This is the end folks and unfortuantely i still own none of it
Chapter 8: Gone but Never Forgotten
"Hey Gin, come take a look at this real quick" yelled Harry.
"What is it…? I was just trying to get Colin and Sirius ready to go with us" Ginny said coming into the room still holding one of the 3 year old boy's jumpers.
"I don't think you'll believe it even when you see it. There is a new History of Magic textbook on all 3 of their lists," said Harry handing over the book lists.
"But Binns never changes his lessons. Why would he change books?"
About that time a half dressed Sirius came running into the room. Harry scooped him up in his arms and held him while Ginny shoved the jumper over his head.
"Alright then I think we are ready to go. James, Albus, Lily, Colin; come on we're leaving."
The moment they stepped out of the fire in the Leaky Cauldron they saw Ron, Hermione, Rose, and Hugo waiting for them. The two families hugged each other and headed into Diagon Alley together.
"Did you notice the new History of Magic book?" asked Ginny.
"Yeah, but I guess I shouldn't really be a surprise that the teacher who replaced Binns would want a different textbook," said Hermione.
"They replaced Binns? Well it's about time," said Ginny.
"Do we know who it is?" asked Harry.
"No, but they can't be worse than Binns can they," said Ron.
"I don't know Umbridge was worse," said Harry. The Adults laughed while the kids were just confused.
"So I said…"
"Teddy!" said Remus loudly.
"What?" asked Tonks.
"Look! He just showed up at Harry's office."
"Harry? Could I have a word?" asked Teddy.
"Of Course"
"I just got a letter from James, Al, and Lily. They were asking a lot of questions. Apparently, the new History of Magic teacher is teaching as far forward as the final battle with Voldemort. They were assigned some reading that was all about you, Uncle Ron, and Aunt Hermione and 2 groups called Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix. I answered their questions to the best of my abilities but it brought up some of my own. I was wondering if you could tell me more about…"
"Your parents…Come to dinner tonight. I have some things I want to show you and we will have more time to talk. I must say I thought this conversation would come much sooner."
"So you aren't mad? I mean you rarely talk about them and when you do it's almost like it hurts you."
"No Teddy. I'm not mad. And yes sometimes it hurts to know that Remus and Tonks aren't here that they didn't get to watch you grow into the amazing man that you are. But you know a friend of mine once told me that the ones we love never really leave us and I choose to believe that your parents have been watching and loving you every day of your life, even if you couldn't always see them. Of course that could also be self-serving because it means mine have done the same for me… So I'll see you tonight for dinner and we will talk about your parents and the war they died fighting. Yes?"-said Harry.
"Okay. I know we talked about this before but I guess I just have more questions."
"Then I'll see you at dinner."
"Harry? Thanks!" and Teddy left.
Harry and Teddy entered Harry's study after dinner. Harry pulled down a box full of journals.
"Here, these were your father's. I thought you might want them. I have been saving them for when you were ready. I know you probably have more questions than were answered at dinner but I think these will hold most of the answers you are looking for. If you still have questions after you finish reading them I will be happy to try answering them."
"Poor Harry! He just can't catch a break can he?" said Ron.
"The family is there now I am sure he will be fine Ron" said Arthur.
"Dad this is Harry Potter we are talking about. The man wears his heart on the outside of his chest completely unprotected and he is watching the love of his life die. This is going to be 10 times worse for him than watching Ron and Hermione die" said George.
"If fate were kind Harry would have been the first of all us kids to go not the last," said Fred.
"He looks as though his heart is breaking," said Bill.
"I think it is," said a tearful Hermione.
"He still has the kids and grandkids," said Percy.
All five of his brothers slapped him upside the head.
"Ze grandkids are all grown wiz children of zer own" said Fleur.
"Dad" said James hesitantly. He had never seen his strong father looking this weak or this old, not even after Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione died. He looked completely shattered. "Dad, come on, let's get some food and a cup of tea."
"No" he said never looking back at his children. He just sat there holding her hand in his. "I'm not leaving until it's over."
James looked back at his brothers and sister and hung his head knowing none of them was going to be able to move their father if he didn't want to be moved. "Alright dad; we will bring you something. Be right back."
When the 6 men and women who had been raised by Harry Potter returned they found him on his wife's bed holding her close. But the closer they got the clearer it became that neither of them was breathing.
"Someone get a healer" shouted Colin Potter.
The healers rushed in only to find that both Mr. and Mrs. Potter had died holding each other tight. No one had ever heard such a keening within the walls of St. Mungos as the day Harry Potter died, the healers from every floor and many of the patients stopped by to say good-bye and to give their condolences to his family.
When asked it was found that Mr. Potter died of heart failure. "I don't get it," said Healer Selsonnair. "It's like his heart just gave out and stopped beating for no reason. There is nothing physically wrong with that man except his heart isn't beating. I Just Don't Get It."
"I do," said Albus, crying silently, as he spoke. "Without mum there was no reason for him to stick around. So when her heart stopped beating so did his. He literally grieved himself to death." Albus looked at his brothers and sister. "How many times has dad told mum that she was his everything? We are all grown up, we don't need him anymore, the world is safe, he ended the war, he killed Voldemort, he spent years getting rid of dark wizards and then more teaching the next generation how to do it. He taught us how to avoid another war like the one he had to fight. He tried to teach us all about how to love, respect, and take care of all living creatures. He was done. The only thing dad was sticking around for was mum and when she died so did his will to live."
"Mum always said that the only person strong enough to kill Uncle Harry was Aunt Ginny," said Hugo Weasley. "I guess she wasn't kidding."
"You just had to follow me didn't you?" said Ginny with a teasing smile.
"I told you that day I asked you to marry me that you were never getting rid of me. So really you should have known this was coming" said Harry before he pulled her into a kiss.
"Oh please. You two have been going at it like newlyweds for nearly 80 years, can you please give it a rest" said Ron.
"Never! Just get used to it," said Ginny.
The Quibbler
The memorial service for Harry James Potter was held today on the grounds of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The attendance rate for the service was so high that all beds in the village of Hogsmeade, the Hogwarts dorms, and the camp beds set up in the Hogwarts class rooms were filled, so that some people even set up camping equipment in surrounding areas. The service itself was attended not just by witches and wizards but also by a record-breaking number of Mermaids, Centaurs, Goblins, and House elves. Mr. Potter's funeral was presided over by the Minister of Magic himself, Minister Theodore Lupin, godson to Harry Potter. Mr. Potter was a celebrated war hero and Auror, receiving 2 Order of Merlins, first class. He was an international Quidditch player, playing seeker for England when they won the 1999 World Cup. He was the founder of the House of Phoenix Tears and the Fred Weasley Memorial Hospital. In his youth, he was a Tri-wizard Tournament winner and the head of the group called Dumbledore's Army. Potter was the Defense against the Dark Arts professor and long time Headmaster at Hogwarts School. He was a member of the Wizenagamot and Chief Mugwup of the International Confederation of Wizards. Since his death a magical portrait has been added to The House of Phoenix Tears, The Fred Weasley Memorial Hospital, The Auror Training Academy, The Hogwarts Headmasters Office, The Auror Headquarters at the Ministry of Magic, and of course to Potter Manor, in addition to the already existing portrait on the backs of Chocolate Frog cards. Mr. Potter died the same day as his life long love Mrs. Genivra Potter. He is survived by his godson, Teddy Lupin, his daughter Lily, his 4 sons; James, Albus, Sirius, and Colin; as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grand children. His daughter Lily announced today that in accordance with his wishes Harry Potter's long awaited autobiography will be published exactly one month after his death and that all proceeds from the sales of said book will go to the orphanage wing of The House of Phoenix Tears.
Here is a snip-it from his upcoming book:
June 1998
Harry and Ginny apperated directly into the foyer of Potter Manor, in the Peak District of England. Ginny looked around the Mansion that clearly hadn't been looked after in decades and was covered in dust and dirt and things she didn't even want to think about.
"Wow! It is going to take a lot of elbow grease to get this place in livable condition again but once we do this is going to be a great house for raising a family," said Ginny absentmindedly continuing to look around.
Harry steered he toward the back veranda with a hand at her back. "Does that mean you are volunteering?" asked Harry.
"Volunteering for what?" asked Ginny.
"To give me a family to raise in this house." He said without the slightest blush.
"That depends are you trying to make me an offer?" asked a slightly amused Ginny.
Harry opened the door to the back veranda to show a table set up with candles, roses, wine, and place settings for dinner, over looking a beautiful estate with a lake that backed up to a wooded area and off to the side a clearing that looked like it could and/or was at one time used as a Quidditch field that was backed by a towering cliff. The sun was just setting and the sky was breathtaking. Ginny just stood there staring for a couple minutes. As the sunset and night fell the candles on the table lit themselves automatically. Ginny turned around to look at Harry to find him holding a ring box and staring at her. "Yeah, that was the general idea." He got down on one knee "Ginny will you marry me?"
Ginny couldn't stop smiling as she threw herself at Harry, knocking him backwards to the ground landing on top of him, and nearly screamed "YES!" Harry kissed her then still holding tight opened the ring box.
"This ring was my mother's. I found it in the Potter family vault along with a note from my dad saying that it had been passed down to the oldest son in every generation since Ignotus Peverell. I thought it was beautiful and steeped in a strong history of loving relationships and it kind of reminded me of you…" He had started babbling
She shut him up with a kiss. "I love it and its perfect."
She held out her hand so he could put it on her finger. "Ginny, you realize of course that this means you are never ever getting rid of me right?"
She lay there with her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest looking up at the stars that were just beginning to shine and said "that sounds just about perfect."
The full autobiography of Harry James Potter will be released 28 August of this year.