*This is from one of blvnk-art's works on James and Lily, but the story is Harry and Ginny.*
James Potter sat down on the lounge next to his wife. Lily smiled at her husband. "You should have seen Harry saying those words in the kitchen, it was so cute," she said.
James smiled half heartedly.
"James, what is it? What was the message that took you so long to read upstairs?" she asked.
James hesitated. "Lily..." he took her hands in his own. "It was about the McKinnons."
The smile fell from Lily's face. James nodded. "They've killed the whole family last night. Marlene...Marl's gone, Lil. I'm so sorry," he said, tears in his own eyes for their dear friend.
Lily stared at him; his words were imcomprehensible. But James wouldn't cry unless it was true. The horror of one of her best friends being murdered was too close to home, reminding her that her family, her son, was part of a prophecy and the reason they were in hiding.
She fell into the safety of her husband's arms, and together they wept for their fallen friend.
000
Years Later
"Kingsley, I came as soon as I got your owl," said Ginny, taking a seat after being ushered into Kingsley's office. " Is it Harry, has he been hurt?" Her husband was currently away on an Auror assignment in Spain.
"No, that's going well, and Harry is fine, but he is the reason why I owled you today. This letter arrived for him here at the Ministry. Normally I would wait for him to return, but as you can see it is marked 'Private and Urgent'. So, here," offered Kingsley, handing it to her.
Ginny took it and looked at it. "It has a Muggle stamp," she noted, turning it this way and that.
Kingsley nodded. "Yes, it was diverted to the magical post office and forwarded here.
Ginny looked at the address. "Mr Potter, c/o Ministry of Magic, London. And you're sure this is for Harry? I mean, it's not even marked for a Harry, or H Potter?" she asked curiously.
"Only one way to find out," shrugged Kingsley. "We had it checked over for dangerous spells and such."
Still Ginny hesitated. "It's marked 'Private'. I really don't think I should open it," she said.
"It also says Urgent," reminded Kingsley.
Ginny nodded and carefully opened the letter. She read the opening lines, frowning. Her eyes skimmed to the bottom, then back to Kingsley. "It's from a woman named Maria Hunter. She said her mother passed recently and, while they were cleaning out her mother's flat, they found a box of her mother's sister's belongings. She writes, 'my aunt was one of you, a witch. She was murdered many years ago. I found a box of letters and photo albums belonging to her. The name Potter is mentioned often. I wondered if you would like to take a look, keep them or forward them if they mean something to somebody, anybody, in your world. You would need to come by soon though, I am leaving to return to Ireland, where I live. Please contact...' Ginny looked up. "There is a phone number and an address. I think the flat is somewhere near Bristol. Oh," she gasped, reading more. "She's leaving in three days time. Harry won't be back by then."
"You should go, then," encouraged Kingsley. "I can accompany you if you like."
"Thanks, but I'm sure you have more important things to do," teased Ginny. "I might see if Ron or one of my brothers will come with me. I wonder what the letters and photo albums will show."
"Did she mention who her aunt was?" asked Kingsley, curiously.
Ginny read again, nodding. "Marlene McKinnon."
0o0
"Hello, Jenny, wasn't it? I'm Maria," asked the young woman who opened the door.
"Hi, actually it's Ginny, Ginny Potter, and this is my brother Ron. My husband is Harry Potter," explained Ginny, as the woman opened the door to let them in.
"Harry," mused Maria. "I'm sure I read that name in a couple of letters. Yes, I'm sure there was one about his birthday, or something." She lead them to the lounge.
Ginny's heart beat faster. "His parents were James and Lily. They were, I believe, very good friends with your aunt."
"Now James and Lily's names I do remember," said Maria, sitting down. Ron and Ginny copied her, sitting opposite. "Those names feature in most of my aunt's letters, and in some of the photo albums."
"Really?" asked Ginny, trying not to get her hopes up too high.
Maria nodded, gesturing to a trunk near where Ron and Ginny sat. "This belonged to my aunt, I think it was sent to my mum after someone from your world told us she had died. My grandparents and uncle died that night, too. My mum told me she probably would have too, if she had been home that night," she explained sadly.
Ginny hitched a breath as she saw the trunk was one that young Marlene would have taken to Hogwarts.
"Your mother wasn't magical?" asked Ron.
Maria shook her head. "I forget what you call us, but no, my mum wasn't magical. My grandparents were, though. My mum, she died of cancer a month ago."
"I'm so sorry. When your family were killed, it was a horrible time in our world. So many witches and wizards were murdered by Death Eaters," said Ginny sadly.
Maria nodded. She gestured to the trunk. "Please, take a look inside. I-I'll give you some privacy, while I put the kettle on. I hope you haven't come all this way for nothing...but I couldn't just throw them away."
"Thank you," said Ron, knowing Ginny was itching to open the trunk.
Maria nodded and left. Ginny's eyes had barely left the trunk. "Accio trunk," said Ron, and the trunk ended up on the lounge between the two siblings.
Ginny ran her hand over the familiar school trunk. "If what I think, what I hope, is inside..."
Ron patted her shoulder. "Open it, Ginny."
With a deep breath, Ginny opened the trunk. She peered inside, spotting four of five photo albums and a whole pile of letters, tied together with a faded ribbon.
Ginny picked up the photo album on top. She opened it carefully. "Oh, it looks like it's from Marlene's Hogwart's days. Looks like she was a Gryffindor. Look, isn't that that our fireplace?" Ron nodded, seeing the familiar common room.
Ginny flicked through several pages. "It looks like these are taken from her fourth or fifth year onwards, as most of her friends look like they are fourteen or fifteen, I guess. Oh...it's Lily. Harry's mum," whispered Ginny, reverently.
Ron peered over her shoulder, as she turned a couple more pages over. "Is that, look, that's Harry's dad," he chuckled, " and Sirius. Look at their hair!"
Ginny looked up at Ron. "Do you know what this will mean to Harry?" she asked softly.
Ron nodded. "Everything."
Ginny picked up the letters. She slid the top one out and opened it, reading. A tear ran down her cheek. "Listen to this," she instructed Ron. "It's from August 1980, a letter to Amelia Bones," she exclained.
'I just went to see little Harry today. James is as proud as punch, of course. Sirius too, if you can believe it. He's the baby's godfather, and anyone would think he had a hand in Harry's conception, ha ha. Still, he is the cutest baby, a great combination of both James and Lily, with his black hair and Lily's green eyes.
Lily is still glowing. I can't believe both she and Alice had their boys just a day apart. Of course, we joked that they would grow up as best friends. But even as we were laughing about their future, it only made us more aware that there is a chance one of these two precious boys might be the one mentioned in the prophecy.
We have to end this, Amelia. Harry and Neville and all the children deserve a future. It's this thought that keeps me going. I still think we might have a double agent amongst us, and I think Sirius is beginning to believe me. Please be wary of who you talk to, there are so few of us that we can trust wholly.
If you get the chance, do go visit Lily and James and the baby. When I held Harry, I felt hope. Hope that he will grow up happy, never knowing the fear we live in daily, but just know how loved he is.
Hope we can catch up soon. Your friend,
Marlene.
Ginny folded the letter back up and put it back in its envelope, just as Maria returned with a tray bearing a tea pot, three cups and a plate of shortbread. She set it down on the coffee table, stopping when she saw Ginny brush tears away. "Oh. Would you like some more privacy," she offered.
Ginny shook her head. "No, it's fine, thank you, though. My, what a lovely tea set."
"It was my mum's," smiled Maria, beginning to pour. Ron took the first tea cup and two pieces of shortbread. "So did any names in the letters or albums sound familiar?" she asked.
Ginny nodded. "I only looked in one album, and it seemed to be of Marlene and her friends at Hogwarts...and yes, my husband's parents were in some of the photos that I saw. I also read one of her letters, and it mentioned your aunt visiting my husband's parents after the birth of their son, my husband, Harry," said Ginny.
"What happened to your in-laws?" asked Maria.
"They were murdered on All Hallow's Eve, both of them. My husband was only fifteen months at the time, but he survived and was sent to stay with his mother's sister. She was...non-magical, like you," explained Ginny.
"Does he even remember James and Lily?" asked Maria.
Ginny shook her head. "He has so few photos of them. All he has learnt of them are from other people's memories. He did get to know Sirius, his godfather...but he was killed too, a couple years later," finished Ginny, softly.
"Wow, he has had a hard life," realised Maria, completely unaware of just how much of an understatement her words were.
Ron nodded. "In the end, it fell to Harry to save our world when he was only seventeen. He's my best friend, and a great husband to my sister. His parents would be proud of the man he has become," he finished thickly, brushing a hand over his eyes.
Ginny patted his leg. "Harry now works as an Auror, kind of like a wizard police man. He's out of the country on an important assignment, otherwise he would be here with me today," said Ginny.
"So you definitely want to take the trunk?" asked Maria.
Ginny nodded. "Oh yes, please. You have no idea what this will mean for my husband."
Maria smiled. "Good, then I know I made the right decision to send that letter."
"Erm, would you like something for the trunk, some sort of compensation?" asked Ginny, unsure of the protocol.
Maria shook her head firmly. "Heavens, no. To be honest, if no-one responded to the letter, I would have thrown this all out. I can't take it back with me to Ireland."
"Trust me, it will be well looked after at ours," assured Ginny.
She and Ron stayed another half hour before leaving with the trunk. Ginny hugged Maria when she left, wishing her well for the future. The woman really had no idea of what she had just given Harry, but Ginny did.
0O0
Harry padded downstairs, glad to be home. He'd just got back from Spain, filled Robards in on the assignment, filed his report, then Flooed home, with the promise of three days off.
He saw Ginny sitting in the lounge; she had been quiet ever since he arrived home from the Ministry an hour ago.
"Gin? Love, is everything all right? What's your school trunk doing here?" he asked, standing near the sofa.
She turned to face him, patting the sofa next to her. "It's not mine. Come sit, Harry." He did, and she picked up his hand in hers. "While you were away, a letter came for you at the Ministry. Kingsley owled me because it was marked Private and Urgent," she said.
You opened it?" he asked. She nodded. He squeezed her hand. "Gin, it's fine, you're my wife. I can't imagine what it was, but I have no secrets from you."
"I know," she agreed. "I did open it. It was actually from a Muggle. She had this trunk," she gestured to it, " it was in her mother's house. It belonged to her mother's sister...Marlene McKinnon."
Harry sat up straighter. "They were killed before my parents, the whole family," he exclaimed.
Ginny shook her head. "Marlene's Muggle sister wasn't at the house that night," she explained.
"Sirius spoke of Marlene once, I think...or was it Hagrid? She was in the Order," said Harry.
Ginny nodded. "Maria was cleaning up her mum's flat and found the trunk. She looked through it, and found some stuff. She sent a letter to Mr Potter, care of the Ministry, because...the Potters are mentioned often in the letters and photo albums," she said slowly.
Harry's eyes widened as he realised what she was saying. His eyes flickered to the trunk, then back to her. "Have you...?"
Ginny nodded. "Maria had marked the letter urgent because she was returning to Ireland, where she lives. You wouldn't have made it back in time, so I went to see her, along with Ron."
"Good," exhaled Harry.
"We opened the trunk while we there," said Ginny. "I looked at one album and read one letter, and I knew I had to bring it home for you. After Ron left, I went through the rest of the photo albums. Oh, Harry..." Sorrow crossed her face.
Harry swallowed. "Is it...are they...?"
Ginny nodded. "The album I saw with Ron was when Marlene was at school. Harry, we saw your mum and dad, Sirius, Frank and Alice Longbottom. She was good friends with your parents, Harry."
He stared at her dumbly. She slid a particular album onto his lap. "There's a whole album on their wedding, Harry," she said softly. "There's photos of your mum and your dad; together. There's a photo of her, hugely pregnant with you, and your dad has his hand on her belly, his mouth is dropped open. I think he felt you kick him," she laughed, shakily.
His eyes searched hers, then looked at the album on his lap. "Really?" he asked, in barely a whisper.
Ginny nodded. "There's letters from Lily to Marlene, from Alice, from Sirius, even. Her friends were important to her, Harry. Your parents, Sirius, were important to her. You were important to her," she said quietly.
"I can't believe it," said Harry, running his hands through his hair.
Ginny nodded. "If I hadn't gone when I did, Maria said she was going to throw the whole lot out."
Harry exhaled. "It could have been lost forever," he realised. He hugged her hard. "Thank you."
She hugged him back, content to stay in his arms. "Harry, there's more. I didn't tell Ron, but in the bottom of the trunk, there was a video." She was familiar with tv's, dvd's and videos, thanks to Harry and Hermione's influence.
He stilled. "What was on it?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I haven't watched it. It's simply labelled 'The Potters'.
He sucked in a breath. "Will you watch it with me?"
"If you want me to," offered Ginny. He nodded, unable to speak. "I'll have to go to the Burrow, Dad's got the video player. Why don't I go now, give you some space to look at the albums and read the letters."
Harry nodded, picking up the album still in his lap. "I can't believe it," he repeated softly.
She stood and walked around the sofa. She encircled his neck from behind. "I'll take my time," she said softly. "Enjoy your parents, Harry." With that, she left via the Floo.
0O0
They sat in the dark as the home movies played on screen. Tears unashamedly ran down both their faces, as Harry and Ginny watched his younger self celebrate his first birthday.
Familiar names and faces flashed by. Sirius, a weary looking Remus, Amelia Bones, Hagrid. Even Bathilde Bagshot was there. Frank and Alice Longbottom were there, with Alice holding one year old Neville.
But all Harry saw was himself, surrounded by his parents. He saw them laughing, hugging and kissing each other, and himself, often.
"We were a family, a real family," he whispered, almost brokenly.
Ginny drew him close. "They loved you so much," she said. "Every time the three of you are on the screen, I can see it, feel it."
He nodded, smiling as Hagrid picked him up and tossed him in the air. Lily and Sirius shrieked in alarm, but little Harry simply giggled. 'Mo', mo', Hagid," he urged.
"That's my boy," announced James, proudly.
"His boy," said Harry softly, watching as James took little Harry from Hagrid. He set little Harry down, encouraging him to walk to his mother. They all cheered when Harry made it to Lily, who picked him and sat him in a chair, then she lit the candle on his birthday cake. They all began to sing the birthday song, James and Sirius the loudest of them all.
His mother kissed his cheek. "Make a wish, my darling," she said, and she helped him blow out the candle on his cake. Everybody cheered.
"Now open presents," urged Sirius. He thrust one under Harry's nose. "Mine first."
James helped him take the paper off, with Lily sighing as she saw what it was. "Sirius you didn't?" she scolded, as a broomstick was revealed.
" Course I did. My godson is going to be the best Chaser for Gryffindor, you'll see, Lil. Just like his dad," beamed Sirius. James nodded in agreement, then stood and moved away when someone called his name.
Alice Longbottom sat down next to Lily in James' abandoned seat. The two boys, Neville and Harry, babbled at each other, while Lily and Alice talked about general stuff.
Abruptly, the footage ended. Harry forwarded the video, but there was nothing more on there.
There was silence, then a heartfelt, "wow," from Harry.
"Are you okay, love?" asked Ginny.
He nodded. "I feel...sad, but happy. Sad for obvious reasons, but happy, because I got to see a part of their real, actual life. This was a day, an hour of their lives -"
"Of your lives," reminded Ginny. "You were there, too."
He nodded. "It was everything I ever thought a family would be like, before I met yours, of course. It was...brilliant."
"Maybe later we could show it to Neville," suggested Ginny.
Harry nodded, hugging her. "Thank you, Gin. I wish I could thank this Maria woman."
"I thought you might, so I got her address. We can write her a nice thank you letter," suggested Ginny," perhaps send her some flowers."
0o0
He did share the video and albums with Neville; the two men watching the video alone, together. They were both silent as they watched, no words were needed. Both were aware of how amazing it was to get this tiny glimpse of a life, of families, lost.
It wasn't the last time they watched the video. Often Ginny would find Harry watching it late at night, especially on his birthday. And years later, when their children asked questions about their Potter grandparents, Harry would get out the photo albums and video, proud to be able to show them a glimpse of what might have been.
James and Lily Potter would never be forgotten.
