Nothing belongs to me.
LXI: Hello
James still felt nauseous after Apparating, despite the many times he'd done it.
A new scene materialized before him.
He stood between two large beech trees. Directly ahead, just a short distance away, he could see a wrought iron gate surrounding a –
James moved closer underneath the cloak and gasped.
It was a cemetery.
There must've been hundreds of graves. Surely his mother wouldn't come here. But – where else was there to go?
He circled the graveyard, looking for her. He spotted her, just further on. It wasn't hard; his mother was the only living person here, apart from himself.
The grass muffled his invisible steps.
He reached her.
She sat, kneeling before two graves, the day's flowers clutched in her hands.
James's eyes flickered up to the names etched in stone.
DRACO MALFOY/ SCORPIUS MALFOY
How many times had he heard that name spew hatefully from Uncle Ron's lips?
Too many. This had to be the same boy who had made his uncle's time at Hogwarts hell.
His mind was reeling. Instead of his curiosity waning at the mystery's resolution, it peaked.
James was ripped from his thoughts, though, when his mother spoke.
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but he still managed to catch every word.
"He's gotten so old, seventeen. I told you already, of course, but it still amazes me. It seems like only yesterday that I was holding him in my arms.
"He looks just like Harry, my eyes, of course, and he acts just like his father." Ginny looked thoughtful. (James couldn't see this, however.)
"But if you asked me, I'd say that he reminds me of you a little." she added softly.
James released the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He didn't like the way she spoke tenderly to him – his headstone – almost in a loving way.
Ginny whipped around violently, and James froze.
Her eyes searched the space where James stood, invisible. Finally, after several long moments, she went back to the graves.
Just when he thought he was safe, she spoke again,
"Hello, James."