I'm not sure specifically as there are many different fanfictions with this title. It might be about a special gift given by Harry Potter's mother that has some sort of impact on the story, perhaps a magical object or a special power she bequeathed that plays a role in his adventures at Hogwarts or in his fight against Voldemort.
Well, in general, fanfictions often take an aspect of the original story and expand on it. In 'harry potter a mother's gift fanfiction', it could be that the gift from his mother is something that was previously unknown in the official series. Maybe it's a charm or a spell that only she knew how to create, and this gift helps Harry in a unique situation, like when he's facing a particularly difficult dark wizard or a dangerous magical creature.
In this fanfiction, Harry Potter is bound to be central. Given the title, his mother Lily Potter is a key figure. But other characters could also play significant roles. For instance, Dumbledore might be involved as he often guides Harry. And perhaps some of the antagonists like Draco Malfoy could also be part of the story, either in opposition to Harry's new - found gift or in some way related to the discovery or use of it.
In general, if we consider the Harry Potter world, a mother's gift could be related to the strong maternal bonds we see in the series. In fanfiction, perhaps it's a unique take on that. For example, Lily Potter's love for Harry was a form of protection, which could be expanded in this fanfiction. Maybe the mother's gift here is something that helps the protagonist overcome a great danger in a way that's different from the original story.
It can contribute by adding new perspectives. For instance, it might explore mother - child relationships in the wizarding world more deeply.
It could be Lily Potter. Since she sacrificed herself for Harry, her gift could be something like the love that still protects him, which could be explored in a more symbolic way in the fanfiction.
Perhaps in the fanfiction, the owl was a magical anomaly. It was attracted to Lily Potter's pure heart. The owl had the power to transform into a human - like form briefly. Lily discovered this and they formed a pact. The owl - human would protect Harry when she couldn't. So when Voldemort came, the owl - human fought valiantly, but was overpowered. However, it left a magical imprint on Harry that would later help him in his battles.
Gift in Harry Potter fanfiction might also mean a gift of friendship or loyalty. Characters often show their loyalty to each other through various acts, which can be seen as gifts. For example, Ron's unwavering support for Harry throughout their adventures is like a precious gift. In fanfiction, this concept can be explored more deeply, with characters giving each other the gift of trust in difficult situations.
It's hard to say for sure without reading it. But it could be the main characters from the original series like Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Since it's about the gift of memories, perhaps a character like Luna Lovegood could be involved as she has a unique perspective on things and might be the one to discover or give the gift of memories.
Most likely, Harry Potter would be one of the main characters. Since it's related to the Harry Potter universe, he is usually at the center of such stories. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley might also be main characters as they are Harry's closest friends and often involved in his adventures.
Since it's a fanfiction based on Harry Potter, Harry himself is likely to be one of the main characters. He would probably be the recipient of the greatest gift. Hermione and Ron, his best friends, might also be main characters as they often accompany Harry in his adventures.
The plot could be that Colin accidentally uses a time - turning device and ends up in the past when Lily Potter was at Hogwarts. He initially panics but then realizes this is a unique opportunity. Colin befriends Lily and they have adventures together. He learns about her hopes, dreams, and her relationship with James Potter. When he returns to his own time, he has a new - found respect for Harry and his family. He uses the knowledge he gained from the past to help Harry in some way, like giving him advice based on what he learned about Lily's character and her experiences.