A/N I was never was satisfied with simple jealousy being the reason Petunia hated Lily so much, and I have always wondered where Harry's grandparents went. Not to mention why Lily and James ended up together.

September 7, 1981

My Dear Harry,

If you are reading this, I am dead and you are of age.

I'm so sorry.

Harry held the letter with shaking hands, unable to read any further. He took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in his throat. This was unexpected. He hadn't considered that there was anything in this vault besides his gold and a few family heirlooms. He'd only meant to come down here long enough to withdraw some spending money. His intention was to send Kreacher out to do his shopping, as he tended to get mobbed wherever he went. He would have sent Kreacher here too, if it hadn't been against Gringott's current policy to allow house elves to make withdrawals for their masters. He wasn't going to be here long enough to be recognized--hopefully.

The Gringott's goblins had regarded him with deep suspicion before taking him down to his vault. Even now, the one who'd brought him here stood outside the door muttering about "thieving wizards" as he waited impatiently.

Harry decided he didn't want to read this letter here in the gloom, anyway. He gathered up the gold he intended to withdraw from the vault and the briefcase-sized wooden box the letter had been stuck to. It had leapt up from a back wall shelf to hover in front of him the minute he'd entered the vault.

Ginny waited for him upstairs. He shook himself a little as he saw her on the steps, in the summer sunshine.

This was the first time since the Battle of Hogwarts that he had ventured to Diagon Alley. Today was very crowded with parents and their children. Hogwarts letters must have gone out.

Harry wouldn't know, since he wasn't returning. He had special permission from the ministry to take his NEWT's when they were given next year without taking the formal classes. Professor McGonnagol said she would send him the coursework and he could do Independent Study. Ron and Hermione were doing the same.

Ginny, over her mother's objections, had also decided not to return. Gwenogg Jones had seen Ginny on her broom and had offered her a position on the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team. Ginny turned seventeen in October and she had told her mum in no uncertain terms that she would leave Hogwarts to play Quidditch the instant she came of age, if she was made to go back. Mrs. Weasley had thrown up her hands at that.

It was good to see how the life had returned to the street.

"Harry, you okay?" asked Ginny, concerned. He was pale, with his mouth tight. He just shook his head and held out the folded letter. Ginny looked at it for a moment, "C'mon." was all she said, taking his elbow.

She turned on the spot, pulling Harry with her.

"You're not supposed to be apparating" objected Harry, as they reapparated on the doorstep of number 12 Grimmauld Place.

"So, report me." shrugged Ginny, "The Ministry can't tell which of us did the apparating and which of us was just along for the ride."

She didn't let go of his elbow until they were inside, "Kreacher?" she called as she led Harry into the drawing room.

The elderly house elf appeared with a crack, "Yes, Miss?" he croaked.

"Would you get us some tea, please?" she glanced at Harry again, "And that bottle of firewhiskey, and two glasses." Kreacher looked sharply at his master, and nodded before disappearing again.

"Sorry," Harry said, sitting down slowly, "That was just," he swallowed, "A bit of a shock." he put the wooden box on the little coffee table and stared at it.

Ginny still had the letter, "Did you have a chance to read all of it?" she asked gently,

Harry shook his head, "I didn't want to read it down there."

Ginny nodded, "Would you rather I left?"

Harry looked up, shook his head, again, "Please, stay."

Ginny didn't reply, just sat down next to him while handing him the piece of parchment.

September 7, 1981

My Dear Harry,

If you are reading this, I am dead and you are of age.

I'm so sorry.

We found out, not too long after your birth, that Voldemort was targeting us. Well, targeting you. I can only hope that he is dead by the time you read this.

Professor Dumbledore and your father believe they have found a way to protect us. I just have a terrible feeling, so I am putting this in our Gringott's vault. It is charmed to be invisible until you are of age, when it will make itself available to you.

There are so many things I want you to know about your father and me. I don't know if I'll be around to tell you the family stories. If this is in your possession, then I'm not.

Professor Dumbledore helped me store these memories and the means to view them. If you need instructions on how to use the Pensieve, they're included in the box.

Harry, I'm so sorry I couldn't be there with you.

All my love,

Mum.

Harry closed his eyes. Ginny's small hand closed over his for a moment, then she pressed a glass of firewhiskey into it, "Here, Harry, " she said. Kreacher must have brought up the tray when Harry was reading.

Harry gulped the contents of the glass down in one go. He leaned forward to lift up the lid to the box. It contained a small silver bowl (the Pensieve the letter spoke of, no doubt), and about twenty small vials containing silver vapor. Harry sucked in his breath sharply. He picked the leftmost one up. It was labelled "S. and I" , the next one was "P. and I" and the next was "My Hgwrts lttr". Harry carefully put those back. He picked up the last one, "H. to 1st bday".

One label caught his eye, it was in the middle. "J. and I". Harry held that one in his hand, staring at it.

"Gin?" Harry's voice caught in his throat, he cleared it, "Would you mind..."

"Letting you look at that alone?" Ginny finished for him, "No problem." she said understandingly, "I'll pop home. Don't forget that Mum's expecting you for dinner, though. If you don't show up, I'll come find you." she smiled wryly, "Or worse, I'll send Mum."

She stood up, giving him a quick kiss before she left the room. Harry heard her say quietly to Kreacher, "Kreacher, could you keep an eye on him, please? If he's upset later, you come get me, understand?"

"Kreacher will look after Master, Miss." the old elf agreed.

Harry was grateful to Ginny, both for the space and the concern. She had a knack for knowing when to be with him and when to back off. The last year had changed her a bit, making her more sure of herself, stronger. These past few months had been good between them. Sometimes Harry worried though, he dreamed of a more permanent relationship, but wondered if she was ready to settle down. As one of the now-famous Weasley family and a first class Quidditch player, she was getting lot of male attention. Maybe she'd get tired of him.

He heard her walk down to the kitchens and the distinctive sound of her activating the floo. Kreacher, poked his head into the drawing room, "If Master needs anything, Kreacher is right here."

"Thanks, Kreacher."

Harry put his mother's Pensieve on the table and gently poured the memory into it. He stirred it with his wand, trying to get a sense of what he would see. A silvery image of his parents facing each other, holding hands and smiling rose from the bowl.

Taking a deep breath, Harry put his face into the Pensieve.

He was in McGonnagal's classroom. It appeared that class had ended, as the students were picking up their books and streaming out the door. Dumbledore came in, giving the students nods as he passed them, but he looked grave, "Miss Evans?" he called to Lily who was near the front of the room, picking up her things.

"Yes, Professor?" she looked quizzically at the headmaster. Harry noticed that not too far away, Remus and James stood, looking towards Lily.

"Could I speak with you and Professor McGonagoll in her office, please?" Dumbledore said gently.

Harry saw Lily, stiffen, her eyes wide, "It's bad news, isn't it?"

Dumbledore nodded slowly. Remus pulled the sleeve of James' robe, pulling him into the hallway, when it looked as though James wanted to stay.

Lily followed Dumbledore into McGonagoll's office, they sat down in her hard chairs.

The Headmaster looked at his hands, collecting his thoughts. He cleared his throat, looked at Lily and said, "I'm afraid your parents have been involved in a car accident. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but they were both killed."

Lily looked as if something had hit her in the head, "My parents are dead?" she whispered.

McGonagoll gasped and put her hand on Lily's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Lilly. Your sister wrote me this morning. She said the funeral is the day after tomorrow and you should come right away." Dumbledore leaned forward and patted Lily's hand. "Professor McGonagoll? Can you make the arrangements?"

"Of course." the Transfiguration Professor stood and strode out of the door.

"We'll have the house elves pack for you. If you wanted to stay home this term, we'd understand, of course."

Lily nodded numbly. Then she leaned forward to put her head in her hands. Harry knelt down next to her, even though it was only a memory, he tried to put his arm over her shoulder. Harry wanted nothing more than to console the devastated girl. He wondered why on earth his mother would want to show him this memory.

An owl flew in the door, dropping a letter into Dumbledore's lap. The old wizard opened it and sighed deeply, "I beg your pardon Lily, the Ministry is asking for my immediate attention. Professor McGonagoll will return soon, but I don't want to leave you alone. Is there someone whom you'd like to come sit with you?"

It was only because Harry was kneeling right beside her, that he heard her whisper, "Severus."

Dumbledore hadn't heard her. He gently put his hand on her arm, "I'm sorry, who did you want?"

She looked up. Her eyes were tearless, although very red, "It doesn't matter." she said flatly, "I'll be fine on my own, until Professor McGonagol gets back."

Dumbledore smiled sadly, "I think it would be better if someone were here." he stood and walked to the door into the classroom, "Ah, Mister Lupin."

Lily ground her teeth a little, "Perfect." she muttered, wiping the lone tear that had started down her cheek.

"Miss Evans has received some very distressing news from home," Dumbledore was saying, "Would you mind staying with her until Professor McGonagal gets back?"

"Of course, sir." Harry heard Remus say. It made sense that Dumbledore would ask Remus given that he was a prefect of Lily's house.

"Thank you." said the headmaster, he turned to say something to Lily, but seemed to change his mind, "I'm sorry, Lily." was what he did say.

Remus muttered something to someone outside the door. James, Harry assumed. "Evans?" Remus said, tentatively coming into the room.

"Lupin." Lily said, staring straight ahead.

"What happened?" Remus sat down in the chair next to hers.

Lily just shook her head. Harry knew the feeling. Saying it out loud would make it too real.

Remus seemed at a complete loss. A few minutes ticked away in silence. Lily staring off into the distance.

The door opened. Remus turned around although Lily didn't move. It was James, carrying a tea tray, "I, uh, brought you some tea, Evans." Remus looked very relieved at James' entrance, "My mum says tea with a lot of sugar in it is good for shock."

Lily still didn't move. James set down the tray, poured a cup and put about five teaspoons of sugar into it before handing it to Lily, who took it. She drank a few sips, "This is horrible." she said, but she clung to the cup as if to a lifeline and drank more.

"You're shaking," James said, after another minute. He looked around and Remus handed him a handkerchief which James transfigured into a large red blanket. He put it around her shoulders.

"Thank you." said Lily.

James shrugged, "Is there anything we can do?" he sat down in the other chair.

Lily shook her head. James seemed to recognize that Lily wasn't ready to talk. When Remus opened his mouth to speak, perhaps to ask her what had happened again, James shook his head ever so slightly. Remus closed his mouth.

When Lily's cup was empty, James refilled it. He poured himself and Remus one.

Suddenly Lily dropped the cup, she took a long shuddering breath and began sobbing. Remus and James looked rather panicked. Harry couldn't blame them, he would have been panicked by this situation when he was sixteen.

James took a deep breath and put his arms around Lily awkwardly. Remus patted her on the back. Lily clung to James, obviously not knowing or caring whose shoulder it was.

She sobbed until McGonagoll arrived. The Transfigurations professor took in the scene apparently approving, because she said, "Thank you, for looking after Lily. I told Professor Flitwik you were here and you'd come to Charms directly. Off you go then." she dismissed Remus and James.

James and Remus stood up, Lily held onto James' hand for a second, "Thanks, James. Remus." she whispered.

The memory darkened and faded.