February, 2000. The Burrow

Harry woke up feeling excited. Yesterday he had asked her, and she had said yes. Ginny had said yes. He had proposed, and she had said yes. Harry smiled at the thought and went down stairs to see what she and the rest of the Weasley were doing. When he entered the kitchen, Ginny was reading a letter.

"Harry!" she squealed bursting with excitement "I made it! I made the Quidditch team! I made the Holyhead Harpies!"

"Congratulations Ginny!" Harry said "I'm so excited for you! When do you have games and practices?"

She laughed "who cares"

I smiled and laughed with her. She was just so perfect.

It was only 3 months later when a fatal accident involving the team's practice pitch killed 3 members. And just like that, Ginny Weasley was gone, forever. It just wasn't fair. Life was never fair.

Harry ran out of the burrow. He couldn't handle this. He ran into the woods to get lost, to get away from the truth, but he couldn't believe what he saw. His dad was standing there, staring at him. It wasn't possible, but it had to be.

"Dad" I said "is-is that you?"

He looked up at me and smiled. "Harry," he said "I've missed you"

He ran towards me and embraced me in a hug, and I couldn't help but smile.

"B-but dad," I said "how is this possible? Y-you died"

"Yes Harry, but the way your mother protected you protected all of us. I died to save Lily. Lily died to save me. I came back to life, Harry, 7 years ago, but your mother couldn't. Only one of us could've come back. Your mom though, she ran off and eloped with Sirius 5 years ago in heaven"

"Wait dad, but how do you know this if you're alive, and they're dead?"

"Well, that's another thing; I can change between being dead and alive at will."

"That doesn't even make sense!"

"Whatever"

And they went on like this talking, getting to know each other, catching up.

"You know what?" asked Harry eventually "why did you never show yourself until now? I mean if you've been alive for the better part of 20 years"

"You never needed me until now, did you?" his dad replied with a smile.

"Thanks," said Harry, and he genuinely meant it.