Chapter one: Visiting Godric Hallow

It had been seventeen years since the last time he had been in this place, and he couldn't remember much about it, but he knew what had happened in that house. The night was dark and cold, and the moon light was not enough to show him the remains of his old house – the house where his parents had been murdered. It hurt him to be back in this place again, but he knew there was something he needed to do – but not alone; it was too painful to be there.

The girl next to him touched his arm, which made him come back from his painful memories. He looked at her and could see in her brown eyes all of the sadness and all of the worries that she was feeling right now. She probably knew him better than he knew himself, and she knew how painful it was for him to be there again. He tried to smile but failed; his green eyes were full of sadness and pain.

"Harry maybe we should go; this isn't turning out good for you," the girl said as she looked him straight in the eye, feeling his pain.

"I can't. I have to be here to see what he did to my house. He killed my parents here, Hermione. Maybe you should go; this is something that I need to do, not you," Harry replied, but really he didn't want her to go.

"Never. I cannot leave you in here, not when you're going to be here for so long." Hermione took his hand in hers. "Let's go."

Together, they walked closer to the house – or at least what was left of it. They pointed their wands, and a little light appeared. A few tears welled up in Hermione's eyes while Harry looked around. The house wasn't destroyed much – only a few doors and windows were broken. He looked at her and with his eyes, he told her all that she needed to know. Hermione nodded and continued holding his hand as they walked inside the house.

The first room was the living room. A few things were still in their places, but then they saw the glass on the floor. In the fireplace, there were still a few pictures. Slowly, they came closer and Harry pointed the light towards the pictures.

A few were from his parent's wedding. He could see how happy they were. Another one was while his mother was pregnant, and it was taken probably in the backyard. You could see a small belly already. The next one was his parents with him, and it looked like when he was born. Harry picked the pictures up and put them in his pocket.

After looking around the living room, they climbed upstairs. They found his parents bedroom. It was big and beautifully decorated. Also, in the bedroom, they found more pictures. Hermione watched him as he looked at the room. She knew either he was trying to save all the memories or maybe remember something from his past.

They got back to their search, and the next room they found was the nursery. It looked as if it was the only room that was still in one piece. It was, of course, filled with dust, but nothing was broken. Harry's crib was next to the window. Hermione walked over to the crib and picked up the teddy bear lying in it. She looked at Harry.

"I remember that. I always had it with me when I was little," Harry said, coming closer to her.

Hermione smiled. "Then we should take him with us."

Harry nodded. In one of the drawers he found a little box. He opened it and found a Golden Snitch inside. Harry smiled and looked at Hermione.

"Looks like your dad wanted you to be a seeker," she said with a smile.

Harry nodded. "Looks like it. But I think that this was his Snitch. I remember seeing him with this when I saw Snape's memories."

Hermione showed him a picture she had found of baby Harry and his dad sitting on the floor, playing with the Snitch. James controlled the snitch so it wouldn't fly very high while little Harry was laughing and trying to catch it. They both looked so happy.

Suddenly, Harry couldn't take the pain any more. He fell to the floor with a cry and began to sob. Hastily, Hermione knelt next to him and wrapped her arms around him, letting him cry on her shoulder. She began to cry, too, as she held Harry close to her heart. She knew that, though he most likely felt horrible now, he would eventually feel better after letting his feelings out.

"Shhhh, its ok. Just let it go," She ran her fingers through his hair in an attempt to calm him down.

"It's too much to see how happy they were – how happy I was. Voldemort destroyed all of that. Because of him, I never really met my parents. Because of him, I don't remember much of them. Because of him, I have grown up alone and without knowing what love is – what it is to be loved," Harry spoke softly, his voice breaking with every few words. His arms were around Hermione's waist and his head on her neck as he cried.

"I know Harry, I know," she whispered. "I don't think that anything I might say can ease the pain you are feeling now, but know that there are people who love you more than life itself. You aren't alone anymore." She softly kissed the top of his head.

"Don't leave me, Hermione, please don't leave me," Harry pleaded. It broke her heart to see him in so much pain.

"I won't. I will never leave you, never. You're stuck with me, Potter," she said, a smile playing on her lips as she looked straight into his eyes.

"Forever?" he asked, meeting her gaze with one that faltered. She was struck by the sudden helplessness that surrounded him.

Hermione started to wipe his tears away. "Well, at least until you get married."

Harry shook his head. "No, I want you to stay with me forever, Hermione."

Hermione was surprised, but nodded, "If that's what you want, then that's what I'll do."

For the first time that night, Harry smiled. He drew away from her, then caressed her cheek. Hesitantly, he kissed her lips in a tender and sweet kiss. At first, Hermione was very surprised at the action, but after the shock was gone, she kissed him back in the same way.

Now he knew he would never be alone. He would always have someone who he truly loved and who loved him in return. Now he had one more reason to fight Voldemort, and to win. Because for the first time, he could see a future – a future that included him and Hermione, happy and together.

He was coming back from the dark place because of Hermione. She was on his side – had been since their first year. She was always with him in the good and the bad moments. She never doubted him, even when everyone else did – even Ron. His true love had been in front of him this whole time, and he had never seen it. It had taken a trip to the home of his dead parents for him to finally realize after all those years just who was the one woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.