What Should've Been...

Chapter 1: Much-needed Company

It was early one Saturday morning and all was as it should be. The misty street was quiet and all the inhabitants of Godric's Hollow were asleep. Well, all except one. A young boy of seventeen with messy black hair and brilliant green eyes was sitting up in his bed. He'd awoken from a pain in his forehead. It was a pain he'd come to know and it was coming from a lightening bolt-shaped curse scar. He'd gotten it from a Dark wizard, Voldemort, when he was just over one year old. The same night he'd almost lost his parents and baby sister.

His name was Harry Potter and he, like the rest of the Potters, was a wizard. Harry attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and would be starting his seventh and final year in two weeks.

After sitting in bed, rubbing his scar, for about an hour, Harry got bored. He got out of bed, dressed in jeans and a black tee shirt, and went down stairs. He made himself a cup of coffee and sat on a bar stool at the island in the middle of the kitchen. As he sipped his coffee, a large barn owl came to the window. Harry let t in, took the newspaper from its beak, and placed a copper knut it its pouch. As the owl flew away, Harry sat back down and began reading the front page of the Daily Prophet. He'd only gotten two pages in when another owl began to peck on the window. Harry recognized it as Pig, the small owl belonging to Ron Weasley, Harry's best friend. He jumped off the bar stool and let the owl in. It took Harry quite a while to get the letter from the hyperactive owl. While Pig took a victory lap around the kitchen, Harry read the piece of parchment.

Hey,

Mum kicked Ginny and me out. She said we had twelve hours to find a place to stay for the rest of the summer. She's pissed at Fred and George and a little irritated with Fleur. Anyway, can we stay with you guys? Owl me back as soon as possible.

Ron

Harry walked toward the stairs leading to the second floor to ask his parents. About halfway there, he remembered it was 7:30 on a Saturday morning and they were probably still asleep. He walked back into the kitchen just in time to see a third owl hovering outside the window. After retrieving his letter, he opened it and read.

Dear Harry,

Ron just told me that he and Ginny might be staying with you for the next two weeks. If so, I was wondering if you had room for one more. My parents wanted to go on vacation for their twentieth anniversary. Owl me with an answer.

Thanks,

Mione

Harry again walked back to his seat at the island and began drinking his coffee. He knew that Mrs. Weasley would never kick any of her children out and that Hermione had probably forced her parents out of the house but he appreciated the excuses his friends had made all the same. They had been worried about him since Voldemort had come back to power. First with the death of Cedric, then Sirius, and now many people around him, it was hard for Harry, especially after he found out about the prophecy. It was difficult to think that Harry would either have to kill or be killed. He'd spent the majority of the past year resenting his parents for not telling him about it earlier. He was always moody and would not come out of his bedroom for hours at a time but eventually forgave them. Now, he spent his days, like the rest of the wizarding world, reading about the frequent deaths and worrying about his own family. Overall, Harry would appreciate the company of his friends.

At that moment, his thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the kitchen door.

Standing there was a woman of thirty-seven who looked not a day older than twenty five. She was wearing plaid pajama bottoms and a white tank top. Her deep red hair that fell well below the shoulders reflected the sunlight from the window making her head seem on fire. Though drooping slightly, her eyes shone brilliantly emerald and matched Harry's perfectly. Her skin was like porcelain and, to put it simply, she was beautiful.

"Morning, Mum," said Harry.

Lily Potter jumped at the sound of her son's voice.

"Harry, you scared the hell out of me. You should no better than to surprise me in times like these," she said holding a hand to her heaving chest.

"Sorry, Mum." He said as he walked over to her. He kissed her on the cheek then asked, "Breakfast, please?"

"Fine," said Lily, sighing. "You'll be graduating in less than a year and you can't even cook yourself a good breakfast. What will you do after you move out? Apparate here at mealtimes?"

"That's the plan," he joked.

"Well, make yourself useful until then. Go wake your father."

"Yep." Harry walked upstairs and into his parent's bedroom.

"Oi! Mum says to get up!" Harry yelled at the sleeping figure.

"Wussup? Whozere?" the man said sitting bolt upright.

James potter was also thirty-seven years of age. His jet-black hair stuck up in odd places but this only added to his handsome appearance. Everyone who knew them said Harry was the spitting image of James. All except the eyes. James' were a beautiful hazel color. When he stood, wearing nothing but boxers, he was about three inches taller than Harry and was strongly built. The only imperfection was a long scar stretching across his bare chest, the only thing he had to show from dueling with the Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. He reached to the bedside table and slid a pair of round glasses onto his nose. Also like his son, James was half-blind without them.

"It's your son, Harry. Remember?" he said throwing a pillow at his dad who caught it.

"Very funny," he said throwing it back to Harry who also caught it. After James put on a pair of jeans, the two Potter men made their way downstairs.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Harry asked his parents once in the kitchen.

"Go ahead," said Lily.

"Ron, Ginny, and Mione all need somewhere to stay the rest of the summer."

"What's the question?" asked James stupidly.

"Can they stay here?"

"I don't know. You know how your mother is about muggle borns," James said seriously.

"Excuse you but I have nothing against muggle borns being one myself and I'm very fond of Hermione. No breakfast for you, Potter."

"Come on now, Lily," said James, walking over to his wife. I was just joking. What can I do to make it up to you?"

Standing behind her, James snaked an arm around Lily's waist, pulled her hair off her neck, and planted short sweet kisses in the arch between her neck and shoulder. Lily's eyes fluttered short and she sighed in satisfaction, a small grin played across her face.

"Stop it! That's my mother you have your hands all over!" Harry said disgusted by the sight.

"Yeah that is not exactly what I want to see first thing in the morning," a drowsy voice said. All three of them looked around to see the youngest Potter, standing at the door.

Rose Potter, though most called her by her middle name Aiden, would be turning 16 on August 29th and would be starting her sixth year at Hogwarts that September. She had straight, jet-black hair, milk-white skin, and blood-red lips. Her traits were very soft and feminine and her eyes were shining green. They were set off by the new emerald highlights in her hair. Her body showed prominent signs of womanhood with long legs and a nice-sized bust. All of these characteristics made her a very sought after young woman at Hogwarts. Despite this well-known fact, she'd never had a boyfriend thanks to her overprotective brother. Harry trusted no one with his "baby sister" whom he'd almost lost once already. Any boys who wanted to go out with Aiden were too scared to ask, afraid of Harry's talent in jinxing people.

"Morning Aiden," said Lily, breaking free of James' grip.

"Hello? Ron, Hermione, Ginny?" implored Harry.

"Ginny?" Aiden choked on her coffee.

"Yeah. Mrs. Weasley supposedly kicked her and Ron out of the Burrow. Mione's parents are going on vacation for their anniversary. They need a place to stay."

"Oh! Can they come? Please, Mum?" Aiden begged.

"Of course they can."

"Yay. I'll write Ginny. She can tell Ron."

"I'll get Mione," said Harry.

That day at about 1:00, Harry and Aiden waited by the fire for their friends. After only a few minutes, Harry heard a pop and looked up to see Ron stumble out if the fireplace.

Ron had bright red hair and his face was covered in freckles. He was tall but despite two years of tough Quidditch practices under Angelina then Harry (he had become Quidditch captain in his sixth year) he was still fairly gangly. He walked over to Harry dropping his trunk by the couch. They shook hands then did a funny one-armed manly hug thing.

"Hey mate. How is everything?" asked Ron.

"Everything is great," he replied truthfully.

"That's good to hear. Listen-" But he was interrupted by another pop and two ear-piercing squeals.

Ginny Weasley had just arrived and was now rushing over to hug her best friend. She also had red hair. It wasn't the type of deep red that Lily had; it was bright almost orange red but just as beautiful. She wasn't nearly as tall as her brother but she wasn't short either. Like Aiden, she showed pronounced signs of womanhood and was lusted after by many of the boys at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, she too was overprotected but instead of having one older brother she had six. However, no boys were afraid of Ron, the only Weasley boy still at Hogwarts, and Ginny was currently involved with Dean Thomas.

At the sight of Ginny, Harry's stomach gave a little flip; he hadn't felt that since he had been with Cho.

Across the room, Ginny and Aiden were hugging and kissing each other's cheeks.

"Oh my God! Aiden, I love what you've done to your hair!" Ginny said.

"Isn't it fabulous?" asked Aiden.

"I still can't believe you got green. It would've been better to get red or at least pink," said Harry.

"He doesn't think I show enough Gryffindor spirit," she explained to Ginny. "I show up for the Quidditch matches, don't I?"

"Anyway, how was your summer?" asked Ginny. But she never found out. Just then, lily and James came from the kitchen.

"Ginny, Ron! How are you?" asked Lily.

"Fine," they both said happily before glaring at each other.

"Well, don't let us interrupt you," said James. Then, grabbing Lily's hand, he rushed upstairs and to their bedroom, Lily laughing all the while.

"Ew," said Harry, shortly.

"What?" said Aiden. "It is a natural part of life. How do you think you got here? Immaculate conception?"

"Arrghh! Bad image!" said Harry, screwing up his eyes in revulsion.

"I think it's romantic," said Ginny. "I mean they've been married for over seventeen years and they still have that passion. I hope I have a husband like that."

"Anyway," said Harry, subconciously hoping to be that man, "come on, Ron. I set up a cot in my bedroom for you." With one last look at Ginny, he left with Ron.

"Can I talk to you?" asked Ron after he had gotten unpacked.

"Sure," said Harry.

"H-how would you feel if I were to…well if I were to say…ask Hermione…" he started nervously.

"It's okay Ron. I know you've fancied her since first year. You two are perfect for each other. Don't let me get in your way," said Harry.

"I knew you'd be okay with it but I just don't know how to ask her."

"Just sit her down. Tell her how you feel and see what she says. But don't think about it or you'll never be able to do it," advised Harry.

"Right. Easy. I can do that," said Ron, though he didn't sound very confident. "When does she get here?"

Just then there was a third pop and three more squeals from downstairs.

"I'd say she's already here," said Harry.