Chapter Seven
They could still hear the music from outside as they left the burrow just past midnight. They carried only backpacks, as everything had been shrunk to fit inside their one bag. They planned on only going to visit Gringotts before setting out on their journey.
When they reached Gringotts, they saw only 2 goblins were still awake and working. They walked up to the desk.
"Good morning, sirs and madam, how may I help you?"
"We would like to make a withdrawal, please, from my vault."
"Follow me please."
They made their way down to Harry's vault, where they all loaded up bags with as much gold as possible, before shrinking the bags and putting them into their backpacks.
"Would it be possible to make a conversion to muggle money?"
"How much would like, Mr. Potter?"
"Ten thousand pounds, if possible."
"It will be ready for you at the front desk, sir."
When they reached the ground floor, they quickly collected the money, shrunk all but 50 pounds of it, and set out into the dark.
Ron broke the silence first, as they headed down Diagon Alley.
"Where do we go first, Harry?"
"Well...I was... but never mind... maybe it isn't such a good idea..."
"What is it? We might be able to go wherever it is you want to... We made an earlier start than expected anyway."
"Yeah mate, we have time."
"Well...I kind of wanted to go to Godric's Hollow, and see their graves, just once..."
"We can go there Harry, if you want to," Hermione nodded.
"Do you know how to get there, mate?"
"Harry closed his eyes for a second, then opened them, nodding. " I can apparate us there, I think.
"You sure, Harry?"
"Yeah."
Harry closed his eyes and grasped both of his friends arms tightly. They disappeared with a pop.
They were standing in front of a mass of rocks and rubble. A house was barely distinguishable behind the mess. Vines and moss were growing all over it, and not a sound was heard, save for the chirping of the crickets and birds in the early morning.
Hermione looked nervous.
"Should we go in?"
"Maybe not yet Hermione, I want to go around the village first."
They turned around and left the site.
They wandered around the village. It was rather small, and many of the houses were boarded up or run down.
"My dad once told me that many people left after finding out that Voldemort had gotten in, thinking it was haunted, or unsafe."
"Is it?"
"Don't know, Hermione."
"There's the church!"
"And the graveyard."
Ron and Hermione looked at each other worriedly. Harry was walking towards the graveyard. His face had gone pale, and they could see his hands shaking.
"Should we follow him, Hermione?"
"Maybe... You don't know if anything dangerous is in there."
Harry wondered among the rows of graves until he spotted the two he was looking for
James Potter
1960-1981
Caring Father
Loving Husband
Cherished Friend
Lily Evans-Potter
1960-1981
Caring Mother
Loving Wife
Cherished Friend
Harry fell to his knees beside the two graves. He conjured a few flowers, and placed them gently beside each grave. A few tears escaped his eyes as he started to talk to the parents he had never really known.
"Hello Mum, Dad. I'm sorry I couldn't visit you earlier, I really am. I miss you. I wish you were here. But there's nothing I can do about it now. Damn Peter Pettigrew. I hate him. Do you? Maybe you do, maybe you don't. I'll never really know. Sirius is gone too. It was my fault, I'm sorry. Are you mad at me for it? I think you should be, I would deserve it. Is he with you right now, wherever you are? Tell him I'm sorry, won't you? I never meant for anything to happen to him. It was a mistake, I swear. Will you forgive me? Maybe I don't deserve forgiveness. I'll see you again someday, I hope. Have you been watching me? Have you seen my whole life without me noticing? I wish you were there. I wish you were there when I got my Hogwarts letter. Did you know I was sorted into Gryffindor, like you? Did you know I was on the Quidditch team in my first year, Dad? Are you proud of me? Happy for me? Maybe... I wish I was with you right now, wherever you are. Is it nice there? Are you happy? Do you miss me? I miss you and Sirius more than anything in the world. I wish Peter never joined Voldemort. I wish you never made him your secret keeper... but it's no use wishing, is it? I love you Mum, I love you Dad. Do you love me too? I'm sorry, but I have to leave now. I'll try and come back if I can, I really will, but I have something I need to do now. You know about it, don't you? The prophecy? I don't want to leave you Mum, Dad..."
Ron and Hermione watched from a distance as Harry leaned against his mother's grave. It wasn't long before he was asleep.
And he had never felt safer or more content in his life.
AN: REVIEW PLEASE
I have given up on giving titles to chapters.. I've run out of creative-ness and witty sayings that slightly fit the chapter... TWO UPDATES IN ONE DAY! yay!