Disclaimer:- Harry Potter belongs to J.K.R and I wouldn't have wrote this fanfic if she had just killed off Ginny Weasley instead of dear Bella.
AN:- Thanks for your review and favs. Keep them going.
Ch 14:- They Rest In Peace
Harry was lying on his back contemplating what he would do to his mindscape tomorrow. Bella was still on top of him as they had neglected to return to the house and slept on the beach instead. But sleep was hard for him today.
He had put his arms around Bella as she laid her head on his chest and slept peacefully. He enjoyed having her so close to him, so near and so content. Her slow breaths were like music to his ears. Her warmth against himself keeping him safe from the cold air. The way she held him, even in her sleep, made Harry smile. Her touch gave him tingles everywhere even after so many days and nights with her.
Harry would have frowned at the idea of sleeping with someone this close a month before. It would have felt preposterous. Never in his memory had he shared a bed with someone. Neither at the Dursleys, nor at Hogwarts. But now, it seemed so natural and genuine that Harry knew it would be impossible to sleep without her in future. He felt secure and at ease with her. She was like a guard to him, not only against some evil witches and wizards, but also against his own inner demons, defending him even while asleep. His fear, anxiety, tension, confusion and a whole lot of other emotions ran away when she was there with him. This gave him sleep after years of nightmares.
But tonight was different.
Not even Bella's company could rid him of the images he had seen that day. So close, yet so far away. Those faces, so determined to protect their son, frozen with the same expression forever. Harry had often thought about his parents and how they looked before coming to Hogwarts.
He had wished he could remember their faces, their interaction with each other and with himself but it wasn't possible.
Then the Mirror of Erised happened and his wish was granted. But then too, a doubt lingered that maybe, maybe it was how his subconscious thought of them. But those doubts vanished when Hagrid gave him his treasured photo album and he saw his parents holding him lovingly, his mother kissing his cheek and his father doting on him.
But still, they were just photos, not interactions. He couldn't have talked or listened to them. But he did. Even if they were only shades of his parents and even if they met him only for a few seconds, it remained true. Harry Potter met James and Lily Potter after the resurrection of Voldemort. That were the few most pleasant moments in an otherwise completely horrid affair. His parents had saved him again.
And Harry would have been happy with those few seconds of not being an orphan.
Never in his worst thoughts had he imagined that he would revisit the house where his beloved parents were killed mercilessly and actually see their dead bodies.
In his own mind.
He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised. Magic can do absolutely anything. It didn't matter whether you like it or not. Whether it had been expected or not.
And now, Harry was faced with the task of seeing it yet again tomorrow. He knew it was important to know and analyse your mindscape, organize it properly and then put security measures to defend against attacks. But he was afraid. Immensely so.
Bella had somehow supported him the first time and he was able to vent off his feelings while clinging to her desperately. He wasn't sure if he could do it again.
But it was necessary. So he would try. Hopefully, Bella would keep him safe yet again.
SCENE BREAK
Bella slowly opened her eyes and smiled. She was still draped comfortably over Harry as he held her tightly. It had been one of the best sleeps of her life. Cool night air. Hot Hot Harry. Best combination a girl could ask for. That thought gave her a pause. Girl? Hey, where did that come from. She was a grown up woman, not some little cute teenage girl.
She sighed internally. But Harry always made her feel so. Even her dreams were full of him. Oh, yes. Bella dreams now. Bella hadn't told Harry but it was drilled in all the Blacks to remain alert each and every moment. Even in sleep. Dreams were a rare commodity they couldn't afford. But with Harry, she becomes so young and carefree that the world, her age, nothing matters. Only Harry does and Bella does. Harry Bella. Bella Harry. Harry Bella…on the beach…alone…lalalalala…
And sleep. Sleep matters too. And she didn't want to wake up today. She was just about to close her eyes yet again when Harry spoke. There goes sleep.
"Morning, love."
She looked up and kissed him good morning.
"How did you know I was awake?" Bella asked him.
"Your breathing changed. I can identify it." He said simply.
Bella smiled and ruffled his hair. "You know me too good, Mr. Potter." She then lowered her head again and closed her eyes. "Lets sleep in today."
Harry chuckled. "You mean sleep out?"
"Hmmm…"
Harry blessed Bella in his mind. It seemed either she had forgotten about what had happened yesterday or she wanted to give Harry some time to get in grips with it. Hence, their Meditation and Occulumency could wait for a day.
She always did what was best for him.
As Bella slipped away to her dreams, Harry realized that it would be noon soon and the sands would become too hot. He would have to carry her to the mansion. Well, that wasn't bad. He knew he would enjoy carrying a sleepy Bella bridal style.
SCENE BREAK
The next day, Harry found himself on the beach with Bella, sitting cross-legged on the sands in their meditative positions. He was nervous and he knew Bella could see it plainly but she had yet to speak of what they were to do today regarding his attempts at Occulumency.
Bella finally gave rest to his thoughts as she put a hand on his shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze. "Look at me, Harry."
Harry turned to face her and looked her in the eyes. She touched his cheeks tenderly and said in a soft voice, "You are not alone, all right."
Harry gave a half hearted smile, "But I am. I'll have to do it alone here." He said pointing to his head with his index finger.
Bella smiled and said, "No, you don't. I'll help you. In there too." She said mimicking his action.
"How?" Harry asked. "You can't be in there with me, can you?"
"I can. If Snape can be in your mind, Tom can be there, I can too." She said, grinning a little.
Harry's eyes widened and he moved back a little. "Like Snape. No way." When Bella looked hurt, he realized what he'd done and quickly moved back closer to her. "Sorry, Bella. Its just that it wasn't pleasant when he was inside…"
"I know." She said softly. "I won't be vicious with you Harry. Snape was tearing apart your mind, I wish to make it whole. He wasn't in your mindscape, just in your memories. While you resisted him, I want you to help me and guide me. Can you trust me? Do you trust me?"
"I do. I trust you with my life, Bella." The answer was out of his mouth on its own accord. And he realized he did.
All his life, people tried to control him. His life, his thoughts, his emotions everything. And Harry resisted, whenever he could. He tried to remain his own man, as much as he could.
But with Bella, he had given her control on himself, knowingly and willingly. Absolute control. As he knew she would always do what was right for him. For they were one, for life.
Bella's gaze on him intensified and her eyes glazed over. Harry felt her gentle presence asking for permission to enter his mind and he gave it freely. Harry then, for the first time, tried to enter his meditative state while looking directly in her violet mesmerizing pools.
He felt himself being loosened up and freed. He opened his eyes, never remembering closing them.
And there it was. The same house. All broken and wrecked. A soft hand touched him from behind and he figured he wasn't alone this time. But he didn't turn. He knew his father lied behind his back.
Bella came forward and embraced him gently. "We are together. Don't worry."
Harry brought his own hands up and returned the hug. He closed his eyes for a moment and prepared himself for what he was about to do. Bella's presence and her tight protective hold gave him enough help, as it was.
He opened his eyes and pulled back. Bella put an arm around him as he did around her. He slowly turned and looked at his father's sprawled form.
His eyes moistened but he held his tears.
Bella slowly guided him forwards. His steps were slow, reluctant but he somehow moved closer and reached him. He kneeled down beside his head and touched his father for the first time in his life.
Harry had imagined this moment several times over the years but it wasn't quite like this. His father was always alive then, smiling and ruffling his hair back. But he remained still today. His skin was warm, not quite cold like bodies ought to be. After all, it was supposed to be that same night of horror. Of pain.
Harry picked up the two pieces of his father's broken wand lying near him. He wished it could have at least remained unbroken. To his surprise, the wand warmed up in his hands and the two pieces mended themselves up. Red sparks flew from the wand as if it was real.
Harry looked up to Bella for explanation and she smiled sadly. "Its your mind Harry. You are here to correct what is wrong. That wand mended itself because you wished it could."
"Then, Can-Can I wish they..."
Bella understood what he was asking and replied sadly, "No, I don't think so. A wand is an object, Harry. You hold a little power over those things. Your parents were people. Even if you somehow managed to…animate…them. They'll be just that…animations."
Harry nodded and put the wand in his pocket.
"The-en wh-what am I supposed to do with them?" He asked hating his quivering voice. He had to be strong. He couldn't break down like yesterday.
"Bury them. We'll do a funeral for them. Outside the cottage."
Harry understood. They were dead bodies and they weren't supposed to lie like that. They were supposed to be buried, paid proper respects and remembered forever. For they were our loved ones once.
Harry got up with Bella by his side and moved forward towards the stairs. With each step of his, his mother's last smile was flashing through his mind. It was like a video being played. Literally. A series of scenes were, floating, in front of him. Each one of them showed her smile. In all his imaginations, in those photographs, in that mirror, in that graveyard, and the last one which he would be again seeing soon.
They finally reached the door to the room which had haunted his nightmares for so many years. Bella tightened her grip on his hand. He was grateful for it, since it was taking too much to remain steady.
When he couldn't lift his hand despite several tries, Bella took pity on him and pushed open the door.
She was almost dragging him forward since his feet felt stuck. No matter how many times he saw her like this, he would always break. And he did.
Same tears from tomorrow returned. Harry slid downwards and took his mother's head in his lap. His cries and howls of sorrow reverberated through the broken walls as he longed for his mother. He clung to her desperately but just like his father, she too remained still.
But that smile, that lovely beautiful smile, never left her face.
Bella never noticed her own tears while she rubbed and drew soothing circles on Harry's back. Her heart broke at seeing him such a state and she wished to comfort him anyway she could but she was helpless. She couldn't do what she did yesterday when his mother lied in front of him. She couldn't stop his tears this time. She couldn't kiss them away.
After a long long time when Harry had no tears left to spare, he gently kissed his mother's forehead and closed her still opened green eyes. He lifted her up and carried her downstairs where his father lied.
Bella conjured a soft mattress for them and Harry laid them both on it.
Harry then moved out the front door of the hall as Bella followed him and to the gardens outside. The ground was full of grass and big and small plants. Several flowerpots were carefully arranged to give a scenic look to the external part of the property. It felt like it was cared for.
One could not tell the condition of the house itself from outside.
Harry walked to the middle of the grass and took out his wand. He then conjured a shovel and Bella understood what he was doing. She too did the same and went to his side.
They both dug the ground side by side in silence. They weren't digging separate graves, instead one grave big enough for both his parents. Harry wanted them to rest together and watch over him as they gave him strength and courage from inside.
James and Lily Potter were lowered to rest together for eternity in their son's mind and soul.
"They would be here Harry. With you, always." Bella finally said as the gravestone was completed. It read
Here Rest
Lily and James Potter
My lovely Mum and My Brave Father
And My In Laws
Thank You For Giving Me Harry
Harry pulled her closer and shed some final tears on his parents grave. Bella gave a wave of her wand and some lilies appeared as an offering.
"I hope they wouldn't mind me as their daughter-in-law." She said longingly.
Harry couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Even now, she knew what to say to lift his spirits.
"They'll love you."
"How do you know?" she asked him.
"I know. They'll love you because they love me and I love you." He said smiling.
He looked towards them one last time and asked, "Won't you? Mum, Dad."
A gentle wind passed as soon as the words were out of his mouth and Harry Potter knew their answer.
He grabbed Bella by the shoulders and closed his eyes. Willing for them both to be outside, he took them out of his mindscape.
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