Let me tell you of a little boy born to working class muggles in London. He had a lovely childhood, parents who loved him and taught him to value people and that all beings have the right to dignity.

When he was 11 he discovered he was a wizard.

He went off to Hogwarts full of enthusiasm, anticipation and good will. On the train to school he quickly learned that not all wizards thought as he did. He had to grow up fast.

He did grow up fast, but he never lost his core beliefs. He saw the evil for what it was and fought against it. He even snatched a pure blood bride from the jaws of ignorance and taught her how to think for herself.

He fathered a daughter, just as full of convictions and courage as he. Then Voldemort returned again. He had to run to stay alive.

He lost his life. He was my husband Ted.

His was a heart that saw beauty in all. Ted was the type of friend we all wish we were. He laughed big he ate big, he loved big.

He found something to love in everyone he met. He befriended the friendless. He championed the champion less. He showcased the talents of those around him, never seeking the spotlight for himself.

When he met me I was a driven hard hearted young lady. What had "love" ever done for me? I was not going to marry for love. I was going to marry for security. Look at the examples I had. My mother and father were trapped in a loveless waltz of hate. Bella totally disregarded her vows and did as she pleased with whom ever she pleased.

My plan was to marry and have children to love.

Then I met Ted. At first I wasn't sure what attracted me to him. He was the complete opposite of what I thought I wanted in a man. He cared. He loved deeply. He wanted to know what I thought and why.

I was one messed up little girl in a woman's body. Anger was not accepted in the house of my youth. So the first fight he and I had after marriage he found me hidden hurting myself. Most men would have run. He didn't. He took me in his arms and held me. He talked to me. He made me understand that anger is a natural part of living. That expressing anger is a right we all have. He got me help.

We never had much money. Some would say we were poor. I don't. We had love. We had the joy of discovery. When you are not surrounded by the trappings of wealth you find the beauty in simple things. Like the chocolate bar bought with the change from groceries and shared. The wild flowers picked from a road side. The blanket on the ground and the stars in the sky.

Then we had our daughter. What joy! He was the best daddy! When she was born the first person she looked at was him. They bonded immediately. She was his girl. They share a connection so deep at times they seemed one. But they never excluded me. In fact their loved lifted me. I made me a better person.

I'll tell of her story later for now let me tell you of how evil took my Ted.

Ted helped as many people as he could to escape Voldemort. Then he became a target. To keep us safe he left. He ran to hide. While hiding he met others that needed help. He died helping them.

He never held me again. He never met his grandson. He never had the chance to grow old.

You may think evil won. I know better. Evil does not understand that love is the greatest force of all. Love tells me he is in a safer place waiting for me. Love tells me that when my work here is done we will have eternity together.

AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW

This chapter is dedicated to my husband who died a year ago today. He was my Ted.