the reason i write this story now, is because i've finally made my peace with my dad being gone.

i was working late at a diner a month ago. when my mother, Ginny, came by.

"hey mom, what can i get you?" i asked her taking out my pen and paper out.

"nothing Albus, sit down. i want to talk to you." she said firmly.

i did as i was told.

mom always was a force of nature.

"you constantly beat yourself up about something you had no control over. you're smart enough to learn to become a teacher at Hogwarts, maybe even Headmaster one day. but instead your wasting your life in this place. why?" she told me.

i didn't have an awnser.

"ever since your father died you haven't had that some love for life anymore like you did before. i want to let you know strait up, your father did not leave this earth wanting you to be unhappy. think about when you get home." she said.

she grabbed her purse and walked out.

before i finished my ship i noticed a young woman sitting in a booth listening to a Green Day song and waiting for her order.

"can i help you?" i asked her politely.

"oh no thanks, i'm just waiting for my brother to get here. we come here every year on this date and have a couple shakes, while we listen to Green Day songs." she explained with a happy smile.

"why?" i asked her.

"Well you see my daddy passed when i was 7 and my brother was 18. and he would always take me and him out here for milkshakes. it's our little way of... paying tribute to him and remembering all the wonderfull times we spent with him." she said that beautiful smile still on her face.

i couldn't help think to myself for a moment, ya know i've never had a girlfriend. and she seems like she'd understand what i've been through. and then i asked her "does that have anything to do with listening to Green Day?"

"yes, my father, brother and I, always loved Green Day. so i always play it while we wait." she explained.

i stood there and thought to myself, how can i be so pathetic? she lost her dad when she was 6 years younger than when i lost mine, and i'm still whining and moaping about all the crap in my life? i looked up and thought, alright i get the point, God. thanks.

"ya know what thank you, you've really made me think about things." i said taking off my apron.

"hey Al." said my boss, "ya can't take that off yet, it's still your shift."

"sorry Joe, it's not. i'm quitting." i explained, "thanks for the job, and the support. but i don't need this anymore."

"huhn? i'm glad kid, your too smart for this crap." he said with a smile.

"thanks Joe." i said to my now former boss, i turned to the girl and said "you wanna go out sometime?"

"i'd love to." she said enthusiastically.

"you were a Ravenclaw weren't you?" i asked slyly.

"yep, i was." she replied quickly.

"awesome, i was a Hufflepuff." i said still sly.

"what in the world is that?" she said sarcastically.

"good one. i'll see ya later, enjoy your shakes." i said as i walked out to my car.

i drove to the cemetary where my dad was burried.

i stood my knees at my dad's grave and said "thanks old man. i owe ya one."

"your darn right ya do." said a voice.

i didn't know who it was, but i knew i'd finally gotten past everything. i'd finally woken up when september ended.