The Funeral

Godric's Hollow was nothing like Harry expected. Instead of a pile of ash there was a big house surrounded by trees and flowers of all sorts. Harry grabbed Remus's arm, "I thought that this place was burnt to the ground."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well no one has ever mentioned that there were other things that belonged to my parents laying around. I thought everything was destroyed."

"Well all of the Potter houses have really strong charms on them that don't allow them to be burnt down. There was damage inside from what I was told, but I didn't get here in time to see it for myself. The thing is… no one has been able to get inside since your parents and you were taken out of the house.  The door lock itself."

Harry waked up to the front door and twisted the doorknob. The door opened without a squeak. Remus quickly walked up and closed the door making sure no one had seen the door open, "We'll come back later, we don't want the press swarming you about this story too."

As the years had gone by Harry had found out where Sirius and Peter were when his parents died but he didn't have an idea where Remus was during all of this. "Remus if you don't mind me asking, where were you when my parents were attacked?"

Remus looked like he knew this question had been coming for a long time, "It was a full moon," there was a long silence, "Harry, it is time for you to address the press."

Harry took a breath, walked to the platform and looked out at the crowd of people I hate this. I hate this, thought Harry.

"Harry is it true that you had a nervous break down when you found out about this act…", "Mr. Potter what are you going to do about it?" , "Harry Potter is it true that you are engaged?"

Who makes up this stuff thought Harry as he raised his wand up in the air sending off a few sparks to silence the crowd. Here goes nothing…

* * * *

After half an hour of answering questions for the press, it was time for the hardest part of all of this, the funeral. When Harry got to the sight the aurtors were already at work cleaning up the mess. Hermione and McGonagall were crying, Ron looked sick, but out of everyone here Icicle's behavior puzzled Harry the most. She looked absolutely livid. Her cheeks were pink and she was clenching her fist. I wonder what is going on in her head though Harry.

There were bones every where along with a small amount of decay. I can do this, I can do this, I can d…a piece of red hair and a pair of smashed back rimmed glasses came into view. I can't do this, I can't do this, thought Harry as he felt the barrier that was holding in all of his emotions shake as if it was going to crumble. 

Right as he was about to break Harry felt a furry creature nuzzle his hand.  Harry looked down at Snuffles who gave the you'll be ok I am here for you look.  An aurtor approached Harry, "Mr. Potter, since we are cremating your parent's remains we thought that you would like to have these."

Harry took the small bundle and opened it, there laid two rings. Their wedding rings. Harry thanked the aurtor and pocked the bundle so that he could look everything over in peace.  There was a silence as Harry watched the aurtors light a small bond fire. The fire grew and grew as it consumed everything and time seemed to last forever as Harry watched the flames grow. As the fire died down the ashes were gathered and placed in a very simple urn. Dumbledore stood up and took the urn, "Today we gather to once again mourn the loss of Lily and James Potter. These two individuals were unique spirits and an inspiration to everyone that met. Yet James and Lily carried more then their fair share of pain through the loss of friends and relatives. Very few people have had to deal with what they had too. May this be the end of their suffering, may they finally rest in peace. Harry will you please do the honors."

Harry stepped forward and took the urn focusing on keeping his hands from shaking. "Brought to us from the earth we now return you." Harry placed the urn into a freshly dug hole. It had been his parents wish to be buried no matter what. Harry then picked up his wand and murmured a few spells that he had been taught earlier that day for this occasion. The hole filled up and a tombstone appeared.

James and Lily Potter

Great Friends and Parents

Brought us a Bunch of Smiles and Laughs

People filed in and paid their respects in their own manner. Some people simply shed tears and others placed flowers and candles. The last person to pass in line was Icicle who held two roses. She places one and the grave and gave the other to Harry. She turned towards the grave, "Dear God, we thank you for the time that you blessed to world with James and Lily Potter. It was indeed a blessing for those few lucky years that were able to know and learn from these two individuals. They had so much to teach us about everything and anything. We are not strong enough to be able to dwell in the past so we leave them in your care, the best care. James and Lily lead us in this battle not just for the right of a stable community but for the right that muggles and muggle born witches and wizards could exist. So God, for the people left behind, I ask that you give us enough. Enough happy times to get though the bad ones, enough joy to deal with all the grief, enough strength to deal with our weaknesses and enough triumphs to deal with our losses. With out Lily and James we need enough, so that the survivors will be able to finish what needs to be done before it is too late. Please let it never end up being too late, Amen."

Harry walked forward and placed the rose that Icicle had given him on their grave, "I love you." murmured Harry.

With those quite last words Harry turned around and found himself lead back to Hogwarts with everyone else. Run, thought Harry, with that he ran up to his dorm ignoring all the voices that were calling his name. He needed to be alone for a while. As he reached the 5th year boy's bathroom Harry walked into the shower with his robes and shoes on and turned on the shower. A tear started to run down his cheek and he couldn't hold it in any longer. Harry punched the wall and fell to the grown letting the tears come.

It could have been minutes, hours or even days when Harry finally got out of the shower. During the whole funeral Harry had been fighting anger, grief, disgust, even shame and letting it all out at once seemed to exhaust him both emotionally and physically. Harry looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes were puffy and his knuckles were looked like they may have been broken, funny it doesn't hurt.

Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the two rings he had gotten for the aurtor. His mom's was gold with a big emerald surrounded by diamonds. The same color as her eyes thought Harry. His dad's was also gold with a sapphire surrounded by diamonds in the same fashion. His dad had blue eyes in the pictures he has seen. Harry transfigured a gold chain and put the rings on it, he was going to wear them from now on. Leaving the bathroom he crawled into bed wet clothes and all, must sleep thought Harry as he hit his pillow.

* * * *

"Harry," said someone as they called his name and smoothed out his hair.

Go away, thought Harry as he buried his head into his pillow trying to ignore who ever was trying to get him up.

"Harry it is me Sirius. Get up because I have to leave soon," said the voice by his head who turned out to be Sirius.

Grumbling Harry grabbed his glasses and his godfather instantly came into focus. Harry stretched, "What time is it?"

"Two in the afternoon." Replied Sirius smiling at the reaction he was getting from Harry.

"What?!?! I am so late for class! Snape is going to kill me!" yelled Harry.

"Calm down, Dumbledore excused you from classes today," soothed Sirius, "Due to your rough weekend."

Harry rubbed his eyes, "Yeah since I am so fragile."

"Oh yes my poor little baby who can't fend for himself." cooed Sirius in a high pitched voice as he pinched Harry's cheek.

"Sirius, stop it!" exclaimed Harry as he tried to get Sirius to let go of his cheeks.

"You are one lucky guy Harry, Madame Pomfrey actually agreed to make a house call last night. Or you would be there this morning. You did a number with that hand of yours."

"It just kind of happened," replied Harry

"I did a few of those back in my days, don't worry. Anyway, Dumbledore is sending me on an undercover mission so I won't be able to contact you or you me. If you need anything talk to Dumbledore or Remus," a smile grew on Sirius's face, "If everything turns out okay I should see you by Christmas."

"What, why?" asked Harry

Sirius acted like he was hiding some big secret, "Well this is kind of a secret so you can't tell anyone but Remus made a deal with Icicle before school started. If she had the highest grade in Defense by Christmas then Remus and I will work out something and spend Christmas here at Hogwarts."

"We were wondering why she was working so hard in that class," mused Harry, "Ron thought someone was bribing her."

"We basically did," laughed Sirius.

* * * *