A/N: I wanted to somehow make this story a part of the Journal/Dear Harry universe, and I finally found a way to do it. I hope you like it, and I hope you don't hate me for not updating more frequently.

It was the last day of summer holidays, and Lily was glaring at her trunk, willing it to close. It was filled to the brim with all kinds of necessary stuff for school. At least it was all necessary in her eyes. She wasn't so sure her parents would agree, though. But then, who cared about them anymore? She was finally of age, and that meant doing whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. She grinned and took her wand out of her pocket. Who cared if the trunk was too small? All it needed was a tiny engorgement charm, a hint of a shrinking spell, and voila!

"Perfect," she muttered and put her wand back. Just perfect.

Someone was knocking at the door, and before she had the chance to say anything her mum came barging in. She looked like she was having a stroke, her hair sticking up everywhere, and Lily couldn't help but laugh. It was the same thing every year. Mum was freaking out, dad was keeping away, and once the night came everyone was exhausted.

"Lily! Do you have everything?" her mum asked, and Lily pointed to the trunk.

"It's all there. All I have to do is close the lid and I'm ready."

"Good." Ginny stopped to survey the room before shaking her head. "I don't understand how you can have your entire life in that trunk, yet at the same time leave this room in such a mess."

Lily grinned. "It's a talent."

"It must be. Now then, once you're done I want you to come downstairs for supper. Actually," she stopped her random picking up of Lily's clothes. "Before you leave, there's something I want you to have."

Lily looked at her mum. "What?"

Ginny took out a neatly wrapped present from her robes. "I was going to give you this on your birthday, but I changed my mind. I wasn't sure if you were ready for it, but I think you are."

Lily looked confused, but accepted the gift. Still not understanding what was going on she unwrapped it, and when she saw an old and tattered notebook she got even more confused.

"Mum, after going to Flourish and Blotts with aunt Hermione I won't need another piece of parchment again in my life."

Ginny shook her head. "It's not a regular notebook, sweetheart. That," she pointed to the notebook, "is my old journal. I stopped writing in it when I got married, but there is still a lot of my life in there. I came upon it the other day when I was cleaning and I thought you should have it."

Lily gaped as she turned the notebook, no, the journal, around in her hands. Then she looked at her mum. "Is this… your journal?"

"Yes it is."

"Wow. But why are you giving me this?"

Ginny smiled warmly. "It was either you or Sirius, and something tells me he wouldn't like his mother's rants about her life as much as you would." She winked and Lily giggled. She did have a point.

"So this is a real diary? From your life?"

"Not a diary, a journal. And yes, that makes a bit more of an importance than you think. And not my entire, just from I was about fifteen until I got married, with a few years break in between."

"I see." She opened the cover, and grinned when she saw what it said on the first page. "Ginevra Molly Weasley."

"That's my name," Ginny said with a smile, and Lily couldn't help but giggle.

"I know, it just sounds so strange."

"It does, doesn't it?"

Lily nodded, but didn't respond.

"Well, I'll leave you alone for a little while, then I want you to come down for supper in half an hour, ok? And remember not to show that to your dad. There is some… what can I say… incriminating evidence."

Lily giggled. "Ew, I don't want to know."

Ginny winked. "Once you've read that, you'll know it all, sweetheart." And then she turned around and left, leaving Lily to herself. She sat down on her now closed trunk and opened the journal to the first page. She read the first couple of entries, trying her best to understand that this was indeed her mother's journal, and when she had written this she was younger than Lily was now. After having read for about five minutes she closed the book reluctantly. She had to talk to someone about this. Someone who wasn't her parents, but someone who still knew them and would understand how weird this was for her. She wrote a hurried note to her parents, sent it down into the kitchen with a Memo Charm, and then apparated to Catharina's. Two seconds later she found herself in the kitchen of Weasley Manor.

"Lily!" It was aunt Hermione, and she looked just as flustered as her own mother. "What are you doing here today? Shouldn't you be packing?"

Lily smiled. "I'm done, I just have to see Cathy. Is she upstairs?"

"Yes, but…" But Lily was gone.

She barged through the bedroom door of her best friend without knocking. Catharina spun around when she came in, and was obviously surprised to see Lily standing there.

"Hi," Lily said with a grin. "I'm sorry to barge in like this, but I have something that I have to show you. You done packing?"

Catharina rolled her eyes. "I can't close my trunk."

Lily grinned and did the same charms as she had done with her own luggage. "There. Now then, are you done?"

"I am so jealous. I can't wait to turn seventeen. And yes, I'm done. What is it that's so urgent?"

Lily handed her the journal, and Catharina looked as confused as Lily had.

"It's my mum's old journal," she explained. "She gave it to me earlier and I just had to show you. Apparently there's a lot of, what did she say, incriminating evidence in it."

Catharina gaped. "Is this your mum's?"

"Yup. And it's so insane, it has her every thought from when she was about fifteen and until she got married! It's just… crazy."

"Wow, that's like… six years," Catharina said and opened the book. "So have you read any of it?"

Lily nodded. "Yes, well only the first few entries. All she does is rave about classes and some boy. I haven't had a chance to find out who it is yet."

Catharina skimmed through the entries. "It doesn't say, but maybe… oh Lil, you don't think it can be your dad, do you?"

"My dad? No, come on! They didn't start going out until after they were out of school."

"But still. Didn't she tell you that she had been in love with him since she was ten?"

Lily gaped. "Oh no. It just hit me. Mum said not to show this to dad, and of course the whole incriminating evidence stuff, and she also said that once I was done reading I would know it all. You don't think she meant… Oh Merlin, I am going to be scarred for life!"

Catharina laughed. "It can't be that bad, can it? Knowing how proper aunt Ginny and uncle Harry are they probably didn't do… stuff… until after they were married. And aunt Ginny already told you that she didn't write in it after she got married. Maybe that's because she didn't want to write about all that."

"Oh I hope you're right," Lily said with a worried expression. "I don't think I can bear to read about my parents doing… Oh God, no!" She shuddered violently and Catharina made a face.

"You might not, though, but I just remembered that aunt Ginny knew my parents back then, as well." She flipped through the journal and read a random entry. She gaped, and pointed to what she was reading. "Listen to this: I just got back from my date with Harry, and it was great. He took me to that muggle place we went to on our first date, and it was perfect. Once we were done eating we decided to go to his place for… dessert… (my favourite part of the meal) but obviously we weren't the only ones thinking along those lines. We came home and things were just about to get interesting when suddenly there were, how should I put it, sounds. Harry and I stopped what we were doing and looked at each other in confusion. We thought maybe burglars had entered the flat or something, and we were about to go investigate when suddenly there were loud giggles, and as we entered the living room we soon realised that our night wasn't the only that was getting interesting. Oki, I know it's Ron's flat also, but doesn't he have a bloody room? God, I will never be the same again, and I swear they'll hear it tomorrow."

Lily looked at Catharina for a second, before they both burst into hysterical giggles.

"Oh my god," Lily all but screamed, "OH. MY. GOD!"

Cathy was looking like she had just gotten the worst mental image ever, and was dancing around the room screaming "I want my life back!"

They ran around like this for a little while, but eventually they settled down.

"I can't believe this," Catharina said and sat down on her trunk.

"I know," Lily agreed, wiping her tears. "It's umm… I'm sorry," she said gravely, trying to supress further giggles. "Read some more."

"Oki. I think this is from your mum's first year teaching. The first Saturday of October has come and gone. Harry, Ron and Hermione have left, and I'm feeling left behind. I guess I'll write Harry once I'm done writing in this. But, although I feel like crap right now, the day was awesome. Having Harry wake me is something I think I can get used to, especially when it's so early that we can spend a couple of hours in bed before having to get to breakfast. Breakfast was nice as well, but I have to admit I'm more partial to what happened after breakfast. The initial plan was for the four of us to go to Hogsmeade together, but there was a slight change. First Harry and I had a bit of a fight. Light, I can't believe how much of a prat he can be at times! Anyway, the way he made it up to me… let's just say it was worth it. And I never really believed it when people said that making up was the best part of a relationship, but I think they may be right. Or maybe it's just because we hadn't seen each other in so long. Or maybe it's just cause we're getting so good at it. (You know… practice makes perfect and all that.) So yeah, no Hogsmeade for us, but I honestly don't mind. Not even Honeydukes is better than our little reconciliation. (And it is at this point that I am sporting a wicked grin and an eloquent blush. Thank goodness no one is around to witness it. They would be appalled! Prim and proper Ginny Weasley! Hah, they'd be surprised!)"

Lily stared at Catharina for the longest time. "Umm, did she just write about what I think she wrote about?" she asked eventually.

Cathy nodded. "I think so."

"Well at least we know what mum meant when she said I'd know it all." Lily looked thoroughly grossed out.

"Yes, at least we know," Cathy agreed, then made a face. "Oh man, this is too much information for me to handle right now."

Lily took the journal and looked at it. "How on earth am I going to be able to face my parents after this?" she asked, and Catharina shrugged.

"Don't ask me. I'm the one who had to hear about my parents having an interesting night. Oh man, this is just too much."

Lily chuckled. "I can't believe it. Ew! Listen, I have to go home. I said I'd only be a minute, and I promised to be home for supper. We'll read the rest tomorrow?"

Catharina nodded. "If my poor heart can handle it."

Lily wriggled her eyebrows. "Imagine all the dirt we have on them now. Prim and proper, my eye!"

"Ok, I'll see you tomorrow. Say hi to aunt Ginny and tell her thanks for the journal. It will probably be very educational."

"Oh man! Too much!" Lily exclaimed, then she disappeared with a 'pop'.

"Mum?" Lily walked carefully into the kitchen of her house, hoping she wasn't interrupting something. After having read a little in the journal she was starting to get an idea on what her parents could be like, and she was afraid what she might find if she caught them unaware. Instead of Ginny, however, she found her dad stirring something that looked like dinner and at the same time trying to catch the quidditch game on the radio.

"Hi honey," Harry said absently, "your mum just went out for a while. She had to get some last minute things for school. Can I help you instead?"

Lily looked at him for a long time before answering. For a brief moment she tried to look at him as something else than her father, trying to see what her mother might see in him. He wasn't all that tall, only a few inches taller than herself, he wasn't all the muscly, although Lily knew that that didn't necessarily mean that he wasn't strong. Playing quidditch for so many years had left it's traces. His dark black hair was now beginning to gray at the temples, although he claimed that was from keeping a family, not from old age. With scrutinizing eyes Lily watched her father's face. He hadn't shaved, but she could still see a definite jawline, and his mouth looked fairly ok. He had his glasses on of course, and his eyes were the trademark Potter green. Lily had those eyes herself, and she had always been rather proud of them. They were just about her only good feature, and they almost made up for the insane hair. Red hair was allright in moderations, but when it always stood to every angle it was anything but allright. And Lily knew she was fighting an already lost battle when it came to her hair.

"What are you thinking about?" Harry asked suddenly, quickly bringing Lily back from her thoughts.

She looked at him a little longer, then shuddered. He was still her father, and there was no way she could ever find him attractive. In fact, she concluded, that was probably illegal.

"Nothing much," she replied. "It's just that mum gave me this book and you… I mean, someone kind of like you were in it and… I was just trying to see if the two of you looked anything alike."

Harry arched his eyebrows questioningly.

"Is that so? And exactly which book was that? Do you think I could read it once you're done?"

"No! I mean… I don't think so. It's a girlish book and you'd probably find it boring. Besides, you have kind of read it already."

Lily looked at him in what she thought was a very innocent matter, hoping he didn't catch on.

"Hmm…" Harry said slowly, all the way stirring the sauce. "Is that so? I'm pretty sure I haven't read too many girlish books in my life. Unless you count Hogwarts: a history. Except for Ron and myself, the only people I know who has read that book are girls."

"You only read it because aunt Hermione all but forced you to," Lily retorted, and Harry laughed.

"Very true. I actually think it was a bet or something. Either that or Ron decided to finally read the ruddy thing just to prove to Hermione that it is bloody boring and doesn't makes much sense." He grinned. "His words, not mine."

"I actually find it rather fascinating," Lily said with a smirk. "Especially the Apparition laws of Hogwarts. Did you know that after the Last Battle there was an entire year where the Apparition borders were shut down?"

Harry looked at her as though she had sprouted a second head. "Don't tell me you have read Hogwarts: a history?"

"What do you mean?" Lily laughed, "it's really not that bad."

"Crazy children," Harry said and shook his head. "You must have that from your mother's side of the family. No Potter were ever insane enough to read that book voluntarily."

"How do you know?" she retorted. "For all you know grandma and grandpa Potter loved Hogwarts: a history."

"Not bloody likely," Harry replied.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Maybe I'll just ask uncle Remus, then," Lily said. "He probably knows."

Harry sighed. "He probably loves the damn thing. His view on books is as unhealthy as Hermione's."

"I heard that," a voice said from the kitchen entrance.

"Uncle Remus!" Lily squealed and ran across the room to give him a big hug. Remus Lupin was now a middle-aged man, but his gray hair had done nothing to remove the twinkle in his eyes.

"Welcome home! How was India? Did you see any elephants? Did you find me that book? Did grandma and grandpa Potter ever read Hogwarts: a history?"

Remus looked and his goddaughter and laughed. "It's good to see you, too, Lily. And you are as random as ever. I have the feeling I just walked into a heated debate."

Harry smiled and shook Remus' hand. "Welcome home, Remus. Glad to see you back in once piece."

"It's good to be back in one piece also. I tell you, it was pretty close a couple of times."

"Did you get splinched, uncle Remus?" Lily said and looked up at him like she was four again and Remus had just come to visit with some fun artefact or the other from one of his journeys.

"No I didn't get splinched, my dear, and thank Merlin for that. But like I said, it was very close a couple of times. But let's not dwell on that. What was the big discussion?"

"We were just talking about books," Harry explained, "and Lily had the nerve to imply that my parents were bookworms."

Remus laughed again and sat down by the kitchen table.

"You are aware of the fact that James and Lily were Head Boy and Girl, aren't you?"

Harry shrugged. "Well yes, but Ron was Head Boy, too, so it can't all be because of the love for books. I never knew anyone quite as opposed to reading as him, as a matter of fact."

Remus smiled again and Lily looked at the two of them with an eager grin. She couldn't believe how easy she had gotten away without telling her father about the journal. She had a nagging feeling he hadn't at all forgotten it, though. That wasn't much like him.

Before they had gotten much further into the discussion a series of loud 'pops' sounded, and then there were sounds coming from the fireplace, and before long all of Potter's Place were filled with laughter and hugs. Ginny had decided to invite the Weasleys over for dinner, and Lily managed to find Cathy and drag her away to her room.

"Have you found out any more about the journal?" Cathy asked once they were in safety.

Lily shook her head. "No. I was going to ask mum about it, but she wasn't home when I got back. I'll do it tonight or tomorrow before we leave for school."

"Good, because nothing would make me happier than finding out that it's all a fluke. I haven't been able to look at mum and dad ever since you left. They have to suspect something is wrong."

"I know," Lily said. "Dad is the same way. I'm starting to think that I may not be ready for this book yet."

Cathy nodded. "Yeah, I know. Maybe you should just… not read it for a while yet. You can just put it into your trunk and then you can take it out when you feel you're ready for it."

Lily thought about what her cousin had said. "You're right. I think I'll do that. It's making everything very strange. Perhaps it'll be easier to read it at school when I don't have to face them afterwards."

"Yeah, good plan," Cathy agreed.

"I agree. Now then, let's go down for dinner. Mum must be on her way up her any moment."