People had told him countless times that he looked just like his father; same messy, black hair, same glasses, but of course he had his mothers eyes they would tell him. Yet Harry had never really seen his mother's eyes or his father's hair, except in one or two photographs that he treasured more than anything else he owned – including his firebolt. People had told him how Lily Evans had hated James Potter from the moment they met on the Hogwarts Express; Lily had been sat opposite her childhood friend, Snape.

"This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!" He had said, reeling with excitement. Lily merely nodded in response. "You'd better be in Slytherin," Snape continued. Harry had seen the scene inside Snape's memory.

"Slytherin?" James commented, "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" He asked turning to the boy lounging on the seats opposite him, one Sirius Black.

"My whole family has been in Slytherin," he replied sadly.

"Blimey, and I thought you seemed alright!" James responded.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"

James lifted an invisible sword, '"Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!" Like my dad.'

Snape made a small, disparaging noise, causing James to face him once more.

"Got a problem with that?" James asked.

"No," Snape sneered, "if you'd rather be brawny than brainy –"

"Where are you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" Retorted Sirius, causing James to roar with laughter.

"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment." Lily said with a gentle flush in her cheeks and a face like thunder.

"Ooooooo…"

James and Sirius laughed and cheered as they left. James tried to trip Snape up as he passed.

"See ya, Snivellus!" a voice called, as the compartment door slammed…

From that moment on Lily had seriously loathed James Potter. Harry had seen them argue in some of Snape's memories. Lupin and Sirius had told him that they had finally got together in seventh year, after James' ego had deflated somewhat. It was so frustrating for Harry to only have parts of the story. And as if that wasn't enough, there was no one who could fill in the gaps. They were all dead. Sirius, Lupin, Peter, Snape, Dumbledore. There was no one left, who really knew what had happened all those years ago. Harry had a thought, what if. What if there was a way… A way to see it all firsthand… to really know what had happened… a spell… no there was no spell that could show him the past. He frowned gently as he sat quietly on his bed; he knew the answer was just outside of his thoughts, he could almost feel it. What about a time turner? No that wouldn't work, he'd end up wasting his life in the past, growing older without really living. Surely there was a spell… or perhaps a way of temporarily impeding the aging process. That was it! He'd heard about a potion that could temporarily – albeit not for long – prevent the drinker from ageing. It was similar to the elixir he had encountered in first year except that it could only be used for so long and it certainly didn't stop death.

Harry searched through his different potions books looking for the right one. Once he found the book, he quickly began flicking through the pages until he came across "Zarenianti – How to STOP ageing!" He read the list of ingredients; most of the list could be found in his own store but one or two things would require a quick trip down to Slughorn's dungeons. Of course, old Slughorn wouldn't mind, Harry now in his seventh year at Hogwarts was definitely Slughorn's favourite pupil – something about being the saviour of the world. Harry shook his head at the thought.

He gathered his cloak and wand, leaving the seventh years' dormitory in search of potion supplies. The potion would take a month to brew, giving Harry plenty of time to get his hands on a time turner. Harry quickly made his way down the corridors. When he reached the dungeons he felt what felt like a cool arm attack his warm skin – he really didn't like the dungeons. Coming across Slughorn's classroom, he knocked briefly on the door.

"Just a second," Harry could hear from somewhere deep in the room.

The door opened and Slughorn's face lit up into a big grin, "dear boy, oh it's so good to see you. It's been a while. What can I do for you?"

"Well, I was wondering if you could help me, perhaps?" Harry began, "with a potion…"

"Why of course I can. Not that you need it, my dear boy." Slughorn laughed merrily. "What potion is it you are trying to brew?"

"Zarenianti, professor." Harry said shortly.

Slughorn's face fell, "my dear boy, that's very advanced. And for what purpose might I ask?" He didn't want to say no to the boy but he felt he might have to.

"I was thinking about my mum and my dad. Everyone has told me things about them, everything they can, but it's always the same… how much I look like my dad but have my mum's eyes. They tell me that my mum hated my dad for most of their time at Hogwarts. I want to know their story, the story that got me here. I want to see it. I want to understand it, I want to understand them." Harry explained sadly, "The only option I can think of is going back in time and seeing it all for myself, but if I'm going to do that I need to temporarily pause my ageing. Do you see professor?"

"Harry, wouldn't it be better to use a charm? You could allow Professor Flitwick to enchant your dreams…"

"It wouldn't be real though would it?"

"I'm not sure. It's just that's a long time to live in the past, I'm not entirely sure it is possible. I think you'd be better speaking to Professor Flitwick."

"Professor, I came to you because I thought you would help me." Harry interjected.

"I wish I could, son. I really do. I just don't think it's possible."

Harry left Professor Slughorn's office feeling dejected. He wasn't really looking where he was walking, and ended up walking directly into Professor McGonagall.

"Potter, watch where you are walking!" she barked, although gently – he was without a doubt her favourite pupil, not that she had favourites. She looked at his face and saw a single tear on his cheek. "Oh, Harry, whatever is the matter?"

"I just asked Professor Slughorn to help me with something but he refused. He –" Harry couldn't continue.

"Harry tell me everything. Why did you need Slughorn's help?"

"I want to see my parents. I want to see their story – all of it. I'm fed up of people only telling me bits. I want to know everything. I don't want to just hear how much dad looked like me or –"

"Or that you have your mother's eyes," McGonagall finished for Harry.

"Exactly." Harry whispered.

"How did you intend to achieve this?" McGonagall asked.

"Time turner. But first I wanted to temporarily stop ageing so that I don't waste my whole life on it…"

"I see. It's rather ingenious, Potter. Although not necessary in the slightest." McGonagall smiled.

"What do you mean Professor? It is necessary, I need to know them."

"I know dear. I didn't mean that. I simply meant that Professor Dumbledore thought that one day when the war was over you would have this request, this desire shall we say. He came up with the most ridiculous albeit amazing idea I have ever heard. He took memories from everyone, including your parents. With the memories he created a sort of film, like you might watch at a muggle cinema."

"I can see them?" Harry asked slightly bewildered.

"Yes, of course you can. He told me to describe it like being in the pensive or Riddle's diary. You can hear, see, touch, even smell everything. You just can't change anything. It starts with your parents' childhoods and climaxes with their deaths."

"I see. Can I see it now?" Harry asked eagerly.

"If you wish. Follow me." McGonagall began walking briskly down the deserted corridor before leading Harry into what appeared to be an empty classroom. McGonagall reached into her pocket and pulled out a snitch. "Potter, you might not like everything you see. All you have to do is whisper the password." She said handing over the snitch, "Keep a hold of the snitch whatever you do. It's your only way home." She said before turning towards the door.

"But Professor, what is the password?" Harry called after her.

"I thought you'd have guessed, just ask it to show you." McGonagall smiled as she left Harry alone with the snitch.

Author's Note: Just making a few minor edits before carrying on writing book seven... IB x