Sakura
By Frog-Princess
(ginny@darkcastle.com)
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me except the music box and the plot; people, places etc. are property of J. K. Rowling.
A/N: This chapter may be a bit confusing, but it's full of fluff for those of you H/G shippers. =) I didn't write this trying to be realistic, so please don't mention how this or that wouldn't work out; I've already mentioned that. Please read and review. Constructive criticism is fine, but please don't leave flames, for they shall be bottled and / or extinguished, muahaha.
Epilogue
At the age of nineteen, much had happened in Harry's short life. He'd had numerous encounters with dark magic, and had lost several of his classmates. There was much cause for grief. But he was determined to overcome all the hardship he'd struggled through in his youth.
He saw his best friends nearly every day. He was still playing Quidditch. He was quite young, but very much in love, and engaged to his girlfriend of three and a half years. The date of their marriage was drawing nearer, and the wedding ceremony was to take place in a little less than a month.
There was only one thing that he could never get over... his parents would have wanted to be at his wedding.
The Weasleys would be coming, all of them - Arthur and Molly; Bill, Charlie, Percy, and the twins with their families; and then Ron and Hermione. Everything else would be wonderful... but Harry longed to be surrounded by his family. The losses of classmates at Hogwarts, the second and final downfall of the Dark Lord - it had all left him so confused, and he was thinking more and more about his parents lately. He would never have any closure.
Harry stood with his arms wrapped around his fiance. She leaned back against him comfortably, admiring the thin silver band on her finger. He gave her a gentle squeeze before turning her around to face him.
"Ginny," he said softly. "I want to go to Godric's Hollow." He gazed at her intently as she watched him with her soft brown eyes.
"Godric's Hollow," Ginny repeated softly. "Are you sure, Harry? You haven't been back there for at least three years..."
"I know," said Harry. "But I think I've got to go back now. I can't explain it." He paused. "Like maybe I'm... supposed to go back." Ginny was going to think he was insane! "Will you come with me?"
But Ginny only nodded, biting her bottom lip. "We'll go this afternoon. Is that okay?"
"...Thanks, Gin."
"This is it," said Harry, gazing at the spot where his old house had once stood. "This is where it happened..."
"I wish they could come, too," Ginny murmured, patting Harry's arm.
"Sometimes I wonder what they'd think if they were here."
Ginny smiled and smoothed down a few tufts of Harry's unruly jet black hair. She could barely reach anymore; he'd gotten so much taller. She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I know exactly how they'd feel."
"And how's that?"
"They'd take one look at you and immediately know you were their son. Harry, they'd be so proud." She gave him a small peck on the cheek.
The summer heat was getting to them, so Harry and Ginny sat down in the shade of a tree. The leaves rustled over their heads. They continued to talk quietly for a few minutes until Ginny noticed something a few feet away from where they sat.
"What is it?" she asked. She and Harry got up to see. Harry brushed away a fallen leaf and lifted a wooden box out of the tall grass. He looked uncertainly at Ginny before opening it. "Maybe someone lost it," he suggested, examining the box closely. "Perfectly intact... looks brand new, actually."
He lifted the lid, and, as if on cue, soft, beautiful music began to play on its own. Inside the box was a single piece of paper, with three words scrawled across the middle:
For my Lily.
Harry swallowed and went pale. He looked back at Ginny.
"Ginny," he whispered. "I think this belonged to my mum."
Her eyes widened and she let out a small gasp. "But... but how do you know?" Harry showed her the note. Ginny raised a hand to her mouth as she read it.
After a moment, Harry took one last look at the note and put it back inside the box. "Take it," he said, offering the box to Ginny. Ginny shook her head. "Harry... I couldn't!"
"Why not? We can't leave it here."
"Harry, it's lovely... but... it was your mother's. It isn't right--"
"D'you remember, just a little while ago, when I was wondering what my parents would be thinking if they were here right now?"
Dreading the answer, Ginny gave a small nod.
"I know what my mum would want. This had to have been a gift to her from my dad. And... she'd want the girl I love to have it."
Ginny made no movement to take the box. Harry gently laid a hand on the side of Ginny's face. "I know she would. And so do I." He pressed the box into her hands, and Ginny looked down at it, stunned. Tears were forming in the corner of her eyes.
"Are you sure?"
The wind picked up, and a sudden breeze swept past, carrying with it the sweet, fragrant scent of fresh flowers. Harry felt as if a voice was speaking to him, yet he heard nothing. He glanced around, trying to find the speaker, but there was only Ginny, who hadn't spoken a word.
"Yes," said Harry finally. "I think she just told me."
