Chapter 1

"Momma?"

Hermione was folding clothes in the bedroom when she heard the voice come from the doorway. Her daughter, Lily, stood there looking puzzled about something. Hermione smiled as she looked so much like herself at that age. The only difference was her eyes, which she had inherited from her father. She laughed to herself thinking of how many times people had reminded him over the years that he had his mother's eyes.

"Yes, Lily?" Hermione answered, beckoning her to come into the room. She was growing so fast but was still so small in her eyes. Even though she was still so young, sixteen years old to be exact, Hermione found herself betrayed, once again, by time. She had grown up to be so beautiful. And if what her brothers had said, she was very popular with the boys. From what Hermione could tell, however, she was more focused on her studies. That's my girl!, she thought to herself. They both took a seat on the floor.

"Momma, I-" she looked like she was battling with her thoughts, quite similar to Hermione when she wanted to get something off her chest and express her feelings about something she felt strongly about. Finally, after a few moments, she nodded her head defiantly and looked up to meet her mother's eyes. "What does it feel like when you fall in love?"

Hermione sighed inwardly. She knew this day would eventually come but she was hoping it would not happen till after Hogwarts. She was kidding herself, however. It just showed how grown up her daughter was, and, for some reason, it made Hermione's heart ache a little with sadness.

Hermione thought on her answer."Well, sweetheart, love is complicated. People show love differently depending on the person." When Lily gave a quizzical look she continued. Hermione thought for a moment. How do you put love into just one feeling? She looked up to meet her daughter's eyes but, for a brief second, found the eyes of her husband leaning against the door frame, as if waiting to hear the response himself. A goofy grin on his face. Lily did not seem to realize that Harry was standing there and with a smile, Hermione looked back to her daughter, her heart skipping a beat as she felt the gaze of the man she loved on her. "Love makes you feel like you can do anything."

"I'm still not sure I understand, momma." said Lily. "So it just makes you feel invincible?"

Harry smiled down at her from the doorway but still remained silent.

Hermione thought, again, how to best describe what she meant. "Well, that's part of it. When you love someone, you don't just experience one emotion. You feel all of them. Happiness, excitement, fear, sadness, and sometimes you will feel heartbreak."

"So, when you fall in love, you feel bad things, too?" Lily asked. "But why do people want to love if it makes you feel miserable?"

"Let me answer your question with another question." said Hermione. She looked up at Harry again, he smiled but was intrigued. Leave it to Hermione to quiz a child on love. "If Scorpius started hanging out with another girl and did not spend as much time with you, how would you feel?"

"I'd be upset. He's my best friend." answered Lily right away.

"So, in a way, you have a special love for him."

"Of course, I love him. Like I said, he's my best friend." Seeing where her mother was heading with this. "Have you ever been hurt by daddy?"

The smile from Harry's face fell and his expression became solemn, looking away from the two of them. He still remained in the doorway, ashamed of what was to come.

"Yes, I have."

"What happened?"

Harry did not know if he could handle this. It was one thing to have to think about that memory, but to have his little girl know about it was more than he could bare. He made to leave the doorway, when felt a hand close around his. He turned around and saw that Hermione had gotten to her feet and walked to him. She was smiling sadly at him but beckoned him to the floor with them. When he looked at his daughter she looked surprised to see he was there and, with a look of questioning in her eyes, smiled at him. She had always been daddy's little girl but how would she respond when she learned how selfish he had been.

Hermione was the first to speak. "Your daddy still has nightmares about this." She looked back at her daughter. "When I tell you this story, you must understand that your father never had love growing up. Grandma and Grandpa had died when he was one. Everyone around him was dying and he was The Chosen One." Harry flinched at the sound of the title. It was funny how Voldemort's name struck fear into everyone in the wizarding world, even after his death, but Harry flinched at the sound of the persona that was given to him by the Daily Prophet twenty years ago. "Your father did not understand what it meant to be in love either. The first time he had felt something close to love, was a week before the Battle of Hogwarts begun but he was afraid because people he loved were dying everywhere."

Harry rested his head against the bed frame, his eyes closed, thinking back all those years ago. At the memory that still haunted him more than Voldemort.