In his future, his hair will still be messy – a constant reminder of his wilder younger days: playing Quidditch, chasing girls (well, girl) and all the fun he had doing the two.

In his future, there will be new fears. Bigger fear. Real fears, not like Acromatula under the bed.

A war. An evil, power-hungry wizard gathering followers and destroying those who oppose him. He will fear for his friends, his family. His wife and child.

Because in his future, he will have a wife. Lily Evans will finally admit she loves him, will finally let him love her without objection. And they'll have a new little person to love, a son. Harry.

In the future, things like looks and popularity, things that were so important to him before…well, they won't matter anymore. He'll realise there are more important things to have, and he'll have them.

True love. True friendship. For a short time, true happiness.

Things will change again.

In his future, he will smile as he makes smoke rings for his son to play with, just like his father did for him. He'll smile not as he is read a bedtime story, but as he watches his wife read one to their son, and he flails his tiny fists and gurgles.

He won't smile on adventures anymore, but he will smile at the memory of them. An he'll be happy – after all, change is good.

But not everything will change for the good.

He will run out of time – a friend will finally turn traitor, and the Dark Lord will finally hunt them down. His happy little world will come crashing down, and he will experience emotions and feelings he's never felt before.

But the one thing that won't change is him.

In his future, he will be just as strong, proud and selfless as ever. He will sacrifice himself to save his wife and son, and he won't regret it.

Because by giving up his future, he will give one to Harry.

And suddenly he won't need a future anymore, because he will live on in his son's.