All Hallows Eve

Harry stepped out into the night. It was cool, but not unpleasant. He needed a break from the party that was inside. It was Halloween night and despite the happiness he knew he felt, he couldn't help but remember the murder that happened that night 20 years ago.

He heard the door open behind him and he saw his new wife, Ginny, standing in the open door. "Harry, are you alright?" She asked closing the door and walking up to him.

"Yes, love. I'm all right," he answered hugging her and kissing the top of her head. "I was just thinking."

"Harry, that's dangerous for you," she said laughing.

"Ha ha. I was just thinking about my parents."

Her eyes lit up with remembrance. "Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry. I forgot that tonight…"

He stopped her apology with a kiss. "It's all right, Ginny. I needed a party worthy of the Marauders and the twins. In fact, where are the twins these days? I would have thought they would have come to this Halloween Bash."

"Who knows…" Ginny said with a smile on her face. "Though, I do think that we have some of their canary creams." Suddenly a squawk came from inside the house and a lot of laughter. "Yup, we do."

Suddenly the door opened again and Hermione came out. "I was wondering where you two had gotten to. You just missed Ron turning into a Canary. It was great."

"Sorry we missed that." Harry said, wrapping his arms around Ginny. "You go on in and I'll be in in a minute," he whispered in her ear.

Ginny nodded and dragged Hermione with her. Harry sighed and looked up at the full moon. He thought of Remus and how he couldn't come because of the moon but Tonks was there and was having a good time. He suddenly heard rustling in the trees and saw three figures walking towards him. One looked just like Ginny while one of the others looked just like him. He knew instantly who they were. He just couldn't believe it.

"Mum, Dad, Sirius?" Harry asked. All of them nodded. "How?!"

"It is Halloween night." James answered.

"But…"

"It is the one night of the year that the souls of the dead can walk the earth." Lily explained. "We wanted to see you one last time." She smiled at the laughter that came from the house.

"Do you want to go in there?" Harry asked. All three of them shook their heads no.

"We came only to see you and congratulate you in a job well done. I am sure that he is burning tonight." Sirius said. James nodded and Lily just laughed.

"Why didn't you come to me before?" Harry asked thinking all the other Halloweens he had lived through.

"We chose not to," James answered. "You didn't need us interrupting your life. We knew that you are now perfectly happy so we knew we could."

Lily suddenly looked up into the sky at the full moon. "The moon is waning," she said and Harry heard the clock in the house strike 11:45. "We must go."

James turned to Harry. "Know son that we will always love you and congrats on your wedding. We were there, you know, and you chose well."

"And she reminds me of someone." Sirius said, laughing. Lily elbowed him in the gut. "Oww…"

Lily hugged him and they started to fade into the night. Even after they were gone he could still hear his mother whisper. "We will always be with you." He turned and entered the house as the clock struck midnight.

"Harry?" Ginny asked as Harry came up to the food table. "Love, are you alright?"

"Hmm?" Harry asked picking up a Butter Beer. "Oh, yes. I'm fine."

"Were you thinking again?" Ginny inquired sweetly.

He smiled devilishly at her and said. "Yes, but I'll tell you later what about, after everyone leaves." She looked at him curiously but didn't ask. His father was right. He did chose well.

Second Edition: January 29, 2006