than me." Remus grumbles as he slips off his shoes, placing them beside Ginny's on the floor.

"You drove here?" Mrs Weasley checks, not really sounding confused or baffled though they're the only reasons I can think of for those words to be repeated.

"Sirius wants to take Harry for a spin at some point today. When is Harry getting here anyway?"

"He's already here; Ginny brought him about half an hour ago."

And that must be my cue to move because Ginny sets the photo album aside so that I can now slide off of her lap. I do so, gripping the edge of the sofa cusions beneath to steady myself, and then quickly move around the piece of furniture until I'm in full sight from the front door way. Remus' jaw drops a little when he sees me and I have to hold back a slight giggle at the sight. Wow, he's an absolute giant compared to me now, but then again, everyone I used to know is going to be now.

Remus seems to remember himself suddenly as his mouth closes and a soft, happy smile graces his face instead. He steps right up to me and gets down on one knee so he's more my height and looks me straight in the eyes. I can feel myself positively beaming at him and I wouldn't be surprised if I look rather silly but I can't stop myself from smiling, I'm so happy to see him again.

"Hello Harry." He greets me with a warm voice.

"Hi Remus." My smile just grew ever bigger when I said that, it's just so great to be able to say those words again.

Remus tilts his head to the side slightly, still smiling, and brings his right hand up to rest on my shoulder. I didn't think he'd hug me and I was right; never did think Remus was the hugging sort. More of the supportive hand on the shoulder sort. "You still look so much like your father and your eyes; still so much like your mother's."

Okay, that I was not expecting! I still look like my father? And I still have my mother's eyes? That's brilliant as far as I'm comcerned even though I find it a little hard to believe. How can I still look like my parents when I've been reborn as another person from a completely different family? Oh well, I'm not going to question it too much. He's said it and I'm going to force myself to believe him because I want to.

His hand is still on my shoulder and we're still smiling at each other happily. Out of the corner of my eye I can Ginny and Mrs Weasley standing together and, if I'm not mistaken, Mrs Weasley is discreetly dabbing at her eyes with a hankechief. I can understand her tears. Today's going to be an emotionally draining day for everyone.

Suddenly, the front door swings open causing us all to look over. It's Sirius, looking cheerful and much healthier than the last time I saw him. Well, he has had seven years to recover from his long stay in Azkaban. Plus he's with Remus now and I imagine he's good at keeping Padfoot in line.

"Hello all." He greets everyone happily, turning and closing the door behind him. "Hope you don't mind me letting myself in Molly. How are you?"

"Fine, thank you Sirius." Mrs Weasley assures, putting her hankie back in the pocket of her apron. Her voice is a little tearful though and it doesn't escape Sirius' attention. He looks at her quizzically.

"What's wrong?" He asks.

Mrs Weasley and Ginny simply look over to me and Remus and he follows their gaze. Moony turns to me once again and gives my shoulder a little squeeze before standing up straight again and moving away. I keep my eyes in the direction I know Sirius is in even when Remus' body blocks him for a brief few seconds. When he's past completely, Sirius is in view for me and I know that for the first time, I'm in clear view for Sirius. His eyes light up in realisation the second his eyes rest of me and, for a moment or so, he simply stares at me in disbelief. Slowly, he takes a step towards me and speaks:

"Harry?"

"Hi Sirius." His eyes look extra shiny. Oh please don't let him start crying. I'm not sure I could handle a crying Sirius.

He's right in front of me now and I'm having to tilt my head right back to keep my eyes on his face. He still looks really shocked and...No, wait, he's smiling now. His entire face has lit up and now, suddenly, he releases a bark of ecstatic laughter before grabbing me under the arms and lifting me right off the floor. He spins me around and I can't help but clutch at his arms tightly for fear I'm going to fall. It's an excited kind of fear though and being spun around is actually really fun, even with a belly full of cakes and biscuits.

"Look at you!" Sirius gushes, leaning back and lifting me up above his head. "You're so small and cute! And you're still the spitting image of James. Oh, I'm so glad you're back." A small grunt escapes me as he pulls me down suddenly and hugs me tightly.

Glancing over his shoulder, I can see that Mrs Weasley has brought her hankie back out and Ginny's trying to disguise the fact she has tears into her eyes now. Remus just looks extremely happy, smiling that smile of his. I'm glad everyone's happy to have me back, it's good to be back. I'm still worried though; I'm still to see Hermione and Ron again.

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I can't breathe. My ribs ache. I think I'm going to die.

For the past five minutes or so, Sirius and I have been rolling around in the Weasley's garden, him as Padfoot and if I didn't think he was a big dog before, I certainly do now. At this current moment in time, he has me pinned to the grass underneath him and he's snuffling at my neck, tickling me with his wiskers and deliberately breathing cold puffs of air to make me shiver. I can honestly never remember being tickled so thouroughly or laughing so much in this life or my last one.

I'm not so worried about things being weird or everything being awkward because so much has changed because, about half an hour ago when Sirius decided to take me for a ride on his motorbike, I realised that the reason I was worried was because I was afraid they were all going to treat me like a child as I look like a child. And, I turned out to be right, they are all treating me like a child for the most part. The only difference is, I don't mind it half as much as I thought I would. Blame it on my affection starved childhoods in both lives if you want, but playing with them all is actually really fun. Being tickled by Sirius is fun, riding on Remus' shoulders earlier was much more fun than I thought it would be and sitting on Mrs Weasley's or Ginny's lap is remarkably calming and comforting. Yes, for the first time I'm having a lot of fun being a six year.

"For goodness sake Siruis!" That's Mrs Weasley sounding exasperated. "Let the poor boy breathe."

That seems to startle Sirius as he's off me in a second and I can finally get some time to calm down. I don't think I can sit up yet so I'm not even going to try. I'll just lay here on the grass and try to stop the giggles which keep escaping me. I can hear Remus talking to Ginny through the open back door and next to me Sirius shifts himself so his head is resting on my stomach. I've still got a huge grin on my face but my laughing has stopped so my body is steady enough for him.

Hmm, I'm tired now. My head flops to the side as I yawn deeply, letting my eyes stay shut once I'm done. Stupid six year old body needing so much sleep. The warm sun above isn't helping a whole lot either. I can't hear Remus and Ginny any more and everything is quiet, the only noise is mine and Sirius' breathing and the occassional rustling of leaves as the wind blows through the trees or a bush. The pressure of Sirius' head on my stomach is very comfortable as well. It's all so very lazy; I could quite happily take a little nap out here like this.

But then someone shakes my shoulder and the moment's ruined. Wonder who it is; I never heard anyone walk over. Was I already dozing off? It can't be Sirius as I can still feel him next to me though his head's moved off of my stomach. I roll my head over again and slowly, careful to not let the sun hurt them, open them. The first thing I see is the dark figure of someone who I know only to well. I've shot up straight in an instant and, coloured spots in front of my eyes be damned, I stare in delight at this latest visitor.

"All right there mate?"

It's Ron! Oh the joy! I don't think I've ever been so glad to hear the word "mate" in either of my lives. Merlin, has he grown tall! He's kneeling down at the moment but I can still see that he is really tall. I guess all his eating didn't stop and contributed to his height. His face is more mature than it was the last time I saw him as well but his over-all figure is the same. All in all, he hasn't changed too much. I can still tell it's him by his face and not just his red hair which is more or less the same as it had been in Fourth Year. Bet Hermione loves that, (please note the sarcasm I used in that sentence).

I really want to hug him, it's been so long and I'm so glad to see him. I'm not sure if I should though. I mean, we've never hugged before, is it really appropriate to start now? I think I'll play safe, just in case. I won't hug him; not yet anyway.

"All right Ron." I return the greeting in the same way we always do. "All right?"

"Yeah, I'm all right." He says with a small smile before it fades somewhat and he looks a little awkward. "Is it true that you...Do you still remember everything from...Before?"

I can't help but smile a little at the slight difficulty he has saying the words but I don't comment on it. I just nod reassuringly. "Yes, I still remember every little thing."

"Good." And now he sounds relieved. His eyes flicker over my shoulder and I turn to see Sirius laying down with his eyes shut. He looks asleep if you ask me. "Hey Sirius." Ron tries. The only reply he gets is Sirius flicking his left ear and that may or may not have been a conscious action on his part.

"Ginny told me about the good news for you and Hermione." I tell him, refering to both the marriage and the pregnancy. "I knew you two would be perfect for each other as long as you both got over yourselves and admitted it."

"What?" Ron seems genuingly surprised with that.

"Oh c'mon Ron! It was so painfully obvious that the reason you were against Hermione going to the Yule Ball with Krum wasn't because he was from Durmstrang but because you were insanely jealous that she wasn't going with you."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He insists and it's reassuring to see that he's as stubborn as ever.

"Where is Hermione anyway?" I ask, peering over Ron's shoulder at the back doorway where Mrs Weasley is watching, dabbing at her eyes once again.

"She and dad are finishing up something at work which they couldn't leave. Said they'd probably be another hour or so." He tells me, shifting himself into a more comfortable position. Once he's settled again, he grins at me and rests his chin in the palm of his hand. "So, Ginny tells us you've got yourself stuck with that git Frank as a father; how's that working out for ya?"

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I love my life. I love Remus, I love Sirius, I love the Weasleys, I love Mrs Weasley's cooking. It's been a great day and seeing everyone again has been so amazing. Hermione and Mr Weasley arrived about five minutes before we all sat down to lunch. Hermione's reaction was exactly what I expected; she hugged me tight and burst into tears, (I swear I heard Ron mutter "bloody pregnant women" under his breath at the time). Mr Weasley also greeted me in much the same way as I expected; warm hand shake and a couple of pats on my shoulder. All very expected and reassuring. It's so wonderful to know that not much has changed. Out of everyone, Hermione and Ginny have changed the most appearance-wise but they're girls so that's to be expected. Personality-wise though, everyone is pretty much the same. Yes, Ron's a little calmer than he was before and Hermione's a little more emotional, (I'm blaming that on hormones and such) but, essentially, everyone's the same and I'm truely grateful for that.

It's now late afternoon and we're all out in the garden, enjoying the wonderfully warm weather. Mr and Mrs Weasley are sitting with Remus and Sirius by the picnic table Sirius insisted on transfigering and they're probably talking about boring adult stuff, (I can see Remus and Sirius holding hands underneath the table; it's so cute). Ginny and Hermione are laying on the grass a small ways off from Ron and I who are sitting on the grass with a chess board between us. I don't know why I even bothered to agree to play; I'm losing terribly.

And Hedwig's here as well! Isn't it great? Ron and Hermione kept her once I was gone and Hermione brought her along when she and Mr Weasley arrived. It's so good to see her again and she seems to know who I am as she came straight to me the second the cage door was opened. Hermione also brought along my Invisibility Cloak and the photos of my mother and father which they also kept. Remus and Sirius are back in possession of the Marauders Map for which I'm glad, no doubt it reminds them of happier times. I know it does for me.

I think I can confidently say that this is the best day I've ever had. I'm with my real family and here, I'm not Charlemagne Frank, I'm back to being good old Harry Potter. The only thing which would make this day even better would be if Draco was here but that would be a miracle. No, for the moment, this is plenty enough for me, (you'll note the fact that I'm pointedly ignoring the fact that I'm going to have to go back to Frank Manor in an hour or so. You can't blame me for wanting to forget that part of my life for a little while can you?)