Title: Strength
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Rating: K
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 694
Prompts:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Term 5, Music History: 1.3 - Write a story about a character from the Golden Trio.
Author's Note: Set before epilogue, but diverges from canon in that Ginny dies.
Summary: A reflection on the life of the saviour who was abandoned by the world, Harry Potter, a man who refused to give up despite everything that stood between him and happiness.

A man stood on a beach.

The beach itself unremarkable. It seemed to stretch for miles, unending sands which were a flat contrast to the choppy grey waves. It was cold, as most English beaches are, with a wind which whipped through the tall grasses that lined the beach. A layer of pebbles strewn with seaweed seperated the soft dry sand from the wet sand further down the beach. Waves crashed against the shore, the white foam racing up to reach the sand.

Seagulls circled above the beach, occasionally letting out harsh choruses of shrieking. There was no other sign of life, apart from three children, and the man.

One of the children, a boy with short red hair, was standing atop a pile of sand. He shouted with excitement as waves surged around his little island. The other two children bravely strode out into the sea. The little girl screamed as her brother splashed icy cold water at her.

The man also appeared normal. His unruly black hair was tossed about by the wind and his green eyes stared to sea. Perhaps he was watching his children, or maybe he was looking beyond them to the point where the sea met the sky. He was dressed as one might expect, a fleece pulled over old jeans in an attempt to keep out the cold, and was surrounded by the usual debris of a beach trip; spades, buckets, picnic blankets and towels.

However, despite appearances, this man was extraordinary. He had endured more pain and heartbreak than anyone should have to. He had spent his life giving everything to the world and he had received almost nothing in return. He had lost so many of the people he had loved, and still he refused to give up.

When he was a baby the world had branded him as its saviour. Through fate, accident, and luck, he had been chosen. The expectations of the world were a burden, but a burden that he accepted. He refused to be selfish, to allow fear to overwhelm hin, and gave himself up for the good of the then, when he had saved the world, they wouldn't leave him alone. He was hunted, a slave to the whims of strangers. He refused to let them get between him and his family, and managed his fame with dignity and humility.

For a few years he was happy. But that happiness only made everything harder to bear when his life was torn to pieces. After everything they had been through, the war that they had won, it seemed laughable that a badly done warding spell could put an end to their perfect life. No one laughed though, when they buried his wife.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, he refused to fall apart. His children needed him, and so he didn't have time to give up.

Magic had stolen his wife, and so he did everything he could to keep his children safe from it. He retreated from the world which had asked everything of him into another, which had never treated him with anything but cruelty. He had no family of his own to support him, and being around her family was too painful. His best friend, her brother, tried to be there for him, but he was a painful reminder of better times. Eventually, he had no one but his children.

Even then, he made the most of it. He loved his children. That was all that mattered. Whatever happened, he would be there for them.

The man sighed and ran a hand through his messy hair, his eyes focusing on his children. He smiled, a sad smile, but a smile that showed strength and courage. His eyes glinted with defiance.

Quickly, he kicked off his shoes and ran down towards the sea, rolling up his trousers as he went. When he reached the foam, he swept up his daughter and grabbed his eldest son's hand. His other son jumped down from his island and ran to join them, and together the little family charged through the surf, ignoring the biting cold and the harsh wind.