The road they apparated to was at the crest of a hill, overlooking a small fishing town. The sun was low on the horizon and the sea air immediately hit his senses. The street was lined with homes that were shaded by large willows and lush overgrown hedges and the setting sun highlighted the boats that sat at the docks and the roofs of the markets below.

"You have the same look on your face that your parents had when they first arrived here," commented Remus. "When they were looking for homes." He pulled an old notebook out from his robes. Flipping through the yellowed pages he found an entry, and then handed it to Harry. It read:

Under a twisted marble willow

Two twins hang in the night

Godric's Hollow solves the riddle

While gardeners' home reveals the light.

Harry gave Lupin a confused look. "What does that mean?"

"Since you've never been to Godric's Hollow, this is the description. Number twenty-two, Marble Willow lane." He pointed at the last line in Harry's hand and then to a place in the distance, "The house of Potter, obviously."

Harry saw a house that he had not seen before. It was a modest bungalow that sat apart from the rest. He and Remus started up the lane as Lupin spoke quietly, "After Sirius died, I took it upon myself to secure the safety of your parents' home. I knew that someday you would like to see it. I chose a passage from your mother's poetry so that you may allow whomever to visit, just by showing them the text. I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of becoming your secret keeper. We had to act fast after Dumbledore's death."

They walked along in silence for a moment, until Harry started leafing through the notebook absentmindedly. "Thanks Remus. I would've chosen you to be the secret keeper anyway."

"That's a comforting thought."

The two continued with scattered conversation until reaching the front of the house. The white paint was peeling and the once vibrant blue shutters had now faded into a softer hue. The trees around it were enormous, but not enough to block out the view of the ocean and the town below.

Lupin drew out an old bronze key from his robes and unlocked the door. There was a quiet sequence of tumbling locks and latches as the handle finally gave way. As he pushed the heavy oak door inward, a warm scent of sandalwood, pine, and oak hit Harry's senses and was immediately reminded of the forbidden forest, Hermione- oddly enough, and late night tea that they used to have with Hagrid in their early years of Hogwarts. His eyes adjusted to the shadows and saw the wood flooring of the foyer.

Long rays of sunlight cut through the dust in the air, and much of the furniture was covered with bedsheets. Lupin flicked his wand in an odd way, and the sheets snapped into nothingness. The furniture wasn't anything fancy, in fact, Harry was reminded of the Gryffindor common room; dark wood and overstuffed worn leather.

To his left was the den, complete with bookcases covering the walls and a large desk. To his right was a small hallway leading to the kitchen with its old black stove. Beyond that was a sitting room that overlooked the ocean view. Harry stepped back into the foyer and saw the stairway that led upstairs.

"Would you like me to go with you?" asked Lupin.

Harry paused, "I…no. I think I need to do this alone…" Remus nodded and wandered off into the study, leaving Harry to stare at the stairs leading upwards.

(Where was my father when Riddle came up these steps? What was my mother thinking as she heard him come closer?)

He could not help the thoughts that suddenly came to his head. He envisioned Voldemort with all the confidence in the world as he slowly walked up the oak stairs. He saw James on the floor in the study next to the overturned chair he had just gotten out of. He could imagine the neighbors cocking their ears to the strange sounds that were suddenly heard, looking up at the starry night sky.

Harry snapped his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, trying to force out the vision of the candles in the house being snuffed out. As his foot hit the first stair, the scent of sandalwood hit him again, calming him. He opened his eyes and continued upwards, reaching the landing. Directly in front of him was a blue tiled bathroom with a beautiful oval window, overlooking the cove. To the left was his parent's room. The door was ajar and Harry could see his mother's vanity and the large oak bed.

To his right was another room, but the door had been shut. Harry tensed a little as he took the bronze knob in his hand. He paused in the same spot where Riddle had paused 16 years ago; feeling his lip curl in a sneer as the mudblood was whispering to her child.

He opened the door and found it dark; a woman was standing over a crib with her back to him.

"How appropriate to say your last goodbye," came a hiss of a voice.

Harry could see his mother's long hair flowing around her shoulders and tickling his cheeks. She had a tremendously sad smile on her lips as she looked down at him in her arms.

"I love you, Harry," she whispered.

Someone was shaking him.

"Harry."

His eyes snapped open and found himself looking up at Lupin who was crouched over him. "What happened?"

Harry rubbed his eyes and looked around the room, "I dunno, I was seeing- I thought I was just picturing what happened, but when I came in here-" He felt helpless in explaining. Lupin nodded calmly.

"You saw how your parents died."

"Yes," Harry whispered, avoiding his eyes. As he sat up, Harry saw that the room they were in was quite bare, except for a wardrobe the only other furniture was a crib that sat close to the windows.

"How are you feeling?"

"I just need a minute." Harry sat on the floorboards of the room, thinking. Were the images real? Was it another ploy from Riddle? No, he thought, this was different. In his past trip with Dumbledore to recover a supposed horcrux, he had mentioned that over time, witches and wizards could detect magic. His parents' house was magical, but Harry could not pinpoint how exactly. At least, not yet.

"If you want to stay for a few days, the house is under protection. But in fairness of Mrs. Weasley's sanity, may I recommend myself to keep you company?" Lupin asked with a small grin.

After a few moments of Remus patiently waiting, Harry realized that he didn't want to be alone all the time. "No, that's okay. Maybe I'll send word to Ron and Hermione, but you don't have to stay here beyond tonight. I know you have things to do for the Order."

Lupin regarded him for a moment, but nodded. The sun had set outside, and dusk was stretching long red fingers over the horizon. He headed out of the room, and soon Harry could hear him preparing tea in the kitchen below him.

Harry sighed. He had no idea how Godric's Hollow was going to feel, but all of a sudden he felt lonely. His parent's home was almost devoid of furniture or anything personal for that matter. There was nothing to tell him about his family, nothing he could identify with. He stared out the windows until the night sky took over.

He arose the next morning, surprised that he had slept through the entire night without a nightmare or mysterious feeling jerking him awake. He padded silently downstairs, only to find Lupin in front of the fireplace in the main room, looking over a Daily Prophet.

"Morning," Remus replied while motioning to some leftover eggs that were continuously grilling on the stove. "I guess you didn't hear the howler that Mrs. Weasley sent this morning?" he asked with a grim smile.

"Did you tell her that you weren't staying?"

"No, but by the time she heard that I was to be stationed in Berlin for the next few days, she pieced it together."

Harry gave him an apologetic smile as he scooped out eggs and curiously sniffed the brewing coffee. "I'll talk to her."

Lupin was gazing out the window at the cove and the rising sun. "I remember having spent a Christmas here with Lily and James right after when they bought this place…" he was startled to see things seemingly apparate onto the walls and into the bookshelves.

Harry dropped his fork and instinctively reached for his wand.

"Ah! I almost forgot that Dumbledore put a Memora charm on the house," said Lupin.

"A w-what?" Harry said, bewildered and trying to choke down the eggs in his throat.

"Well, when Voldemort attacked you and your parents, this house was almost completely destroyed. Hagrid saved you before it collapsed on itself, but Dumbledore performed the charm- restoring the house to what it once was. Seeing although, that he had never actually been inside, there was little that he could restore it to. The Memora charm acts as a link between the present and the past in someone's memories, particularly when remembering what things were like." Lupin smiled at Harry and said knowingly, "There is more to this house that what meets the eye."

Harry was curious about the town, "Did my parents know anyone around here?"

Lupin frowned. "I didn't meet anyone while visiting Lily and James, but they did talk of a man down in the harbor, by name of Luka… a fisherman."

"Luka. That's all?"

"I'm sorry that I can't be more of help."

Harry shrugged off the apology, "No, that's okay. I'm glad you could remember that. Thanks for all of your help, Remus."

Lupin smiled at the fact that Harry had finally used his first name.

"It's been my pleasure, Harry."

Harry had just watched Lupin walk out to the foyer, cloak in hand while turning on the spot; managing to do a little wave to Harry, showing his note to Ron and Hermione in hand.

He now turned inside to the quiet house and sat down in the study to look over the book that Hermione had given him. Harry was a little hesitant after hearing from Ron about the book that you could never stop reading, so he performed same charm that Hermione had done the previous year with his potions text.

"Specialis Revielo!"

The linen slid off the book like a second skin, and Harry could hear the faint hiss over the voice that only a Parseltounge could hear:

"Brothers of the Basilisk, welcome."

Harry looked grimly at the binding of the book that doubled in size in front of him. Apparently, there was more to this than what Hermione could read. Since last reading it, all that Harry had managed was a few chapters, describing the backstories of the now-historical Slytherin family. The language that Harry was reading was confusing, as it also included lavish praises on the pureblood lines that made Harry roll his eyes until they hurt. He was about five minutes into reading about another pureblood wizard who was looking equally uninteresting as the rest, when he heard a soft pop!

Harry went out into the foyer and saw Hermione, standing with her back to him while looking around in the kitchen.

"Hello," said Harry.

She nearly jumped a foot while whirling around, a look of surprise and sheepishness on her face. "Geez! I almost prefer Grimmuald where you could hear everyone coming."

He gave her a smile, "Where's Ron?"

Hermione set her bag on a bench that Harry knew he hadn't seen before. "He got dragged off by Mrs. Weasley to help with the wedding. I was staying behind for researching, but that's when Lupin arrived with your letter. What's the matter? I thought you said you wanted a few days to yourself?" she asked, studying him like she had last year. He recognized the appraising look, but also one mixed with concern.

"I did, but I knew that Lupin had work to do for the Order…it's just, coming back here is…surreal, you know?" he ran his hands through his hair, uncomfortable with admitting that an empty house unnerved him.

She merely nodded. They stood in silence for a moment until Harry said, "Why don't I show you around?"

Hermione slipped off her shoes and placed them near the front door. Harry chuckled. "You don't have to do that, I run a different house than my aunt Petunia."

She hid a smile, "Well it's worth it to get you to laugh."

As Harry showed her around the home; she was quiet, especially in Harry's room.

"I thought Dumbledore said this place burned down?"

"It did, but he restored it, as well as placing a sort of- I dunno, replenishing charm?"

Hermione's light bulb went on; "Oh! A Memora charm?"

"Can't get anything past you," quipped Harry. Hermione gave him a mischievous smile with a look of suddenly remembering something. She pulled out a cube-like object from her pocket and pointed her wand at it. It suddenly expanded until it was a teetering pile of books that Harry rushed over to help her steady.

"I hope these are all worth it," he said, while the two of them were walking backwards into the den.

"Of course they are! You don't think I idly pick my reading material these days, do you?" she said with a laugh.

Harry tried to smile but suddenly had a guilty feeling pooling in the pit of his stomach again. Things shouldn't have to be this way, he thought. He should enjoy his time with his friends, and them as well. His parents' house should be a retreat from Grimmuald rather than another reminder of what they still had to overcome. He was looking at the tower of books that they had now placed on the floor; glancing over the spine of Antidotes for the Articulate and wishing nothing more than to run away from all of this.

"Don't, Harry," whispered Hermione. She had been watching his mood change, and seemingly the thoughts that ran across his mind as well.

He didn't look at her. "You want some tea or somethin'?"

Hermione placed a hand on his arm and caught his eye like she had in Grimmuald Place. She gave an understanding smile that Harry desired to see. "Sure."

He realized that Hermione's smiles held great and underlying emotions in them. He saw understanding, but also support, patience, and fortitude. It was a look that said; Sure, I'll have tea, only if you promise me to believe in yourself first.

A few minutes later he called from the kitchen, "I took a look at the book you gave me- not much so far."

"What's it about?" she called back from the living room. Harry could see her examining the photos along the wall.

"Just about ancient Slytherin-type sorcerers. There's a lot to it though; the book just about doubled in size when I spoke to it." The two talked through the afternoon, discussing everything from the upcoming wedding, to Hogwarts, and even Ginny.

"She was a bit confused about you at dinner…"

Harry ran his hand nervously through his hair, "Yeah, well, same here…I dunno, I just- I just feel that I can't be with anyone- that there's no room in my life for a relationship."

He sighed and looked at Hermione. There was a silence for a few minutes until he found the right words. "Things have changed so much since my time with Ginny… I just don't feel like the same person, and I don't think that being together would… make me happy. And if I can't give her what she deserves… then there's no real reason to hold her back."

It was the first time that he actually analyzed his thoughts about the way he felt about Ginny, and was a little horrified and yet relieved that he had said it aloud. When he was leaning over Dumbledore at the base of the Astronomy tower, he felt that feeling and so many others had drained away. Even the support that Ginny gave him felt vacant and distant to him. In the days afterward he thought that it was just his way of healing, but when he found no comfort in being with her, his heart sank.

"Please don't say anything, I just need a time to talk to her… when I'm ready."

"Of course, Harry."