As Always, James

Prologue: As Always, James

It took me a year. A year to realize that no matter what I did, no matter who I got mad at, no matter how much I hurt myself, nothing I did was ever going to bring him back. It just wasn't possible. Sure, it hurt. The realization, I mean. He was like my father. I had already lost my first one. Now, he too, had gone. I felt like I didn't have anyone in the world. My world was gone the night he died.

You could call my realization my rebirth. My renaissance. I did have people who cared about me. Remus and I began spending more time with each other, he has filled the role of my father. We both know that he can't ever replace my real father or Sirius, but it's not said. It doesn't have to be. I have Ron. My brother. I laugh about it now, but, he's my hero. I'd do anything for him. I have, in fact, the whole Weasley family. My adopted family who took me under their wing and cared for me from day one, when I met them on the Hogwarts Express, regardless of who I was or where I had come from.

And Hermione. She's... My mentor. I don't know what I'd do without her. I love her. We've been together for about six months now, and everyday I learn something new about her. She's amazing, and she never stops.

Professor McGonagall told me the other day that Ron, Hermione and I reminded her of Sirius, my mum and my father. I guess so. We're just close like that. I can count on them for anything.

I didn't know this back then, but I do now. No one has ever stopped caring for me. Even the Dursleys. Professor Dumbledore sent me to them for a reason. They were to protect me. They did, I guess. But never once did I feel their love for me. Never. Well, until Sirius died, that is. It's a shame that they took so long to love me. I didn't know what I did wrong.

But this isn't about that. This is a story. Probably one you've heard. God knows everyone knows about what happened to my parents. They were killed by Lord Voldemort, blah blah blah, Sirius was murdered, blah blah blah, I'm the god-forsaken Boy-Who-Lived. Or... The Boy-Who-Just-Wouldn't-Die, as Draco Malfoy would put it. But this is their story. Their years at Hogwarts. With a prologue by me. Their son. Harry James Potter.

I never knew much about my parents or their lives at Hogwarts. Only what Sirius, Remus or Dumbledore had ever told me. So when I found the letters in an empty desk in Remus's attic, you can see my joy. I would finally be able to meet my parents, Lily and James Potter. Remus promised me, he'd tell me about them. All of them. All about their lives. This is my story. This is their story. Meet my parents.