A/N: I am not happy with this chapter. There's so much that I wanted Luna to say to Harry, and I just couldn't write it out very well.

I probably wrote and rewrote this chapter five times since I posted the last chapter. Even the bit with the café, was supposed to be something else, but halfway through writing that, I decided that was not how I wanted things to go.

I may go back and fix a few things in the prologue in the next couple of days. I had one reviewer who gave me some excellent advice on how to develop my story a little better.

Chapter 2

Immediately upon walking into the small café that he and the girls had visited a couple times in the future, Harry was surprised to find himself ambushed. Apparently the owner had seen him walking towards her café and took it upon herself to make sure that the scrawny, underweight boy was properly fed. Before he was even aware of what was happening, he found himself to be sitting on a barstool at the counter while the cook heaped piles of eggs, bacon and sausage on a plate in front of him. The waitress placed a tall glass of milk in front of him with a comment that she wanted him to drink it all.

Whatever ritual the girls had used to de-age him, had given him the exact same body that he had had when he had just turned thirteen. Which meant that he was once again suffering from malnutrition, a gift from eleven years of living with the Dursley's followed by being forced back to them every summer thereafter. So now his clothes were way too large (and dirty from waking up in the middle of a field), and his body was way too small. All in all, he realized, he was pulling off the homeless vagabond look fairly well.

With a start he realized the cook had finished piling the foods on his plate and was giving him a stern glare. Warily, he picked up his fork and speared a sausage. She gifted him with a nod and a smile before turning back to her grill. After finishing about half of the overfilled plate, Harry received a satisfied nod from the cook.

With a small smile at the kindness on display, Harry removed Luna's letter from his pocket and began to read.

Harry,

Take a breath. Please, for me. If I know you,( and I definitely do after we've spent all of our time together these past few years),you haven't taken the time yet to think about your situation. That's part of the reason we decided on sending you back to your third year. You'll have time to adjust. Despite the addition of the dementors and the 'threat' of escaped convicts, I believe your third year was quite possibly one of your easiest years at Hogwarts.

I am so sorry for what has happened Harry. You've always been the best man Hermione and I could have been blessed with. You saw past my little quirks to the real me, and decided to protect me like I was your own sister. I'm still not sure how you were able to figure out what I really meant when I was talking about Nargles and Blibbering Humdingers; but I am SO glad that you did.

I know that your heart had always belonged to Hermione, but I am thankful that I fit in there as much as I did.

That's what I want you to do now Harry. Thirteen year old you is a quiet withdrawn boy, who somehow manages to step up when he realizes he's needed. Twenty-six year old Harry finally realized he was always needed. THAT is how you have managed these past couple years. You stepped up and accepted that you ARE the hero.

You've been my hero ever since you found that scared little girl and took her under your wing. Please be the hero that I know you are. Step up and protect those who deserve your protection.

Well, anyway, Hermione will most likely explain almost everything you need to know. I think I will focus on a few of the more important things.

Hermione will probably tell you about the last name that we picked for you, and you could find everything out in the packet that we sent. However, I just wanted you to know that I was the one who picked your first name: Raleigh. I know, that's not exactly the name you would have picked out for yourself, but I have always liked that name. I always thought that if I had a son someday, that would have been his name. I hope you like it.

We decided to keep your middle name the same. Kind of an homage to who you used to be. Raleigh James Locke. I think that is a nice strong name. Kind of Pureblood sounding, don't you think? Hint hint.

I need you to start thinking of yourself in this way Raleigh. I believe, and Hermione supports my belief, that the fact that there is already a Harry James Potter in your timeline, means that some interesting things may happen. This being an alternate timeline should mean that you can interact with your younger self. Our thought is: your soul will begin to differ from Harry's just enough that there will be no possibility of problems. If you begin thinking of yourself as Raleigh from now on, then your soul should begin to recognize itself as Raleigh James Locke instead of Harry James Potter. Might also help with confusing the Marauder's Map. Wasn't third year the year that the twins gave you the map?

Get young Harry away from the Dursley's as quickly as you can! I know you don't like talking about your time with them, but Hermione and I have both seen the scars, and we both remember how much you used to flinch when we tried to hug you. You didn't deserve what they did to you, and your alternate doesn't deserve the abuse either. Take an aging potion and sue for adoption. Take the Dursley's far away and drop them off where they can never return. Kill the Dursley's.

I'm joking on that last one. A little.

Finally, and most importantly: Live, Harry. If there's nothing else that you will do, I want you to live. You can forget everything else I've written in this letter and go live in the colonies if you want to, and completely forget about the situation with Tom. I don't mind; but I want you to be happy. Hermione and I both know what you would have done if you had been left alone in our time. I don't like the idea Harry. I can't stand the thought of you giving up. If our sacrifice is worth nothing else, it is definitely worth your life.

Remember Harry, I love you.

Love,

Luna

P.S.: Remember those Bond movies that Hermione's dad had us watch a couple years before he passed? Could you, just once at least, introduce yourself as Jim Locke for me? I know that it's not the same, but you will be the mysterious new kid at Hogwarts, and this will at least make the muggleborns laugh.

Harry sighed as he gently refolded Luna's letter and placed it back in his pocket. Finding himself not willing to interact with anyone at the moment, and noticing that both the waitress and the cook had their backs turned to him, Harry laid enough money to cover the meal, plus a little extra as a generous top for their kindness. He stepped off of the barstool and with a silent crack, apparated back to the clearing in the Forest.

With a few quick movements, he pulled the tent from inside his watch storage space and had it set up in no time.

Stepping through the entrance, Harry barely noticed his surroundings, especially not the painting that had been hung above his favorite chair. He quickly made his way to his room where he promptly curled up on the bed, and finally allowed the tears to fall as he realized he would never see his girls again.