Harry sat down in the Gryffindor common room, for one last time. In a matter of minutes he would be finished Hogwarts forever, and he would probably never be here again.

This place had been his home, for so long. The only place he ever knew as home.

He had grown up by the Dursley's but he had never been a person until he came here. He was someone new when he stepped into the Wizarding World, when he came to Hogwarts. Was it all going to disappear in minutes?

'You ready Harry?' Seamus dashed down the stairs, decked out in his black robes, the cap held firmly in his hand, 'We have to be down there soon!'

'Yeah, I'm coming,' Harry replied vaguely.

Slowly, he leant down looking into the fireplace. It wasn't lit of course, it was almost summer again. It was a beautiful day to be graduating, there was not a cloud in the sky, the Giant Squid was playfully frolicking in the lake, and younger students were found nestled under trees, simply enjoying their last day of term.

'Potter,'

A sharp voice came from behind him. Harry turned his head to see the old Transfiguration professor walking towards him. She was wearing her smartest emerald green robes, her hair pulled into a tight bun.

'What are you doing up here, all alone?' she questioned, stop at the sofa, just behind him.

'Er…waiting for…Ron?' he lied pathetically.

'You should be joyous Potter,' McGonagall scolded, 'You saved the Wizarding World, you survived. You're friends survived, we're all okay. You have a future now. You have…a life. Some people weren't so lucky,'

'I know!' Harry cried, 'Innocent people got caught in my war! It shouldn't have happened! It was my battle to fight!'

'You can't blame yourself for what happened,' she said in a low voice.

Harry kneeled over, burying his head in his hands, 'It never should have happened,'

They were silent for a moment, the only sound, was the firsts years joyous giggles. Finally the Transfiguration professor sighed.

'Potter…I think it's high time I give you what I planned to give you so long ago,'

Harry turned around, he had heard a similar speech like this before, and it didn't end all that well.

'When Dumbledore died…he left a number of things behind, with specific instructions,' the woman said heavily, 'And in those numerous belongings was one letter,'

Harry looked at the woman's emerald eyes, filling with tears and apprehension.

'I was told…to wait, until your graduation day, to give you this…' McGonagall said sadly, 'But that day you left…for war…I just wasn't…I admit I didn't know if there would be a graduation day,'

'So…I almost gave it to you then, and in hindsight I think you would be happier if I had given it to you then. But…now…the time is right Potter,'

With that, the older woman plunged her hand into the pocket of her emerald robes, and pulled a small parcel, wrapped in musty brown paper.

'This is for you,'

Harry remained bowed over the package as McGonagall left the room. It was heavy, tied together with string, knotted in a pretty bow at the front.

It looked about ten years old, but why was he being given an ancient box? The parcel was hard with sharp edges, slightly breaking the wrapper.

Slowly, he turned it over, his heart thudding wildly. A white tag was hanging from a piece of his name printed neatly on it, and a simple burgundy wax stamp, two initials stamped in them.

LP.

LP? Lily Potter?

With shaking hands, he hooked a finger under the bow, released the package from it's confines. This was it.

He tipped the contents of the envelope onto his hand. A leather bound journal stuffed to the brim of memories.

He opened the front cover slowly. In the front a photo, of two people, about twenty two hugging each other grinning, surrounded by a thin pink heart, two names written underneath.

Lily and James Potter

A Gryffindor emblem was in the corner of the cover, different phrases scrawled on the hard cardboard.

He shivered. This couldn't be happening to him. It couldn't be real.

He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. It wasn't there. It wasn't there. This wasn't really happening.

Slowly opening his eyes again, they fell onto the first page in his trembling hands.

To my sweet child,

Oh Harry, it fills me with grief, that I can't be there today. Today, your graduation day. Even now, I am so proud of you. I don't know if my sister ever said that to you, and if she did, she never said it enough. I know, that after I left you, you became the brave, loyal Gryffindor, just like I always knew you would.

Harry, I'm am so very proud of you.

If you are reading this, you know I am gone. And oh Harry, how much I wish it wasn't so. How I wish I could be there with you today, holding you, hugging you, my big, seventeen year old npy, as he goes out into the world.

But I am writing this, now, because I fear that the end is near Harry. I fear that I won't get a chance to tell you all these things in a few years time. So, until it is truly the end my sweet boy, I am going to tell you about me and your father.

You are only one year old, as a write this. You are standing in your crib, bouncing up and down on your small legs. You still don't know how to walk yet .You are so beautiful. I can't believe your mine. Already, you're just like your father. That unruly, infuriating black hair, that never quite sits flat, that cute little nose, the soft lips, and that mischevious little grin you give me, when you know your in trouble.

I've only known you for a matter of twelve months, but already, they have been the sweetest in my life. Already, you have me wrapped around that tiny pink of yours. Just like your dad did when we were in Hogwarts.

Your dad's just walked into the room. He's just come home from work. And Sirius is with him. Sirius is the best godfather you could ever want Harry.

You wrap your arms around your godfather's neck, and give him a large, loving kiss. You are more like Sirius than you know too.

Sirius lifts you onto his shoulders, and over your godfather's crop of hair, you give me a wide grin.

'Momma,' you crow sweetly, reaching your arms out for me. Oh Harry, how I wish I didn't have to leave you! Why does it have to be like this?

Your eyes. They are so beautiful. Everyone says they are mine, and I know it's true. But Harry, you are the most amazing, most…perfect thing I have ever done right.

Your father comes over to me, and places a kiss on my cheek. Your father is amazing. I seem to be in a glorious mood this afternoon Harry, everything is perfect.

I remember the time I met your father, I hated him instantly. It was the end of our sixth year.

'Hi, I'm James Potter,' a cocky boy introduced himself.

'I know,' I said spitefully, wrinkling my nose at him. I had heard of James Potter long before he decided to introduce himself.

'Aren't you going to say hello?' a crony of his leered from over James's shoulder.

'I think not,' I replied, meeting his eyes with a cold glare.

If only they would leave me alone. I was busy, couldn't they see that! I had to study for my OWL'S! I had things to do.

'So…pretty lady,' James continued smoothly, 'What can I call you?'

'You can call me…' I began threateningly, ready to hit him a sharp, sarcastic comment that were always my specialty, but he held up a hand, 'I shall rephrase that…pretty lady, what is your name, and…will you come to the Yule Ball with me,'

'I don't think so,' I sniffed imperiously, 'I don't date lower life forms,'

His friends laughed, whistling, slapping James's back, 'She gotcha mate!' one man laughed.

They were all idiots, I decided. I hated them all. They were all immature little grunts. With no brains.

James disappeared soon, red-faced, scurrying away from me as soon as he could. I was certain that would be the last time that James Potter would ever come near me.

I must go Harry, Sirius just dropped you on your head, but trust me, I'm not finished, we are only just beginning.

With Love,

Mom