"Won't be much longer, will it?" I asked drowsily. "We've been walking for literally hours, Bertha."

"We're nearly there."

And then I saw a small white line up in the clearing. As we climbed up the hill, more was revealed. The line happened to be snow. The snow covered the top of the hill, and the roofs of what seemed to be houses. It was a village, or town, of some sort. "Does…Do my parents live – err, here?"

She nodded and gave a simple "Yes." And then she went on walking again, and I followed closely behind. "They'll be so very thrilled to see you – yet, they'll start tearing up at the fact that you haven't survived." She sighed, the snow crunching beneath her feet.

I frowned. "What do you mean I haven't survived?"

"Well – you're here. Lily's been going on all last week about how she hopes you won't end up here, because this place is for the ones who have been partially murdered by Voldemort...And concluding that you're here, you haven't really survived." She shrugged. "She'll be upset – but I'm sure another part of her will be so very happy to finally see her grown little boy."

"I feel…pathetic." I scrunched my nose up in disgust.

"Oh!" Her softness turned to dust as she became furious. "You are not pathetic, Harry! And don't you ever say so! You're the one that defeated Voldemort when you were only just! Weren't it you whom had won the Triwizard cup, only age 14, three years below the required age? It was you who had won Gryffindor so many championships and games, wasn't it? You're the reason for the happiness of our world, Harry – and you've best believe it!"

I frowned slightly. "But…I've lost."

She gave a groan. "Harry! Good Scotts, boy – we all lose at things, don't we? If you didn't lose some of the things you try, you wouldn't be a normal being! We all make mistakes and lose things often, you can't win everything! And think of this, Harry – we've lost – your mother, father, Norbert, me, everyone else who is here, but as long as we're stuck here, we should make the best of it! We've lost, yes indeed, but knowing it was to a cold old creature with no soul, well, it gives you the feeling of confidence and love…Yet, you think otherwise." She was furious.

I still wasn't convinced, but it made me quench a taco. "Do they sell tacos here?"

She glowered at me.

"Never mind," I murmured, and then I returned to the subject. "You make your point, Bertha – we all lose at things – yet, I feel I should've been more of a hero…I've let you all down."

She groaned and gruffly spat, "When are you going to get a grip of yourself? Harry, you are a hero!"

"I'm a hero?" I was puzzled. "Bertha – to who?"

"You're a hero to me!" She snarled. "You're a hero to everybody – your inspiring, Harry – you have such a heartwarming story to tell! You've parents, they won't be sad that you didn't avenge them – they'll be sad that the person who took your life was that cruel heartless creature! They'll be proud of what you've become, and they'll be happy with the great leadership you've proven yourself to have in you! You have the aspects any mom or dad could ever hope there child to have, and you are respected by us all! You're the first to ever bring down Voldemort, and you were only a tiny little baby with no magical experiences at all! You've been a hero all along, Harry, you've just got to have a little more faith in yourself."

A sudden current of inspiration flared throughout me. That made sense to me in a sudden form. "You're…You are right, Bertha, and I'm sorry."
"Ah, yes, the logical apology…Well, boy, don't be sorry to me – be sorry for ever doubting yourself," She said lightly. And then she stopped walking. "We're here."

I looked up. There was a nice house, similar to the other houses, with a silver gate enclosing it. The grass was covered with snow, and there was a snow fort in the front yard. The curtains were closed, but there was light streaming from them that was noticeable. And suddenly, as the snow began to fall again, I got light headed, and felt like I was flying. My heart tingled with excitement, and I felt joyous – as happy as I've ever been. I grinned widely. "Let's go!" I urged. "I can't wait – I feel like I might drop dead any mom – oh, that's right, I'm already dead." I shrugged slightly.

She groaned. "Good heavens, boy – how many times do I have to say – you are only partially dead!"

"Oh. Right," I nodded. "Sorry about that…"

She waved it off. "Yeah, yeah…" She opened the gate, which gave a barely audible creak, and started up the walk. "I feel wrong about doin' this to lily n' James, considering how heartbroken they'll be – yet, it's the right thing to do, taking into matters that you've never, in sixteen years, seen each other."

"Y-yeah," I said nervously. "I can't believe I'm mere seconds away from seeing my…my parents." I smiled.

She slowly climbed the doorsteps. "Such a sweet, sweet boy you are truly, Harry – god bless yuh." She grabbed the knocker – a golden heart – and knocked three times. Knock, knock, knock. "Lily! James! Open up – it's me, Bertha."

There was the sound of shuffling footsteps from inside. Thump, thump thump, my heart went. My heartbeat was gaining speed. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. My heart was about to explode, it felt – thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump!

The door flung open.