Pairing: Pre-Raziestiel (Harry/Castiel)

Timeline: four years after Deathly Hallow (not counting the epilogue). Okay I lied in Eden, it's not an AU after DH but after Order of the Phoenix, there's still some facts from HBP and DH (including Dumbledore's death, the horcruxes and the hallows) though. No Harry/Ginny. The war was also gorier and more violent than it was in DH.

Rating: T

Warnings: PRE-SLASH. Unbeta'd. Language. It would be adviced to read Eden first if you still haven't. English isn't my first language so feel free to correct me if you see any mistake!

Word count: 836

Disclaimer: Harry and Castiel own each other, that's a true fact. Sadly, I don't own them.

BEFORE HEAVEN

Home is where the heart is

It wasn't unusual to find Harry on top of the astronomy tower – one of the few buildings that survived the last battle - after the war. He would usually sit on the ledge, legs hanging over nothing but air, eyes staring blankly at the sky as if it could contain all the secrets of the universe. It was probably one of the only moments of peace he could afford these days without being harassed by reporters, rabid fans or employees from the ministry. Harry sighed. He wished it would be the only reason as to why he wanted to be left alone. But it wasn't.

He remembered. Who he truly was. What he was or had been. What he did.

He might not have his entire memory back, it was still enough to make some sense out of it.

All it took to shatter his world were some words from Dumbledore and a palm pressed to his forehead. His 'death' triggered his memories, he supposed.

He didn't know what to feel anymore. Him who used to be closed to emotionless in his former life was now being overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. He was half-glad half-upset not to be able to recall all of his immortal life. With the deaths of many of his loved ones, he felt lost, there was no need to add more complicated things on top of that.

Green eyes lowered to the grounds. There, near the Forbidden Forest, he could spot Hagrid's now lifeless hut. He wondered absent-mindedly what it would do to jump from the tower right there right now. Out of all his angel's abilities, flying was the one he missed the most. It was nothing like flying with a broom which couldn't even begin to compare. The difference was mind-boggling. He had always felt exhilarated, free when he flew as if no worries, nothing at all could reach him, there in the sky.

The mourning of his wings abruptely came to an end when he noticed someone's presence. He idly noticed his senses seemed to have sharpened slightly since the last battle with Voldemort. Probably as an after-effect of recovering his memory.

"You are alright, mate?"

Neville. The other child of the Prophecy. One of the few survivors. The Serpent Slayer, they called him.

Harry snorted inwardly. Gave the wizarding world to find the most ridiculous titles.

His was the Man-Who-Lived-To-Defeat-You-Know-Who. The green-eyed fallen rolled his eyes in dismay. Even four years after Voldemort's demise, people still didn't dare pronounce his name, let alone his birth name, for fear he might come back to haunt them a third time. Yeah, right, as if he could now. This time Harry made sure to salt and burn the sucker along with the horcruxes' remains. There were no way in hell he should be able to come back. Just to be sure, he had sprayed some holy water on the ashes. No smoke. No demon. Nope, the son-of-a-bitch was definitely dead. Hallelujah.

"Harry?"

He was suddenly stirred from his thoughts to meet Neville's concerned eyes. His former housemate stood near him while not closed enough to see Hogwarts' grounds. Apparently, his fear of heights hadn't faded away after all these years, he mused.

"You spaced out a few minutes, I was worried. Are you alright?"

The fallen angel wanted to retort 'Yeah, I'm fine' but changed his mind at the last second.

"I'm not," he said with a sad and mysterious smile.

He thought of Heaven, of former brothers and sisters, of a father whose love conquered them all and he felt homesick all of a sudden. Staring once more at the sky, Harry marvelled at his Father's creation. Stars shone brightly above them, billions of diamonds on black velvet. The moon, always there to guide them, was full, a brilliant light in the dark.

Then he sensed it.

An abrupt shift in the air. Murmurs of a past home.

A more genuine smile made its way on his lips.

"I'm not alright but I will be."

From this moment, he knew what he had to do. He couldn't linger there where the pain and the grief were still freshed and rawed on his mind. He had to leave.

Maybe then he would be able to move on. But never forget. He would never find peace there in this old castle. Hogwarts which used to be his beloved home – or at least one of his – was no longer. There were too much painful memories in this place.

Not so long ago, he left Heaven for a purpose, he was not going to let it waste away because he didn't want to fight anymore. He had knowledge, he could use it to keep fighting to avoid others feeling the sorrow he suffered through. He couldn't do it if he stayed there. Leaving would be the best decision, he knew it.

And maybe, just maybe, he would be able to find his true home along the way.

A/N: Review please! I would love to know what you think about it.