Reflection: Epilogue

Present

"I can't go in there!" the tall man said almost pleading and turned his back to the door. He was about to stalk away when his wife grabbed his hand, effectively keeping him from leaving. They now both had their backs to the door, behind which every parent's worst nightmare was waiting, and she wrapped her arms around her husband's waist.

"I can't handle this alone either," she said as she leaned into his back.

He turned around and collected her in his arms. She clutched his robes in her fists and started to weep desperate tears as he just held her tightly, leaning with his cheek against the top of her head. He had no more tears left to cry.

"I promised him, Lily. Yet I… I just can't. I am not able to face him. It tears me apart!"

She didn't say a word, as her tears stopped her from speaking, and James continued.

"It breaks my heart to see him like that. He should be at home, flying on his broom, or teasing Sirius's daughters! Not-not here," He couldn't continue talking as he also choked up on emotion.

They were silent for a long moment, as they tried to get strength from eachothers' presence.

"Don't make me go in there." James finally whispered. "Last time-I couldn't bear to see him again, laying motionless like that. He thought he was dead, Lily. And just before that he kept muttering about Dementors and screaming, by Merlin-I have nightmares about his screams. Please don't force me to-."

Lily carefully stepped out of his arms and wiped her tears away. "I won't. But please, can you wait outside the door for me? I have to go inside. You know that."

"Yeah, I know."

Gathering all her strength, she turned around to face her fears. The door seemed large and foreboding, but she bravely stepped forward and entered the room. She shuddered as she heard the door fall closed behind her.

The room was bare of personal items; there was only a bed and she carefully walked towards it. She drew in some air to calm herself and then reached out to wipe a lock of hair away out of the boy's face, being careful not to touch the large lightening-bolt scar, knowing it would cause a violent reaction.

"Harry? Harry dearest?" she softly whispered.

The boys brows furrowed, notifying her that he'd heard her. She wondered how he would be when he woke up. Then suddenly his eyes flew open and she stared into two green eyes so much like her own, though these glared rather hostile at her.

He stared penetrating at her, his eyes almost as deadly as the Avada Kadavra curse. "Where is he?" he asked and Lily raised her hand towards his.

"Your father? He's-"

"Don't touch me!" He suddenly spat and she withdrew her hand. "I meant Voldemort! My father is dead! I am Scion, I rule your pathetic world! Now tell me, did Voldemort try to return yet?"

Lily was silent.

"Tell me you minion or I'll Crusio you until you don't even know your own name!" He tried to sit up and only then did he realize he was strapped onto the bed, as tightly as if he were in a straight jacket. "Why am I bound like this thing? Untie me! Now!" He ordered icily.

"I can't sweety," Lily muttered.

He stared scornfully at her. "Then you shall die." He promised. "Who are you?" he then demanded to know.

"I am Lily. Your mother."

The boy spat at her, and if it weren't for the restraints, trapping him onto the bed, he probably would have lunged at her. "My mother is DEAD!"

"No, sweetie," she tried to pacify him. "I'm right here!"

"No you-" His body suddenly lost all strength and he stared past her shoulder at the ceiling.

"Must get to the mirror," he started to whisper, his voice so unlike it had been only seconds before. Now he only sounded lost and desperate. "Must tell dad, Voldmort-memories. I was dead."

Lily's eyes started to water, she didn't know if she could stay with him much longer. How she wished she was outside right now, next to her husband. She knew exactely how he felt, though she couldn't not come to see Harry. He had been her little boy once. Growing up to be a nice and well-mannered kid.

He'd played with Sirius' daughters and done all sorts of boyish games and things. He'd pranked with James, he'd flown his broomstick. Then one day he'd dissapeared from home and when she had told James, his face had turned so serious; it had put the fear right into her.

"It is the Future," he'd said and without an explaination he'd apparated to Hogwarts.

Lily had been confused and then when he'd returned with the news that Harry was unconscious in St. Mungo's after having defeated the Dark Lord, she'd been filled with despair. Her baby boy had fought with Voldemort! He sure would be in terrible condition.

Nothing could have prepared her for how Harry was when he woke up.

"Dumbledore!" Harry was now muttering to himself. "I cannot trust you!"

James had explained her everything. Of how he had found the mirror just before Voldemort attacked them at Hogwarts and how he had met their 15 year-old son. How Harry from the Future had warned them not to go home that Halloween. How everything had changed.

He'd told her about Peter and the timetravel with a time turner and the mirror breaking; it all had sounded so bizarre! Yet what else could explain how her little boy now seemed to have serveral different personalities?

Harry glanced at her again and raised questioning a brow. "Who are you?" He asked curious.

Lily sighed, it hurt so badly each time he lapsed. Her heart burned and her eyes teared. "I am Lily, your mother," she said again and was relieved to see some recognizion in his gaze.

"Mum? I miss you."

Her eyes filled with tears. "We miss you too, hunny."

"Where's dad?"

"He's-" she glanced to the large wall. Behind it, she knew, stood her husband. He was probably walking back in forth trying to keep his body as occupied as he wished his mind would be. Unable to face his son, unable to see him in this state. "-he had work to do."

"-is he angry at me?" came Harry's voice, sounding so childlike and scared that she couldn't stop herself from grabbing his hand and giving it a short, reassuring squeeze. He squeezed back.

"For what, dearest?"

"For not being normal. I didn't chose to be a freak. But these memories… I don't know who I am anymore." His voice sounded empty and Lily wished she could wrap her arms around him, to comfort him. She wanted to take him home and everything to be alright again.

"You're my son, Harry. And you will always be. James loves you too, don't forget that."

Lily kissed his forehead, aware to avoid the lightening bolt shaped scar.

"We will come back in a few days for your birthday," she promised in a whisper and left quick and silently.

Outside she grabbed James' hand and together they walked away from the hideous white cell that held their firstborn child. Tears were trailing over both their faces as they tried to ignore the pitying looks some people send their way.

ooo

"It's alright now and you can go home," the white robed nurse said with a smile to the young man in front of her. He grinned and thanked her before turning back towards his mother. She was however staring off into the distance.

"Mum? Are you alright?" Neville asked worried as he saw the vacant look on her face. Apparently according to his grandma, she and his father still felt the effects of the night Voldemort attacked them, but all he ever noticed about it was when they were miles away with their thoughts.

Alice Longbottom didn't notice. Neville followed her gaze and saw she was staring after a man with wild, black hair and a woman with long, red hair. They appeared to be about the same age as his mother, but while there wasn't a single white hair to be found in Alice's hair, the hair of the couple was littered with grey hairs.

They trudged slowly as if the world was resting heavily on their shoulders and you could almost see an aura of sorrow and despair hovering around them.

"Who are they, mum?"

Alice finally answered. "They are a couple who had to sacrifice their most precious thing to save the world."

Neville frowned at her vague answer. "What was it?"

Alice withdrew her gaze to look at her son and only smiled sadly. She raised a hand and ruffled through Neville's hair. He playfully slapped it away.

"Mum, I'm not a child anymore!"

"No, you're a grown man. I can't believe your next birthday is in a few days already!"

They started to walk to the exit of St. Mungo's.

"Will dad be there?"

"Of course, he asked free from work for it month's ago, saying he wouldn't miss his son's birthday for all the gold in the world!"

THE END

A Last Note to my Readers:

This was a Tribute to the movie: 'Frequency', with Dennis Quaid and James Caviezel. If you enjoyed my story, then go watch this movie! My story sadly enough can't bring over what really makes 'Frequency' so incredible! The plot is mind-blowing and complex, the characters are loveable, the music makes the story even more dramatic, and the way the scenes are shot… words can not describe how incredible this movie is, so GO WATCH IT! Or at least watch the trailer on youtube!

My last Advise:

Don't worry too much about past mistakes; you won't be able to correct them anyway.
Instead, think of all the future mistakes you have yet to make!

~ VG Jekyll