Chapter 21:

Harry tripped dizzily over his legs when he appeared next to Remus in an alleyway between two houses. Remus laughed and wrapped Harry's arm around his shoulder so he had something to lean on. "I warned you. It'll wear off in less than a moment."

"Where are we?" Harry asked still to dizzy to completely get a sense of his surroundings.

"We are in Godric's Hollow."

"As in Godric Gryffindor?"

"Yes, this was his hometown and yours."

Harry suddenly fully oriented looked at Remus in surprise. "I lived here?"

"That's the reason we're here. I thought you might like to see your old house and visit your parents."

"They're buried here?"

"Yes, not far away. Godric's Hollow has had wizards and muggles for centuries. Your old house was preserved by wizards but muggles can't see it. A few houses down lives the author of A History of Magic, Bathilda Bagshot. In this town the first snitch was created. It's had almost as much wizarding history as Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. You and your parents one of the bigger and most famous events."

Harry looked at Remus still a bit shocked, this whole thing settling in. "I'll get to visit them. I've never even thought about it, never even thought I could. I'll get to see my home, where Voldemort did it? Where I defeated him the first time?"

"All of that Harry. I think we'll start with the Graveyard. You've waited to say something to them for long enough."

Together they walked through the town blending in with the muggle families walking through the streets. Remus pulled Harry towards the village square not far from the church in front of them was a war memorial. It had the names of a bunch of muggles. Then suddenly it transformed. It was no longer an obselisk but a statue of three familiar people. Harry gasped and walked closer. He looked at his parents faces and the statue of his baby self, happy with no scar.

"The wizards in the town did this. To the muggles it's still a war memorial."

"It's nice," Harry decided.

"Come," Remus said. "We have more to see and not a lot of time."

Harry was led through a kissing gate by Remus. They walked together to the rows of tombstones. Harry looked through them. "Abbott. There's a girl in my class with that name."

"Like I said Harry," Remus smiled sadly, "Godric's Hollow has been home to a lot of wizards."

They kept walking through the rows of tombstones when Harry spotted another familiar name. Kendra Dumbledore and Her daughter Ariana. He looked at it curiously while Remus wondered why he stopped. He looked down at the tombstone and frowned. "That's Professor Dumbledore's sister and mother. He doesn't talk about them. His brother Aberforth still works in Hogsmeade."

Harry couldn't really imagine Dumbledore with a family. Especially one that had lived here, like him in Godric's hollow. Remus put his hands on Harry's shoulder and walked him forward two rows. The headstone was made of white marble and was easy to read. Harry frowned. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. What does that mean?"

"It's not like living forever. It means that they are living beyond death, still here with us. They're still watching."

"Yeah," Harry agreed kneeling to the gravestone. Remus turned away to give Harry some privacy. "Um hi Mum, hi Dad. I'm sorry I haven't visited. I really wanted to honest, it's just Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon didn't even tell me I was a wizard till Hagrid came last summer. It was then I learnt your names and what happened. That was my birthday last year. It's my birthday again today. I'm 12 now. I miss you. A lot."

Harry ignored the hot tears on his face and sniffled. He didn't bother wiping them just letting them all fall. "I want to thank you. I'm here because of you both. Voldemort's still alive somehow and still after me but you protected me. I hope you're proud of me; I faced him this year. I tried to be brave like both of you. I think you would be proud from what I've seen. I've been having dreams you know, about you and my life before Voldemort. I wish he hadn't been after us and you were still here. People have been telling me a lot about you. I know that so I think you should know more about me."

Harry continued to tell his parents about his year, his friends and his entire life. He traced their names on the gravestone as he did letting his tears fall. After twenty minutes Remus walked over and handed him a handkerchief. "You alright Harry?"

In reply the 12 year old hugged him. That surprised Remus. Harry had never been very touchy. He hugged the child back letting him cry into his shoulders. "I hope this helped."

"It did," Harry nodded. "Thank you."

"I find it helps too. I come and talk to them quite often. One second."

Remus drew his wand and looked around. Swishing it around he conjured some lilies. "I think your parents would enjoy those."

Harry sniffled again hugging Remus in thanks again. Remus smiled and held his hand. "Come on Harry, we've got one last stop."

Harry was walked through the village towards a mostly empty part of the neighbourhood. In front of him and Remus was a visible house covered with ivy. Surrounding the building was waist high grass scattered with rubble. It was the missing pieces of the top floor which had been blasted apart.

"Did no one rebuild it?"

"Because this is a monument to your parents and yourself. Watch."

Remus walked forward and touched the gate. In front of them was a sign rising out of the ground. Harry read the inscription and looked under it. There were inscriptions and names. Some signed in what he recognized as everlasting ink, others were carved in. Others were written as graffiti. Harry smiled as he read them.

"I'm not always happy about the graffiti but I think their messages are appreciated," Remus chuckled. "Most are thanking you and your parents. A lot wish you luck."

"Yeah, I think it's brilliant."

Remus looked at his watch. "I really wish we had more time but we should be getting back."

"Thank you Remus," Harry said quite sincerely. "It was nice to see them, to talk to them."

"Good. Now grab my arm."

Harry did so once again letting the uncomfortable twisting sensation of apparition overtake him. Then following Remus again they walked through the empty streets of Hogsmeade back up towards the castle for their lunch.