Hello lovelies! Happy Monday!

I know this chapter is a little shorter than the last few, but it's still important. If it is any consolation, the next chapter will be up on Wednesday! Hopefully I will have finished chapter 214 by then, if not, I may have to space out when I post 213 etc etc. However, I am going to try and continue to post at least twice a week in the upcoming times!

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me

Saturday, May 29th, 1999
Potter Manor
Orchards

Hermione slathered the thick green paste with purple specks—that they'd previously prepared—along the tops of the white marble headstones with a ceremonial silver dagger. The scraping sound of metal against stone reverberated through their ears.

James's corduroy jacket was placed at the foot of his headstone as was his wand. Normally wands were buried with their owners, but Dumbledore had given James and Lily's wands to the goblins at Gringotts to place them within the Potter family vaults. He'd also given them some other personal effects, like the couple's wedding bands. Hermione found them a couple days ago during a routine visit to their vaults.

(As Dumbledore hadn't had direct access to the vaults, it did not violate the terms the Rognuk and James had priorly reached.)

Lily's wand, her engagement ring, and wedding band was laid across her neatly folded wedding dress.

A bouquet of yellow daffodils tied with thick twine rested beside James's items. Cornflowers and baby's breath were braided together next to Lily's. The flowers wouldn't have any effect on the ritual, but it had felt right.

The moon was high in the sky. The cold mistress was a sliver shy of full. Its light poured into the clearing, beams of it illuminating their surroundings. Silver, glittering specks were floating in the air.

The grass was pliant but firm. The tree branches were immobile, not a whisper of breeze stirred them. The surrounding areas were dappled with moonlight; they could see at least thirty feet in any direction without shifting their eyes.

"What now?" Harry asked softly.

Despite the temporary ban Hermione had placed on visitation until the Seventh and Eighth years examinations concluded, she made an exception. Harry should be here for this.

"We invoke the incantation, and then we wait," Remus rasped, holding his head up in his hand. His elbow dug into his thigh.

Remus was sitting cross-legged on the ground, just outside of the stone circle around the headstones. His complexion ashen, and tiny beads of cold sweat were gathered along his hairline. He should be resting in anticipation for the full moon tomorrow, but he was obstinate in attending the summoning ritual. He wished to be there when Lily and James finally came home.

The incantation was said thrice by all present. Their voices blended together in a harmonious, indistinguishable chant. Afterwards, not a utterance of noise was made, the night was hushed, solemnly silent.

Tonks was crouched beside her husband, languidly brushing Remus's hair back off his forehead. Teddy was staying with his grandmother for the weekend. Riley and Sirius were sitting a couple feet away, Sirius was in between Riley's legs, lying back against her. Harry, Hermione and Draco were huddled together, but not touching.

Seconds stretched painfully out for an eternity, but they endured it, waiting for any signs that it had worked. It might not. They didn't have James and Lily's bones. The spirits would also have to be willing to leave their current resting place. Often, they wouldn't be inclined to if there wasn't anything of their physical bodies awaiting them at the end of the journey.

The subsequent step would be to exhume their bodies, cremate them, and spread some of their ashes across the Orchards. None of them wished to do that if it was unnecessary, but they all agreed that they would if this failed.

"Come home, Mum," Harry murmured. Hermione stiffened beside him. Her eyes watered since she refused to blink or to tear her gaze away from the headstones. "Come home, Dad."

More time passed. Hermione released the breath she'd been holding. It hadn't worked.

Hermione thought back to that night in the graveyard. Both her and Draco recalled most of what happened now, but their minds were uncertain to the validity of that night, but their hearts were set on it being real.

Come home, Hermione begged silently, one final time.

As if answering her plea, a whizzing sound whistled past her ears a moment later, and a sharp gust blew past them. An explosion of white light burst in front of them. There was a greenish hue to it. For a moment, everything was painted a stark white. She blinked and the colour was all-consuming.

The light flooded away, and the clearing returned to its previous state. As if the light had never appeared.

The paste was absent from the headstones, and both James and Lily's wands were gone. Their other belongings remained. A trade.

An earthy, woodsy scent with flowery notes erupted into the area, shoving itself up their nostrils. The smell caressed them all tenderly before it dispersed.

"Welcome home," Hermione smiled.

Sunday, May 30th, 1999
Potter Manor
Full Moon

Moony remembered. For years, his human hadn't. For years his human had mourned the loss his magic and bonds had endured without recalling what he'd lost. Moony remembered.

Two members of their pack are gone forever, their bonds severed cruelly. Last month, Moony thought all the surviving members had been gathered together and it brought him great pride and joy. However, this full moon is different.

They are teetering on the cusp of summer, the cool air blew through Moony's shaggy, sandy blond coat. Remus shakes his head. Moony is a passenger as his human, Remus, is in control.

The air was charged with scented magic. Blood magic, but also that of souls. Moony could taste it, and he could sense that their pack was whole again. It wasn't the same as it was, but it would do.

There were new members that had been added, like Remus's cub, the young fawn, and several others. They wouldn't replace those that were gone, but they helped fill in the chasm they'd left behind. The new bonds and magic thrummed joyously through the pack bond.

Content, Moony settled in for the night, letting his mind quiet. Letting Remus be in charge as he led their pack through the Orchards, running and leaping over one another with youthful enthusiasm.

Before Moony slipped into blissful darkness, he sensed a new feeble bond being formed within their pack. Moony purred, pleased by the development. He knew Remus could sense it as well, but he doubted the others could.

Glad that their pack was continuing to expand, Moony allowed himself to fall asleep, the peaceful sounds of the night his lullaby.