Chapter 3: Godric's Hollow
Harry Potter arrived in the Godric's Hollow graveyard as a tour bus was leaving the main gate. He had taken Jacob Brown with him, and now Jacob was slowly bringing the entire American auror department. The Americans were attempting to keep the citizens of Godric's Hollow out of the graveyard, but they were having trouble because the witches and wizards were simply apparating past them. Harry was searching for the white marble headstone which marked his parents grave. He leapt over the dirt piles all around the graveyard until he arrived at his parents' grave.
But the headstone wasn't there. Harry looked around the graveyard for the stone, but it was nowhere to be seen.
"Hon, step back," Ginny said, surprising Harry. He turned to see his whole family standing there, Albus still rubbing his arm. "Hon, step back, there is something on the ground."
Harry looked down. He couldn't see anything there except the gravel and dirt of the ruined graveyard. But he trusted his wife and stepped back anyway. Ginny waved her wand and said "Reparo." Slowly, almost reverently, small white pieces of rock began to form the marble headstone of James and Lily Potter.
Harry and Ginny starred at the headstone, the cracks barely visible amongst the marble design.
"Dad, look there," Lily said, pointing at the ground. Flowers were growing on the undisturbed ground, budding, blooming in shapes that Harry recognized as the intricate handwriting of Albus Dumbledore:
I, Albus Dumbledore, have sealed this tomb.
If you know who I am, you will stop trying.
Try again and you will join them in Death.
Have a nice day.
Harry smiled.
Then the reality of the situation hit Harry for the first time.
Magical families were huddling up all around the graveyard, standing next to the upturned graves of their loved ones. Harry recognized many of his best friends, such as Hannah Abbott, and also a few enemies. American wizards were standing around the parameter of the graveyard, apparently trying to remain invisible.
"We were able to keep the muggles out using a simple repelling charm, but the wizards got by. I've ordered my men to stand down and avoid an international incident," Brown said, walking up to the Potters.
"I think that is unavoidable," Harry said. "James, would you please get Rev. Smith out of the graveyard." James moved quickly across the graveyard, ushering Rev. Smith back into the church. "Ginny, we need to prepare City Hall, the people deserve an explanation. Take Lily with you."
Harry, Brown and Albus began to walk around the graveyard. "How many are here?" Brown asked.
"Several. And worse, at least seventy percent of the graves are magical. This is the home of Godric Gryffindor, wizard families have flocked here for a millennium. There are probably a couple hundred witches and wizards buried here."
"Why would Travers come here?" Brown asked.
"I don't know," Harry said.
"I do," Albus said. "Last summer Travers said he could get information from corpses. He came here for my grandparents, for the two he didn't get. He wanted to get information on us."
"That's possible," Harry said. "If that is the case, then he won't stop with this graveyard. He'll be going after other people, others who knew me." People began flashing though Harry's mind: Voldemort, his greatest enemy; Fred Weasley, a great friend; Sirius Black who was in the ministry. And Trelawney had made a prophecy, and she only talked about Snake Face. "Albus," Harry said, "go get Percy and the other British Aurors. These people need an explanation and Percy will need to be involved with that."
Albus left. "Jacob, take your department home when mine arrives. You're right; we don't need an international incident. I'll get to Philadelphia as soon as I can."
Jacob Brown did as Harry suggested and Harry headed off to City Hall to help his wife prepare the presentation. With this crowd, this had to be good.