Everything felt heavy. A tiny light shone in the distance. It grew brighter as the load began to lighten. He blinked.
He was in a bright room, but could not make out any of its features. It took him a few seconds to realize this because his glasses were off. He tried to sit up, but his body still felt too heavy.
"Harry!" A small figured with dark brown hair jumped up and wrapped her arms around him. Tears came to his eyes as Rosie sobbed into his chest.
"Miss Potter, please remove yourself from your brother. We can't overexert him until tomorrow." Professor Dumbledore came into view at the end of his bed and offered his hand to Rosie to help her down. A healer stood nervously in the doorway, but left with a nod from Dumbledore. "Rosalie, you are free to stay and hear what happened to your family, but I'm not sure you want to," Dumbledore said, looking grave.
Rosie pulled a chair up to Harry's bedside and grabbed his hand. "As you wish," he said. "Harry, I am afraid that I must be the one with the unfortunate task of telling you that your mother and stepfather have been murdered by Lord Voldemort."
At this, Rosie buried her head in Harry's blankets and Harry felt his own eyes well up with tears. "It is also my task to inform you that your father is alive. He has been for all the years you believed him dead. He revealed himself to your mother a few years ago, but at her request, continued to remain hidden from you and your sister. He-"
"Why didn't he tell me? Couldn't he write or…or show up with Mum wasn't home, or at Hogwarts! Why did my mother lie to me?"
"Harry, I do not want your last memories of your mother to view her as a liar. She was doing her best to protect you and your sister. Your father's return would have greatly confused you, and she had already married Remus. Do not blame your mother for this, Harry. Do not blame your father or step-father. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded. "So are Rosie and I going to live with him now?" he asked.
Dumbledore sighed. "I am going to let you choose. You can stay in your house with your father, or you can go to your Aunt and Uncle in Surrey. Rosie has explained to me that she will go wherever you choose to go. I do not ask you to make a decision now, but soon, Harry."
He could feel the hot tears running down his face now, and he didn't care that Dumbledore was seeing them.
"I would like to explain to you now exactly why you survived Lord Voldemort's attack, though these are only my assumptions. Your mother had a choice, Harry. I am not sure if you were conscious enough to remember." He paused while Harry shook his head. He could not remember anything after he closed the hidden door behind Rosie. "Voldemort offered to spare her life in return for yours. She sacrificed herself to save you, and succeeded."
"But Professor Dumbledore, how did Voldemort know where to find me?" Harry asked. Rosie had stopped crying, but her eyes were still red.
Light from the window was falling into Harry's eyes, causing him to squint. Dumbledore crossed the room and closed the blinds. "When your father came back years ago, and your mother told him to leave, the Fidelius Charm protecting your family was broken, just like your family. I understand that your mother explained the Prophecy to you last year?" Again, Harry nodded, but Rosie looked confused. She had not been there when Lily and Remus had told him about the prophecy. "I'm sure Harry will explain it to you later."
They heard a knock at the door and James entered. Harry wanted to say something, but his voice caught in his throat. James, too, looked as though he had been crying. "Hi," he said with a sob.
"I will leave you alone for the moment, and I will need to speak to you in a bit, James." Dumbledore bowed his head and left the room.
"Harry, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault! I tried to hard to talk to you, and when there was something really wrong, your mother didn't believe me! I'm so sorry!" He sat down, his head in his hands, in Dumbledore's empty chair.
Rosie stared at James. He looked almost exactly like Harry, but Rosie didn't recognize him. She had been very small when James had disappeared, and even when they knew he was alive, he was always working. She shied away from him toward Harry. His unshaven appearance made him look almost frightening.
She tugged on Harry's pajama sleeve and looked at him pointedly. "Dad…can Rosie and I talk alone for a minute?"
James wiped his face, muttering, and left the room again.
"I don't want to go with him!" Rosie exclaimed, fear in her eyes. "I don't remember him at all. I don't know him. I know I said I'd follow you, but I don't want to go with him. I miss Mum and Dad!"
"I know, Rosie. I don't want to go either."