Chapter 20: Of Sorrow and of Joy

"What?" Ginny asked, confusion evident in her eyes. "How could such a thing happen?"

Harry sighed again, looking at her. "To be honest, we have no idea. Just that an entire continent of our people, our kin, was gone, vanished into the sea, leaving only empty waves.

"But where could a continent have gone? It can't just vanish." Ginny asked.

"That's just it Gin, it did." He said, looking away. "It's sadly ironic in some ways. Our greatest victory shadowed shortly after by our greatest loss."

"Greatest victory?" She asked.

He shook his head. "Don't worry about it Gin, its not important now. Anyway, this is not the time for such sad things. Come, lets return to the celebrations."

"But-" she said, still wanting to know more.

"Leave it Gin. Trust me." He said pleadingly.

"Alright." she reluctantly agreed as she allowed him to lead her back to the city.

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When dawn broke the next morning, it found Harry walking nervously pacing outside the room where the soon to be restored still lay.

"Harry!" Ginny said in exasperation, as she leant against the wall, watching him walk back and forth. "Stop that! You're making me dizzy!"

"Sorry." He said, smiling sheepishly. "I'm just nervous I guess. What if something goes wrong?"

"Harry," Ginny said, moving over to him, and locking eyes with him. "Nothing is going to go wrong."

"Promise?" He asked faintly.

She smiled, hugging him tightly. "I promise. You're parents will be fine. Sirius will be fine. Cedric will be fine. Nothing will go wrong." She reassured him.

He nodded faintly, as if reassuring himself as well.

When they entered the temple room, Feadir quickly approached them.

"Well, they're energy levels have nearly been restored. It looks like they'll wake up shortly." He said, looking at each of them. "I'll go let the others know."

Harry nodded, and took a seat across from the beds, Ginny settling in on his lap.

Minutes passed in silence as the two sat quietly, just resting, and waiting.

Then, movement. One of the figures twitched. It was Cedric.

Harry looked at Ginny nervously again, before looking back at the now spasming Cedric.

Suddenly, Cedric sat up, his eyes opening, eyes wide.

"Whoa!" He said, looking around. "How the bloody hell did I get here? Where the bloody hell is here? What's going on?"

Harry gently moved Ginny off his lap, and stood up slowly, preparing to explain as much as he could.

"Oh! Hiya Harry!" Cedric said then, smiling. "So that's what happened! You did that whole thing with the other thing that I don't really understand, but pretend to?"

Harry gaped at him, confused.

"Aww geez, well you see, I was talking to your parents in there, nice people by the way, and they explained the whole killing curse not killing, only imprisoning thing." Cedric said.

"Oh." Harry said, still confused.

"Well anyway, they said that someone could free them, if they had been present when they 'died', but they said that only elves knew how, so only an elf could free us. Then they said that we'd have to wait 'til after you 'transformed'. Didn't understand that part at the time, but they explained it." He said shrugging. "By the way, nice ears. Anyway, so then Sirius showed up, he's rather odd, kinda annoying really, and they explained it all to him, then we just had to wait, and voila!"

"Oh." Harry said again. "So umm, how did you speak to my parents?"

"Oh, well ya see, there seemed to be multiple sections of that place we were in. Most of it was just empty, but there was an area in there where everyone who had been hit with the killing curse went, sorta like the after-life, but not, and we all hung around there, knowing eventually you'd get around to freeing us. We were sorta like spirits, just hanging around, waiting." Cedric said.

"Oh." Harry said, nodding, still really confused.

"So anyway, how you been doing?" Cedric asked, looking pointedly from Harry to Ginny, who had been standing just behind him.

Thankfully, Harry was saved from answering by the arrival of Remus and Dumbledore.

"Ahh! Mr. Diggory, you're awake." Dumbledore said. "How are you?"

"I'm good sir. Well, I am now anyway." Cedric said.

Dumbledore nodded. "Good to hear. Oh, Harry, just so you know, the others have decided to give you and Remus some time alone with your parents and Sirius. Oh, and Cedric, supposedly you should be free to get out of bed if you want, you're energies should be fully restored, so you can get out of that bed."

"Okay." He said, as he got up out of the bed. As Dumbledore led him out, Harry overheard one last thing.

"Umm, sir, do my parents know about this?"

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Ginny was about to follow them out, but Harry caught her hand before she could leave.

"No Gin, I want you to stay. Assuming you don't mind Remus?" Harry asked, looking at Remus hopefully.

"Not at all, I'm too excited to care. Besides, I'm sure your parents and Sirius will be most interested to find out you have a girlfriend." Remus said, grinning evilly.

"Oho, what's this?" Came a voice from one of the beds.

All three jumped in surprise, and looked over to find Sirius sitting up grinning widely at Harry.

"Aww, ickle Harry's all grown up!" He said, smirking. "Next thing you know, there will be a whole swarm of little Harry's running around."

"Sirius, if it wasn't for the fact that I love you, and I'm glad you're alive, I'd be hurting you right now." Harry said, as he ran over, and hugged Sirius tightly. "Its good to have you back."

"Well kiddo, its good to be back." Sirius said, before looking up at Remus. "Hey Moony! How's life?"

Remus looked at Sirius for a moment, before a mischievous grin emerged on his face. "Its going well Padfoot. Although, you know Moony isn't really as applicable anymore."

"Huh?" Sirius asked, as Harry withdrew from the hug, grinning as well.

"I'm not a werewolf anymore!" Remus said in a completely emotionless voice, although his eyes twinkled.

"WHAT?" Sirius cried out in shock. "But-but how?"

"Bolt here healed me." Remus said, nodding at Harry.

"Really? That's great. I'm still gonna call you Moony though, it would just seem wrong otherwise." He said. Then something occurred to him. "Bolt?" He asked, looking at Harry, who shrugged.

"It works don't it?" Harry said grinning. "Besides, at least its not Snuffles...Snuffles."

Sirius gasped in mock-anger. "How dare you! I shall get you for that!" He cried, leaping from his bed, and attempting to wrestle Harry to the ground.

"Geez, calm down...Snuffles." Harry said as he fought back.

"This means war!" Sirius cried.

They mock-fought for several minutes, while Sirius loudly proclaimed the injustice of that name, and Harry just laughed at him.

"Hmm. One galleon says Bolt wins." Ginny said, laughing as the two rolled past, each trying to pin the other.

"No." Said Remus, who had to lean against a bed to keep from collapsing with laughter. "My money's on Snuffles."

Eventually, a laughing Harry managed to pin down Sirius, who glared up at him in mock-anger.

"Is this any way to treat you're best, and favourite Godfather? The one and only Sirius Orion Black?" He said, trying to look dignified.

Harry shook his head. "First of all, you're my only Godfather. Secondly you're right, this is no way to treat the Great Sirius Black."He said solemnly, while sitting on his godfather's chest, keeping him down.

Sirius's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"However," Harry continued. "It is the way to treat the one and only Snuffles!"

Suddenly, a snort of laughter came from the bed Remus was sitting on, and they all jumped in surprise.

"Snuffles? Did I hear that right? The Mighty Padfoot, now named Snuffles?" asked James Potter, as he sat up slowly, looking around.

"Prongs." Remus whispered, before enveloping his friend in a hug.

"That's me!" James said, and as Remus broke the hug, he looked around, and caught sight of the pair on the floor.

"So...Snuffles is it?" James asked, trying to contain a smile. "What are you doing on the floor?"

Sirius's eyes were still wide in surprise. Even though he had talked to James in the void, it hadn't seemed real. But here was his best friend, alive, and right there in front of him.

"Well Prongs," Sirius began, looking from James to Harry. "It would seem that someone, and here I refer to the person currently pinning me to the floor, who apparently goes by the name Bolt, also known as your son, has absolutely no respect for his elders!"

Harry still hadn't moved since hearing his father's voice. He slowly got to his feet, unsteadily, looking at his father, trying to decide what to say. Silently, Ginny moved to his side, grasping his hand, giving him her support.

"Umm...hi." Harry said nervously. "Dad."

James looked him up and down as he got out of bed, and moved to stand in front of him.

"You look a lot like me. Except you have your mother's eyes." James said, studying his son for the first time. "You even have my messy hair."

Harry smiled slightly. "You have no idea how many time's I've heard that."

James laughed, before pulling his son into a tight hug. For the first time that he could remember, Harry felt the love of his father, and it seemed to fill a part of him that had been empty.

Then James pulled back, looking over Harry again. "So," He began seriously, his face devoid of any emotion.

Harry swallowed nervously.

James continued. "This is the one question that I absolutely must ask. It is extremely important, and if you fail to answer correctly, well I don't know what I'd do, but you better believe it won't be pretty. This question is the one thing that will decide if you are worthy of your name, and all the privileges that accompany it, as well as all the responsibilities that go along with-"

"James!" A voice cut him off. "Don't you dare scare Harry anymore! He's my son too you know." Harry, who had been listening fearfully to his father's speech, clinging tightly to Ginny's hand for support, looked over his father's shoulder to see Lily, his mother, slowly getting out of bed.

"Lily, stop!" James said, blocking her from passing him to hug Harry, as she was clearly desperate to do. "This must be done, and done properly!"

Lily sighed, smiling at Harry, love evident in her green eyes. "Don't mind your father, he can be a real idiot at times. Just hurry up James, you will not keep me from my son because of your immaturity."

"Hey" James said, in outrage. "I resent that!"

Lily just shook her head at him. "Just get on with it."

James cleared his throat. "Anyway, as I was saying. This question is the one thing that will decide whether you are worthy of your name and title, and all the accompanying things. Are you ready?"

Harry nodded fearfully, butterflies racing madly in his stomach.

"Do you, Harry James Potter, also known as Emrys Aethi Caldarain, also known as Bolt, solemnly swear you are up to no good?" James asked, and a smile broke out on his face.

Harry breathed out the breath he had been holding. "That wasn't very nice, you bloody terrified me, and-" he was interrupted.

"ANSWER THE QUESTION!" James bellowed, his face once again dead serious.

"Yes, yes, I solemnly swear I am up to no good!" Harry said quickly.

"Well that's a relief!" said James.

"Hahahahaha! You should have seen your face Harry! Priceless!" Sirius said, from where he was laughing on the floor.

"Sirius..." Harry said, closing his eyes in annoyance.

"Yessss?" Sirius drawled.

"You know how I said I didn't want to hurt you?"

"Umm..."

"Don't tempt me." Harry finished.

James grinned widely at this, before being pushed aside as Lily moved past him, to hug her son tightly.

"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry. You should never have had to live with Petunia!" Lily said, crying slightly.

"It's okay Mum, really." Harry said awkwardly, hugging her back.

She pulled back, smiling slightly at him.

"You're too polite for your own good." She said. "I don't know how you could have survive living with her, and that horrid Vernon."

"Well that doesn't matter anymore." James said, looking at Harry with pride. "He's obviously survived, and while I wish you could have stayed with Sirius for your childhood, there is one benefit of not doing so."

Sirius, standing up, looked confused for a moment. "What do you mean?"

James looked over at Sirius, smiling widely. "Why, he didn't get corrupted by you of course!"

Harry laughed at the insulted look on Sirius's face.

"Don't worry Snuffles, we still love you." He said, while Ginny giggled quietly into his shoulder.

It was then that James noticed the redheaded girl beside Harry. He raised his eyebrow as he took in their joined hands, and closeness.

"And who is this?" He asked, nodding at her. Lily smiled softly at Ginny, as both Harry and her blushed.

"Umm, well, Dad, Mum, I'd like you to meet Ginny-" Harry began, but stopped as Ginny nudged him.

"Hi." she said, as she pushed past Harry, standing directly in front of James. "My names Ginny Weasley, also known as Huntress. I'm Harry's girlfriend." She raised an eyebrow, challenging him to comment.

James was taken aback somewhat by her forwardness, but Lily stepped forward.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She said.

"Well, umm, we're also lorinagalea." Harry said.

James's eyes widened, before smiling. "Really? Well, its good to know my son is a success with the ladies!"

Lily, without even turning her head, smacked James upside the head.

Sirius snorted with laughter, before grabbing James, and hugging him. "Its good to have you back Prongs!"

"So" James said, after breaking from Sirius. "How is everybody? Allia, and Feadir, and everyone? Let's go say hi!"

"Feadir had a daughter." Harry told him, as they began to head to the door.

"Really?" James asked. "I look forward to meeting her."

"She's worst then all of you combined."

"Oh really?" James said, his eyes alight with glee. "Then I definitely look forward to meeting her!"

Harry smiled as he looked across the table to where Allia and James were talking animatedly. The reunions had gone well. He laughed to himself as he thought back to the moment when they had returned to where the others waited.

Flashback

"Prongs!" A loud call had rung out, as Allia rushed forward to embrace him in a hug, only pulling away after charming his hair to flash neon colours.

"Flame." James had said. "Its good to see you too."

Then she had turned to Sirius.

"Padfoot! So nice to finally meet you!" She had cried, holding out her arms, and approaching him, to hug him as well.

"Oh no." He said, backing up. "Prongs has told me all about you!"

Pouting sadly, Allia had turned to Lily, to hug her happily.

It was then that the twins registered what they had just heard.

"Wait...Prongs?" Fred said, looking in awe at James.

"Padfoot?" George said, equally in awe, looking at Sirius.

Sirius smiled. Turning to Remus, he spoke.

"Fans of our's Moony?"

Remus nodded.

Both twins dropped to their knees.

"We are not worthy, we are not worthy." They had intoned.

End Flashback.

He smiled at the feeling of happiness that pervaded the room. Beside him, Ginny was happily talking to Lily, and laughing at stories of him as a baby. For the first time, he felt complete, and truly happy. His parent's return filled a whole in him he had not even known existed.

"Harry!" He suddenly realized Evelyn, who had been seated on his other side, had been trying to get his attention.

"What? Oh, sorry Twerp, watcha want?" He asked.

She eyed him. "I don't think you've talked to father yet have you? About what we talked about?"

He smiled nervously. "Umm, well. About that, umm...I'll talk to him tomorrow."

"You better...I'm sure you wouldn't want someone like say, Padfoot, to find out?" She said.

He paled. "No, definitely not. I'll talk to him tomorrow, I swear."

"Good!" She replied, turning away.

That night, he dreamt.

He was walking, alone, in a dark forest, when he caught a glimpse of something shining in the moonlight in a clearing ahead. He walked into the clearing, and froze in awe at the sight before him.

Standing before him stood a dragon, nearly twice the size of any dragon known to his people. Its golden scales glimmered in the moonlight, giving it an ethereal quality. Harry gasped at the beauty of the beast before him.

"What are you?" He asked in awe. "What is this?"

The giant creature regarded him for a moment, before speaking.

"THE TIME OF YOUR CHOICE NEARS. WILL YOU BE READY? WILL YOU BE WILLING TO MAKE THE NECESSARY SACRIFICE?"

Harry looked confused.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, but before he could finish, the great dragon had spread its wings, and taken off, vanishing rapidly from his sight.

The forests around him faded, and he woke up suddenly.

"What was that?" He asked himself.

Somewhere else, where a pale white light infused the entire area, and twinkling starlight flickered past, two figures stood.

"Do you think that was wise?" The first, a tall figure, with short, dark hair asked. A shimmering silver breastplate adorned his chest, and an aura of power seemed to sparkle around him.

The second figure, a tall woman, her long brown hair adorned with woven leaves, wearing a dark green robe and bearing a tall wooden staff, with a similar aura of power nodded.

"I believe so. It will not hurt to prepare him somewhat for the road that lies ahead."

The other nodded.

"I suppose not. And the Sleepers?" He asked.

"They are ready. When the call is made, they shall awaken." She said.

He nodded, satisfied.

"That is good. For when the time comes, their strength shall be needed. In the coming darkness, they alone can stand against the Enemy."