A Mother's Thankful Heart

Summary: Mother's Day after the Battle of Hogwarts would be one Lily would remember for the rest of her life. Because despite the loss and despair that came after the war was over, she still had her son too.

AN: I know in the UK Mother's Day is in March. But for the sake of my stories, it's in May. Takes place a week after the Battle of Hogwarts.

Lily woke up before the sun on the second Sunday in May. She sat up slowly, careful not to disturb James sleeping beside her. She glanced at the clock on her nightstand which informed her it was six in the morning. She turned herself around to get up out of bed, heading to the bathroom first before heading on downstairs. As she washed her hands, she wondered what the plans were going to be that day when it dawned on her what that day was.

It was Mother's Day. The first after the war.

It hit her just how many people would never celebrate this day or be around to celebrate this day again. She thought of Andromeda who lost her only daughter. Her heart broke when she remembered a few weeks ago after Teddy was born how excited Andromeda for Tonks to celebrate her first Mother's Day, wondering what Remus would do to make the day special for her. She thought of Teddy who in the future would have no one to celebrate this day with, that is unless he chooses to honor Ginny as his godmother. No doubt Harry would help him in that.

She thought of Molly and how even though she had six other children, this would a day Fred's loss would be felt the most to Molly, coming to maybe a close second to Fred and George's birthday. She couldn't imagine the pain Molly felt of losing a child. It reminded her of something she heard her mother say, 'if you lose to your spouse, you're a widow. If you lose your parent, you're an orphan. But no word describes a parent losing a child."

The pain was unimaginable to Lily. Only it wasn't really. She had felt it for what felt like an eternity when they thought Harry was dead. Lily couldn't find the words to describe it. She had blocked out the sound she made after Voldemort had announced Harry was dead. But James had admitted he still heard it in his head.

She remembered falling to the ground, her knees giving out. Sirius and James had caught her, holding her up until James got a good hold of her, pulling her into his arms as she sobbed into his shoulder.

It wasn't until she heard him say 'Thank Merlin' that she turned around to find her son was alive.

She had let herself be pulled back into the battle, fighting off Death Eaters. Then things calmed down and were silent, only hearing the sounds of Harry and Voldemort battling. It wasn't until Harry stepped back into the Great Hall that Lily found herself running towards him, James and Sirius behind her.

When she reached her son as people had stepped back to allow them to Harry first, she had started to pull him into an embrace only for her son to beat her to it.

Much later after things had settled down and they returned home to Potter's Cottage that Harry had admitted he worried about her the most with the whole Muggle Born thing going on. Lily managed to avoid being questioned and detained, mainly thanks to James.

As Lily left the bathroom, she stopped at the bed to slip on her dressing gown and slippers before heading out the bedroom door.

She approached Harry's room first before going downstairs. She pushed open the door to find the room empty. The bed had been slept in judging from the state of his sheets and lightweight quilt.

Noise from the kitchen made her look down to the first floor from the doorway of Harry's room.

Sighing in relief, she turned to head downstairs.

"What was that?"

Lily jumped at the voice, turning to see Sirius standing in the doorway of the guestroom he usually stayed in. Hestia was helping those Muggleborn parents move out of hiding. She had volunteered to be one of the guards and would return that morning. She had been notified by Sirius himself that it was all over. Of course, she asked about Harry. Sirius replied by turning the mirror to his right to show Harry. Hestia cried upon seeing that Harry was okay, warning him he was in for a big hug when she arrived at the Potters.

Harry took it all in stride.

"Harry's downstairs or I hope it's Harry."

Sirius pulled out his wand, pushing Lily behind him muttering 'James would kill me if I let something happen to you' and they began to walk downstairs. Slowly they approached the kitchen.

"It's just me, you two," Harry called, having heard them coming down the stairs.

Lily walked in first. "How did you…?"

"I guessed," Harry said. "I knew it was either you and Sirius or you and Dad, or Dad and Sirius."

Sirius peeked in long enough to say 'I'm going back to bed.'

Lily walked around the counter heading for the kettle. "I know where he's going. He's going to my room and crawl in bed with James. They did that in school….and when he and James got their first flat together with Remus…and after your Dad and I moved in together."

Harry paused opening the oven door. "Ron and I have done the same thing. We shared a bed a few times over the last nine months. Usually, he and Hermione slept together and you can guess when Ron slept with me."

Lily smiled. "I think I do." She smoothed down the back of Harry's hair as she headed to the kettle, picking it up. She filled it with water before placing it on the stove. "So what has you up so early?"

"Isn't today Mother's Day?" Harry asked, picking up an oven mitt to pull a tray of scones out of the oven.

Lily realized why Harry was up and making scones. Every year on Mother's Day since he could cook, he made breakfast. Before then, he helped James cook breakfast. Until Lily and Harry went to Hogwarts, Lily was served breakfast in bed. Then the tradition changed to James and Harry made breakfast and served her at the table, especially when they decided to make pancakes or French toast.

Harry had sneaked down to her quarters for the last two years to make her breakfast. He was a good cook. Lily couldn't help but pat herself on the back for doing a good job teaching him. He even cooked on occasions at home when he was on break, once even cooked Ginny dinner when she and James decided to go out for a night out. That was last summer before things went even further south. Before the wedding, before the Ministry falling, before everything that had happened over the last nine months.

"Mum?"

Lily was brought back to the present at Harry's voice. She approached her son, pulling him into a side embrace, kissing the side of his head, noticing she needed to stand on tiptoes to do it without straining.

"Yes, it is."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Hestia opened the back door to the Potters, entered the kitchen, and without a word to anyone, pulled Harry into an embrace. Harry glanced at Sirius over her shoulder, who smiled softly.

"I'm so glad you're alright," Hestia said.

"Hope Mum doesn't mention the injuries and the new scars," Harry thought.

Sirius watched as Hestia stepped back before embracing Lily in a tight hug.

The floo flared in the sitting room. They knew who it was when James said 'Hi Ginny'. Harry turned just as his girlfriend entered the foyer, approaching him. Her eyes were filled with tears.

Wordlessly, Harry held his arms out for her. She walked into them, laying her head against his shoulder.

"What happened?"

"Mum refused to leave her and Dad's room. She said she wasn't in the mood to celebrate or to honor her. Ron took Hermione out somewhere and I asked Dad if I could come over. I just couldn't….." She trailed off.

Harry pressed a kiss to her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. "It's okay. Did you get to give her the present you got?"

Ginny nodded. "She let us do that, but nothing else. I made breakfast and we took it up to her. She didn't want it."

Lily approached the couple, patting Harry's shoulder before laying a hand on Ginny's back.

"You're welcome to join us, dear," She said. "Harry's made enough food I think."

Ginny looked up. "You cooked?"

"Of course, you know Dad can't and Sirius can but he's a disaster in the kitchen."

"OI! I heard that!"

"I am not!"

"You are too Sirius Black," Hestia retorted.

Harry led Ginny into the kitchen. "Help me move this to the table."

"You do remember you can use magic for this right?" Ginny asked.

Harry stopped. "Oh yeah, I can." He waved his wand to send the roast chicken, roasted potatoes, carrots, and green beans to the table. He sent the plates as Ginny carried the pitcher of lemonade.

"What happened with Dobby?" Ginny asked.

"He wants to work in the kitchens until Hermione graduates. Then he'll go to work with her on her House Elves reform. She'll need someone who can speak the language and you know Dobby would be more than willing."

"True," Ginny agreed.

As they sat down at the table in the rarely used dining room, James looked around before meeting eyes with Lily.

"It's good to be home. I missed you all especially you love," Hestia said, turning to Sirius at the end, kissing his cheek.

"I missed you too, Hessie," Sirius replied.

"Sorry I'm…."

"Hestia, it's okay. It's only right to have you here too. Harry and I talked about it Friday before I went to the shop. Since you're his godmother it's only right to celebrate you too." Lily smiled at her friend. "We always did."

"Okay, so are we going to eat or what?" James asked.

Plates were passed around, platters were exchanged, and light conversation broke over discussing the immediate changes Kingsley had made in his short time in office.

"Who's taking his place as Head Auror? You, James?" Hestia inquired.

"No," James replied, hastily. "Gawain is. He has a few years in more than I do and I passed it over. I'm stepping down as Deputy Head Auror, moving down to Senior Auror. Instead, I'm moving on to be Head of the detectives, the whole division."

"Congratulations James, I know you'll be the right man for the job," Hestia commented.

"Speaking of the Aurors, Harry what did you decide?" Sirius inquired.

"I'm taking Kingsley's offer to join the Aurors, only I'll start in September," Harry replied, before taking a bite of potato.

"Really?" Hestia glanced at Lily who nodding, smiling. "You would be great at that. I think I still have that picture of you in James's old uniform Lily has shrunk to fit you. It's hard to believe you're going to be an Auror."

"So does this mean we'll have the summer?" Ginny asked.

"We will," Harry assured her. "We're going to the coast in June and I wanted to know if you would like to go."

"I've already talked to Arthur and Molly. They're okay with it or Arthur was."

"Mum would be fine with it. She is with Ron going with Hermione to get her parents."

"They're leaving tomorrow aren't they?" Harry asked.

Ginny nodded. "I know she came up with a story with her parents on why they went to Australia and they moved there since they're thinking about getting a second home in Australia."

"I heard Hermione mention it a time or two," Lily added. "I know Jane said it was one of the places she always wanted to go to."

"Speaking of places you've always wanted to go to, didn't you want to go to Ireland to see the place your family is from?" James asked.

"I would like to. Nan went back after she and Granddad got married and a few times when Mum was growing up. Mum always wanted to take me and Petunia but she never got to because Dad couldn't afford it."

James reached over, squeezing her hand.

"Do you know where?"

"Galway, Granddad always called Nan his Galway Girl." Lily smiled.

"When would you like to go?" James asked.

"I don't know, maybe next year?"

James glanced at Harry. "What about this year?"

Lily's head shot up, looking between her husband and son. "What are you talking about, James?"

Harry summoned an envelope, handing it to Lily. "Happy Mother's Day Mum."

"You're in trouble if this is what I think it is." Lily opened the envelope to find two tickets to Dublin, rental car information, and a map to Galway.

"I thought since the war is over and it's something you've wanted to do for a while so I thought….." Harry didn't finish before Lily stood up, pulling her son into a tight embrace.

"Thank you," Lily murmured as she pressed a kiss to the side of Harry's head. "How?"

Harry glanced over at James. "I had help."

Lily looked over at James. "When do we go?"

"July," James replied. "Two weeks at the first of the month, we'll be back in plenty of time for Harry's birthday."

Lily kissed Harry's cheek. "I love it, sweetheart. Thank you."

"Don't kill me, but I got you something else," Harry said, handing her a box James had summoned for him. Lily took it, opening it slowly.

"Harry," She breathed when she saw the small hoop earrings. Ginny had helped him pick them out when she went with him to London one day this past week. "I love them. They're beautiful."

She pulled Harry into a side hug which Harry turned into a full hug. Lily wrapped her arms tightly around him, closing her eyes as she inhaled the scent of his woodsy soap and his shampoo. She opened them slowly glancing at James. As she held her son, she felt even more thankful that she still had her son.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

James and Lily left to head to the respective cemeteries their parents were buried to put flowers on their graves while Hestia and Sirius went to her mother's grave. Harry stayed behind to clean up the kitchen, do the dishes, and clean the dining room. Ginny stayed to help him clean up. Since Harry could clean up with magic, it didn't take long to clean up. But there were some things Lily preferred to clean the Muggle way like the china they used for occasions like that day.

Harry had finished washing the last dish when he felt arms wrapping around his waist.

"I have you told you what a softie you are?"

"You've mentioned it a time or two," Harry said drying his hands. He turned around, tossing the towel into the drainer, kissing Ginny's nose before she stood on her tiptoes to properly kiss him.

"I think she loved the trip idea. Did James mention her wanting to go to Ireland?"

"She's mentioned it a time or two. I overheard her talking to Hestia about it once. When I brought the idea up to Dad loved it. He'll be using his accumulated vacation and sick days he needs to use up before he starts his new job in August which is when Darren is retiring. He's the current detective head. He'll help Dad with the transition once they're back from Ireland. The guys know Dad and he'll be good at it. Gawain asked Dad if he wanted it when he told him he would step down as Deputy Head."

"Who's taking his place?"

"Gawain hasn't announced it yet, he said he would be making his decision by the end of the month. It would take him that long to review the veteran Aurors files. He said he wanted to pick someone who had been there for a while."

Ginny leaned her head against Harry's shoulder. "So would you go straight to being an Auror or would you be a trainee?"

"We'll be Junior Aurors which is what an Auror is following training. We might have a few training sessions to learn standard procedures but nothing too serious."

Ginny smiled. "What about Sirius? What's he going to do?"

"He's returning to the Auror office when Dad does next week. Mum thinks it's too soon, but I think it's so Dad can get his mind off things."

"I think that's why Dad stays in the shed most of the time. When he's not in the shed, he's with Mum until she asks for some time alone."

Harry nodded. "Mum's the same way. Andromeda wanted the day with Teddy today but she wants us to come over tomorrow. She has business to take care of….."

"Okay, I'll meet you here in the morning around nine?" Ginny suggested.

"That's fine. I'll make breakfast if you want."

Ginny looked up at her boyfriend. "Are you trying to butter me up for something, Potter?"

"Is it working?" Harry asked, smirking.

Ginny smiled cheekily pulling Harry's neck down. "Of course it is."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Lily sighed as she looked out one of the windows of her bedroom. She looked at the night sky, noticing how clear it was. She looked behind her at James, sleeping soundly. She turned, heading out of the room going in the direction of Harry's room. She knew she didn't need to but she had made a habit since they returned home to check on Harry at night before she went to bed. She didn't need to, but it was something that eased her mind and helped her settle for the night. Harry never knew she was there unless he was still awake.

Sirius had gone home with Hestia when they returned to the Potters after visiting her mother's grave. She made a mental note to remember to wash the sheets in the morning with the duvet cover. She had stripped the bed when he left with his stuff so they were ready in the morning.

She approached her son's room, peeking in the cracked open door. Harry was asleep, quilt in a bundle at his feet, with only the blanket he had thrown on the back of the armchair for cover.

She slipped in quietly, tucking the blanket around him, not too tightly as it would end up at the foot of his bed or on the floor by morning. She watched her son sleep for a moment before she bent down to kiss his forehead.

"Good night sweetheart, I love you."

She watched her son sleep for a minute more before she turned to head towards the door. With her hand on the doorknob, she turned back to look at her son one more time, her mother's heart thankful that this wasn't a sorrow-filled Mother's Day. As the years passed she looked back on this Mother's Day remembering it as the Mother's Day she could have lost.