Chapter One
Harry's entire body felt numb, his knees weak and shaking as he slid down the wall, suddenly regretting declining Minerva's offer (or recommendation) of a seat. His head swam as he clutched his chest. He felt like his heart was going to pound out of his chest.
"W-" Harry didn't even know what he wanted to ask. "How?"
"We are unsure, Mr. Potter." Minerva said approaching the young man. She reached down for his arm, enticing him to stand. "Come and have a seat in the chair." Harry didn't hear what she had said, but she was patient with him and repeated herself a few more times. After a few moments he stood numbly and moved to the chair, his hands shaking.
"How did they know? How did they find them?" Harry had so many questions buzzing in his head.
"Pure-Blood families generally put sensory charms on the graves of their loved ones. It's an unnecessary old fashioned tradition that many families hold to. Though it's rarely used if one was killed by the killing curse as it's an unneeded expense." She said. "It was more used in olden days when there was the off chance the one that had passed on, had not indeed passed on and had been accidentally been buried alive. It has saved at least a hand full of people in the past. But never has anyone been dead so long that they came back twenty years later." Minerva explained. "It's rarely used anymore, but it was, however, in your father's will, and since he and your mother were buried together that charm extended to her as well."
"So … This isn't just a cruel joke?" Harry asked. "They're really alive? Both of them?"
"Yes." Minerva said. "They were retrieved on Halloween, when the sensory charm had alerted the ministry. They had thought it was a malfunction in the charm … someone playing tricks."
"Halloween?" Harry asked. "That was over three weeks ago!" He said looking quite hurt. "Why didn't anyone tell me sooner?"
"Please, Mr. Potter. You have to understand this is a big shock, not only to us, but to your parents as well. They don't remember dying, or being dead. The last thing they remember was playing with you in the living room of Godric's Hollow. They understand that many years have passed, that much they have adjusted to but … you're going to come as a shock Harry. Even if they have been informed numerous times over the past month. They remember you as an infant, and as far as they know … the last time they saw you was a month ago. It's going to be a hard adjustment for them."
"When can I see them?" Harry asked. Minerva pursed her lips and sighed through her nose.
"We have made arrangements for you to meet them tomorrow. They have been warned that you are now an adult Harry but … it's going to be hard for them to see you. It may be … upsetting for them." She said.
"But, I'm their son. Surely they'd …. They'd want to see me …" Harry said, suddenly doubting. What if they didn't want to see him? After all he'd only been barely over a year when they'd last seen him … what if they refused to believe he was their son … what if they tried to cope with it by pretending he was a stranger … that Harry was actually dead. What if they had another child to replace him? Constant questions where filtering through Harry's head and a sudden surge of anxiety hit him like a blow to the chest.
His parents where both alive but …. What if they didn't want him? Would that be more cruel than if they had remained dead? To know that they were alive but didn't want him, or for them to be dead and have the hope that they had loved him … wanted him …. Was that selfish of him to ask that?
"Harry, they've done nothing but ask for you over the past month but … it's going to be a hard adjustment." She said, patting his hand. "It's getting late … you should go home and get some sleep … I'll come by your place and take you to see them."
"But I want to see them now." Harry said, never wanting anything more in his life. Even if they did just turn him away. He had to see for himself.
"You need time Harry … to take it all in. All the information I've given you … and tomorrow we will go see them. For tonight, you need to sleep. It's very late. I'm sure they'll be sleeping as well by now."
Harry wasn't happy about it, and tried to argue again but in the end wound up going home as he was instructed. Once he arrived home he saw Ginny sitting on the couch. He had to tell her. It was going to be a long night.
((A/N - Short chapter intro - hope you all like - i generally like to backup chapters and post them every few weeks but this one I will be posting as I write - as always please R&R))