Painful Memories



Chapter 1



*This is based in Harry's seventh and final year at Hogwarts, and they are doing a History of Magic trip to Godric Hollow. Just starting out, I want to see what my reviews are like.*





Harry sighed as he listened to Professor Binns drone on about a warlock in the twentieth century who worked against Voldemort.

He had heard it all before.

This man died to save his family...this man saved his child from his clutches but died in the process...this woman died trying to defeat Voldemort...

It was all the same story.

He, of all people, knew that story.

It was his story.

He was the only living wizard known to have survived Voldemort's wrath, getting away from him nearly a dozen times now.

He had met Voldemort first when he was one year old, and his last encounter with the dark wizard had been when he had been defeated, at the end of his sixth year, by Albus Dumbledore and Arthur Weasley.

Things were a lot quieter around the Hogwarts grounds this year, mainly because in the past three years they had lost eight students to the Lord Voldemort.

In Harry's fourth year, it was Cedric Diggory, in his fifth, it was Padma and Parvati Patil, and in the sixth year they lost Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abott, Colin Creevey, and Katie Bell, as well as the Hogwarts gamekeeper, Hagrid, who had died trying to save the last four students.

Harry felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he remembered these students, all whom he was friends with.

Hogwarts just didn't feel the same.

It had always seemed like such a saviour, a blessing to get away from the Dursleys, but this year, he would have rather just moved out and gotten a job as a Muggle.

Magic didn't hold the same adventure as it had before, not now that it had taken the lives of eight of his closest friends...

Just then Harry was pulled out of his stupor, by the sound of his father's name.

"James Potter fought he who must not be named since the year that he graduated Hogwarts, as did his wife, Lily. They died sixteen years ago this week in Godric Hollow, as most of you know," Professor Binns glanced at Harry.

"We shall be taking a trip on Wednesday to the site where Godric's Hollow once stood." he finished.

Harry couldn't breathe.

Taking a trip to where his parents died?

To where Lord Voldemort lost his powers because of him?

He could feel Ron and Hermione staring at him in wonder, trying to figure out what his reaction would be.

He felt his face getting hot.

He raised his hand.

"Sir? Would there really be any historical value in this trip? I mean, it was only sixteen years ago..." Harry trailed, but knew he was losing a winning battle.

Professor Binns looked at him in what might have been pity.

"Mr. Potter, I assure you that it was a very amazing and special mark in history. Otherwise, why would your name be known throughout the wizarding world?"

Harry felt his blood boil, but then cooled down.

It was just a class trip.

Nothing bad...

Right?

Wrong.

He hadn't known his parents, and he hadn't known Voldemort, but somehow, the whole story and trip revolved around him.

He was the reason that they were going on the trip and it was all his fault.

Just then, the bell rang and everyone gathered their books and went to their next class.

On the way, he could see his classmates stare at him with a mixture of confusion, sympathy, and wonder.

"Are you going to go, then?" Ron asked him as they entered the Divination room.

Harry shrugged.

"I don't really want to talk about it."

Ron nodded understandingly and watched him for a moment before pulling his eyes up to where Professor Trelawny stood.

"Hello, my children. I feel the vibes telling me that you are not in the best of spirits. There shall be a trip that you are worried about." she said mistily, watching the class.

Lavender and Parvati nodded solemnly.

"To Godric Hollow, the place where the world's strongest magic occurred. But you all know that...Wednesday shall indeed be a day that none of you will ever forget."

Harry muttered, "You've got that right."

Hermione glanced at him worriedly.

"Today we shall be reading our fortunes with the crystal balls. Look deep into it's depths, watch for any movement at all. It may mean something. Please begin..." Trelawny said, waving her arm to the class, and sat down dramatically on her cushioned chair.

"These crystal ball sure know how to predict the weather, all right...Hey! Harry, do you think it'll show anything about Wednesday?" Ron said, slight excitement in his voice.

Harry shrugged again.

"Maybe, maybe not. I don't really care."

Harry slammed his book shut, and picked up his bag.

"Professor? I need to go see Professor McGonagall."

Trelawny stared up a him, bug eyed.

"Mr. Potter, I assure you that you will have enough time later. She is busy at the moment, for a student of hers has accidentally turned herself into an oversized pincushion, so she will have no time for this..."

Harry coughed.

"I promise you, Professor, this is very important!"

"Sorry, Mr. Potter, but you'll just have to wait until the end of class."

Harry lost it.

"Fine! I asked, you answered, I'm going!"

He walked briskly out the trapdoor, ignoring her protests, and went to see Dumbledore.

He had to know why they had to take that trip.