Tears of Promise
By sezjara
Disclaimer: Characters, settings, etc are not my own, they belong to the wonderful J.K. Rowling. I just like borrowing them and playing with them a little bit, and I promise to return them…eventually.
Just a little one-shot I came up with forever ago, and finally decided to share.
Spoilers: Occurs after the final battle in Deathly Hallows. If you haven't read it yet, this will spoil some of it for you.
Thanks to all other fan fiction authors whose wonderful works have encouraged and inspired me to write a bit of my own. Thank you all.
Finally, a gigantic thank you goes out to SammyQuill for being such a wonderful beta. Thank you!!!!!
Summary: He can't help but cry…
HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP HP
Tears of Promise by sezjara
Harry sits, swaying in the rocking chair, staring down at the child in his arms. Teddy Lupin; his godson.
It is unfair, really. The war is over, but the baby would still suffer for it. Oh, he'd be happy for sure; there were too many that cared for him not to be. No, it was unfair that he'd never know his parents.
Staring at the child, Harry can't help but think of all that's happened. All they lost. And all they gained.
He can't help but cry.
Smiling at the innocent child, he cries for all those that had to die to bring the peace they now rejoice in. He cries for all those whose lives were cut too short. Lives lost unnecessarily. Lives taken away greedily. The lives of Colin and Fred; Remus and Tonks; James and Lily and Sirius; Severus Snape. And so many others. Was peace really worth the price it came at?
He cries for his friends, and for the pain of loss they feel, weighing heavily on their hearts.
The Weasley's, for they lost a son and a brother.
Andromeda Tonks, for she lost her husband, her daughter, and her son-in-law. All she has left is the tiny child Harry now holds.
Harry cries for all those left to pick up the pieces, and keep going forward through the pain and sorrow surrounding them.
And he cries for Teddy. For this tiny boy who has lost his parents at such a young age. For the child who would likely never have even a single recollection of either of his parents. For this baby, this beautiful, innocent, lovely little child, who will have the opportunity to grow up in a world not plagued by such evil as was seen in the days of Harry's own youth.
Harry vows now, with every ounce of his being, heart and soul, that this sleeping bundle in his arms will grow up loved and cherished. He will live knowing all that could be told of the parents who risked, and eventually gave, their very lives to provide the peace they so desperately wanted for their only child. Harry wants, more than anything, for this child to never have to experience the suffering and loneliness he himself once felt at the Dursley's.
Harry would give his last breath, his very heart, if only to ensure that this boy grows up as loved as any child could possibly be loved, times an hundredfold more. And suddenly, Harry knows, he understands, just how easy, and how hard, it is for parents to give their lives for their children. And Harry knows that peace is worth any price, any sacrifice. Anything to make the world a little better for those he loves.
So Harry cries. He cries until the last tear is shed, until he can move on and live without guilt and sorrow. He can live and love knowing all is well.
THE END
