Churchyard Dates Series

by HollyxFolly

Harry visits his parents graves on various special dates in his life ranging from his 21st birthday to the birth of each of his children and his first wedding anniversary. Each chapter explores a different date and the feelings associated with them.

Halloween was celebrated quietly in Godric's Hollow. Muggle families remembered the terrible explosion that had shaken the smile village while wizarding families still paused to remember the Potters and the tragic end to their lives. A few houses displayed small pumpkins in their gardens with carved faces. Families met to share food but celebrations were kept inside.

Walking around the deserted main square Harry couldn't help thinking back to his first visit to the village. Four years ago he had arrived for the first time with Hermione, seeing his parents grave and his childhood home. He hadn't thought of that night much. The attack from Nagini made it hard to remember and he had more happier memories of the village now. Pausing beneath the statue of his family he looked up into the stone faces of his parents. It was still weird to see himself as a baby in his mothers arms. After Voldemort's defeat more monuments had sprung up in other locations and he still felt almost embarrassed to see them but he knew the people who had created them needed them.

Walking up towards the churchyard he followed the now familiar path to his parents grave. Since the end of the war he'd felt freer to visit more. He brought flowers and cleared away leaves. Sometimes spending an afternoon when he was free of work in the village trying to recover any childhood memories.

Finding the grave he knelt down on the dry earth replacing the dried out roses with a fresh bouquet before sitting back on his heels looking at the words across the gleaming white marble.

James Potter, born 27 March 1960, died 31 October 1981

Lily Potter, born 30 January 1960, died 31 October 1981

Since his birthday back in July Harry had been thinking of his parents death more and more. This year he had turned 21, the age his parents had been when they'd died. Brushing some more dead leaves from the grave he sighed glancing again at the names. Twenty one still felt so young. He couldn't imagine how his parents had felt with a young son suddenly knowing their life was over.

Spreading out the roses more in the little metal vase he sighed standing up. He'd promised Teddy he'd take him over to The Burrows for Molly's annual Halloween party. Walking back to the square he looked over to the lane where he knew his childhood home stood before disapparating away.