A/N: There is no despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our first great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered and be healed, to have despaired and have recovered hope.

George Eliot

Out of the night that covers me

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance,

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

Invictus— William Earnest Henley

It was a pleasant, cloudless evening, and the moon was bright and visible in the sky. The only thing more poetic for this night would have been if the moon was full. Harry was trying not to focus on the fact that he was back in the place where he had not only lost his parents and any chance at an everyday life but escaped nearly getting murdered twice, the second time just this past Christmas Eve. No, tonight was about Lupin and Tonks's funeral. The entire Burrow clan (blood and non-blood alike) sensed Harry's trepidation as they entered Godric's Hollow together by apparition.

"It must be hard coming back here, dear, and I can't imagine the occasion makes it any easier." Said Mrs. Weasley very gently.

He simply nodded; she had no idea just how close he'd come to being killed a second time here. Not even Ginny knew; Harry didn't want to cause her any further anguish or reignite her feud with Ron over having left his best friend and now girlfriend. The fact was that only Hermione truly understood just how difficult it was for Harry to be here again. She seemed to know what he was thinking because she detached herself from Ron joining Harry on his other side that was unoccupied by Ginny.

"Don't think about it, I know you will want to blame yourself, but that won't help. Said Hermione quietly.

Ginny nodded and smiled encouragingly. "You'll be okay."

He nodded again and put his arms around both women as they led the way through the village while everyone else hung back, leaving a small distance between themselves and the other three. There would be the wake first, and then the burial would come after. The former was located well away from Harry's destroyed childhood home, in the opposite direction for which he was grateful. Nonetheless, many random villagers spotted him as they walked. When a mass of people had gathered, all were clamoring to get a good look at their hero. Ginny finally lost her patience.

"Get, Out of the Way!" She said through clenched teeth.

Ginny forced her way past the group of strangers, pulling Harry with her while Hermione and others sealed them off from being bombarded again.

Harry sighed, "If I never come back here after this, I'll be okay with that."

"Don't let your fame or fear stop you from coming back here. Lupin and Tonks would be disappointed if you never visited their graves." Said Ginny taking his hand now.

"I know, it's just…" He let out a long sigh.

Ginny cupped Harry's cheek consolingly. "I know…" She continued quietly with a tender expression behind her eyes. "After the funeral, I have something to show you here that will make you feel better, but first we have to get through saying goodbye to Lupin and Tonks."

Harry squeezed Ginny's hand as if silently asking for help. "Stay with me; I don't know how I will make it through otherwise…"

"Always, Harry, always!" She kissed him tenderly.

Everyone else closed the distance to them minutes later. Fleur's French accent, sharp with empathetic irritation, was the first Harry heard. "People are ridiculous; Arry is not something to gawk at like an animal! We are just trying to get to a funeral."

"I see what Kingsley warned us about." Said Ron shaking his head. "People recognized Hermione and me, and even Luna kept asking us what it's like to be friends with Harry Potter… He was sympathetic as he shrugged his shoulders. "I reckon people think that you were hatched or something."

"Yeah, and that's why I'm not keen to rush out into the real world, mate," Harry told Ron feeling subdued.

"Let's go. Andromeda went through a lot to fulfill Tonks and Lupin's wishes and do everything here in Godric's Hollow." Said Mr. Weasley hurriedly; it seemed he was anxious not to be mobbed by people again.

"Why couldn't we just Apparate inside the Church?" Asked George irritably.

Molly answered George sounding blunt. "Because her husband is dead… Anyone else that she might have had to watch her Grandson, namely Harry as Godfather, is coming to the funeral to say goodbye to Lupin and Tonks." She was walking at a quicker pace and caught up with Harry and Ginny; thus, still speaking rhetorically. "Andromeda did not want Apparating directly into the church because popping noises could make baby Teddy fuss or cry— it's St. Jerome's the only church in the village."

Hermione was surprised." Wasn't Tonks whole family disgusted by their marriage? Why would her Mum arrange the funeral?"

"I expect that she regrets how she acted about it now." Said Mrs. Weasley somberly.

"I understand that." Said Percy quietly, who was thinking about the years that he shunned his family for their choices.

"I would have watched Teddy if she asked." Said Harry, thought floating around in his head at this news.

Molly gave Harry a concerned look. "And miss the funeral? Don't be silly, dear… We're here…" She added a few minutes later. "Harry, you go in first with Ginny, and we will follow you." They nodded and went inside.

Harry had only been to church a few times, never for a funeral. Aunt Petunia took him as a small child, undoubtedly hoping that it would help with what she deemed terrible behavior. By comparison, St. Jerome's was much smaller. Harry and Ginny took a pew upfront in the first row.

Harry greeted Andromeda very somberly. "Hello Mrs. Tonks, I'm sorry we see each other again under these circumstances, your husband and then Dora, I can't imagine…"

She smiled sadly. Teddy was content in her arms. "Thank you, Harry, but you're one of the few who can understand this kind of loss… My Grandson will never have his mother or father. I can only hope you don't also lose your wife should you ever find the right woman."

Harry sighed heavily. "I have found my future wife, and I certainly hope I don't lose Ginny; I wouldn't survive that. I don't know how you have the strength…"

"If not for Teddy, I don't think I would." She turned to Ginny. "Molly and Arthur Weasley's only daughter. Dora told me much about you, says your quite a formidable woman."

Ginny smiled. "Six older brothers and being Harry Potter's girlfriend, I have to be." Harry looked sheepish when Ginny rolled her eyes at him. She addressed Andromeda somberly now. "I am sorry we are meeting under these circumstances. Dora was an older sister to me, and her Auror skills were amazing. I'm grateful she protected my youngest brother last summer when moving Harry to our house and speaking of Harry; I know you and your husband helped him when he and Hagrid crashed outside your house escaping Voldemort, thank you."

She nodded with solace in her expression. "I'm glad Harry survived and was able to defeat Voldemort. It means the dead are not so in vain."

"I can take Teddy for you so you can focus on everything else." Said Harry with a small smile.

Andromeda was grateful for the offer. "Thank you very much. "I fed him before we came, so he shouldn't be too bad as long as— "There were several loud popping noises as many former Hogwarts students appeared inside the church entrance. "Oh, for heaven's sake, I told anyone who showed up not to Apparate! They'veupset him!" Teddy began to wail loudly as Andromeda's face flushed with frustration.

"Go," Said Ginny calmly, as Harry carefully took his Godson into his arms, trying to calm him down. "We've got him, and I'm sure more people want to offer condolences too, like the rest of my family, for starters."

The others had finally made their way over to the front few rows of pews. Andromeda nodded gratefully and greeted the rest of the Burrow clan before rushing off to greet and tell off any mourners who made the same mistake.

"Let's sit back down, Harry," Ginny said quietly; he nodded.

"Shh, it's okay little man…" Said Harry softly, working to stem Teddy's crying, his hair changed from sandy brown to Harry's jet black as if suddenly content.

"Somebody loves his Godfather." Said Ginny, a small smile on her face.

"I hope you two aren't getting any ideas." Whispered George, quite amused as he watched them with Teddy.

Ginny rolled her eyes. There was hard sarcasm in her response. "Yeah, because I want to be pregnant before I'm twenty— err sorry, Mum." She added hastily, her face apologetic.

Molly shook her head, evidently pleased her only daughter was not thinking too far ahead." Nonsense dear, you have plenty of time for that later."

The number of mourners increased relatively soon, and thankfully, most refrained from Apparating into the church. Harry noted that the surviving order members and most of his Hogwarts year showed up from all four houses showed up, including Kingsley, McGonagall, and all of Harry's dorm mates. There was also, to the surprise of many, Malfoy and his mother. While Narcissa greeted her sister amicably, Malfoy made his way over to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, only addressing the first three.

"Potter, Weasley, Granger…" Said Malfoy indifferently.

"Malfoy." They were just as indifferent.

"I just wanted to say thank you for saving my life twice," Malfoy spoke hastily and quietly, but he looked directly at Harry as he said it.

"Thank you for not giving me away when they captured us." Harry acknowledged back to him.

Malfoy nodded, looking at Ron and Hermione now. "I found these in the manor…" He pulled out two wands. "I haven't any idea which is which, but I'm sure they are yours." He tossed both wands to them, his face passive. "You're lucky that they were still there… He was furious when you escaped."

Ron and Hermione both said. "Thank you." He nodded curtly to them just as his mother was at his side.

Narcissa looked directly at Harry. "Thank you for saving my Son's life." She said, quite emotionally.

"Thanks for lying to Voldemort, saying that I died; if you did not have that courage, things might have been much worse."

"There's no amount of courage a mother will not summon on behalf of our children." Said Narcissa with conviction.

"My mother felt the same; she gave her life when Voldemort wanted to kill me even though he offered to spare her multiple times in exchange for me," Harry said with equal conviction.

"You survived by her sacrifice… Your mother was quite formidable; I did not expect anything less from you." She gave a nod of respect before turning to Draco. "You have been foolish to think that he enjoys his fame or to make fun of his mother's sacrifice, knowing that I would do the same for you. We have followed pureblood superiority for far too long."

"if that is why you followed Voldemort, you should know he was half-blood. I'd remember to choose your own beliefs in the future." Harry said bluntly.

"That's why we have come here, to try and be better people than we were during the era of Voldemort." Said Narcissa stoically.

Hermione sounded polite but strained. "I'm sure your sister appreciates it, and in any case, it's good to know you and your Son are not evil; your husband is less easy to read, but maybe the next fifteen years a Dementor free Azkaban will soften him too."

Narcissa did not seem to have any energy to discuss her husband. She nodded to her Son before bidding farewell with a tilt of her head. Hermione and Ron stashed their wands in their pockets, letting out sighs of relief.

"I wasn't expecting that," Harry said bluntly.

"We'll talk about it later; it's starting now." Molly quietly a row behind them.

The same older wizard who presided over Dumbledore's funeral and Bill and Fleur's wedding came out of a door beyond the altar. He spoke of courage, of what it takes to fight for a better world for your child, knowing that you may not survive the war, of dying a meaningful death fighting for a peaceful future for their Son. Harry only heard the end of the speech. He said that the dead are never truly gone as long as we honor the fallen live life well. Harry allowed himself to focus on Teddy, who was once again content, blissfully unaware of his parent's funeral happening around him…

"I'm going to make sure that you know exactly who your parents were and where you come from, Teddy," Harry whispered.

"You are so sweet to him." Said Ginny, a broad smile on her face watching Harry cocoon his Godson protectively in his arms." When we do have kids, you will be best when they are young; it's if any of ours start to rebel that you'll be glad I'm around." Ginny said predictably.

"You are probably right." Harry acknowledged, glancing sideways at her as Teddy opened his eyes again.

"Stubbornness only gets worse as people get older." Ginny reminded him smugly before adding quietly." It looks like it's time to go up and say goodbye." She was very drained from the realization.

"Let everyone else go first, I— I want to be the last," Harry said adamantly. Ginny nodded, smiling somberly at him.

Many people nodded sympathetically at Harry after paying respects to Lupin and Tonks. When Kingsley had finished, Harry made sure to tell him that he would meet with him soon. About 20 minutes later, the older wizard instructed people to make their way over to the cemetery for the burial.

"Just flick your wand when you are ready; they will be encased and transported to their plot, no rush, of course." The older wizard said gently.

"We will leave you alone." Said Mrs. Weasley softly.

"I won't want to be in the graveyard with all those people; I can imagine the whispers about my parents buried there…" He shuddered at the thought.

"I understand; I'll send a Patronus when the burial is over, and we're all that is left but do take as much time as you want to pay respects." After a warm smile, she led the others out of the church.

"I'll take Teddy back so you can take your time; I've already said my goodbyes." Said Andromeda quietly.

Harry and Ginny stood up and walked to Lupin and Tonks's still bodies on the table side-by-side, like just after joining Hogwarts' battle casualties. The difference as Harry looked at them now was that they were clean without battle wear and tore and just seemed relatively peaceful in comparison.

"I have no idea why, but this church St. Jerome's was it— feels important, Gin," Harry told her quietly.

"Yeah, I feel it too," Ginny said quietly back.

"Do you think Teddy knows what is happening?" Asked Harry.

He is only a few months old, so probably not." Ginny said logically.

"Yeah, I reckon that's a good thing." Said Harry calmly.

All of a sudden, Harry felt his grief hit him like a gut punch. He knelt in front of them, tears welling quickly in his eyes." I'm sorry you will never know your Son, but just like I told him, I'll make sure he knows you both. Remus, I think Tonks personality will be no match for the Werewolf gene, so if you are still worried, you don't have to be. Besides, nobody who knew you would care if your Son was a Werewolf." Harry said emphatically." You would have been great parents…" The realization that they would never raise their Son destroyed Harry, and the tears he'd been holding back fell thickly down his face." We had the chance to kill Dolohov after we left the wedding. Said Harry in a haunting voice. "But for me and my stupid nobility!" He stood up and clenched his fists so tightly that he could hardly see straight.

"No, don't you do it." Ginny said through her tears."

"Showing mercy to someone who did not deserve it has left another child an orphan!" Said Harry with hard anguish.

"They choose to fight for a better future for their Son; sparing Dolohov did not get them killed! Ginny said this quite fiercely.

"But I could have prevented their deaths!" Said Harry, desperately.

"Or they might have been killed by somebody else; you can't save everyone, Harry." Said Ginny sternly.

"If I— "Harry insisted again.

"If you made different decisions Cedric, Sirius, Lupin, Tonks, might still be alive; that's what eating at you," Ginny said sadly.

"I don't know how to let that guilt go when better decisions could have saved people." Harry quietly admitted.

Ginny sighed, took a few minutes to pay respects, and then nodded to Harry, who flicked his wand and watched as Lupin and Tonks were magically entombed together in a white casket, and when the flames that erupted disappeared, it was gone.

Ginny joined Harry sitting back down on the pew. Her voice was gentle. "Harry, if you keep going over what-if scenarios in your head, it will drive you mental. People die. Fighting against evil Harry, fighting a war, people die because they were in the wrong time place at the wrong time. They die because of poor decisions or freak accident or because of a perfect storm of events cause their death." She took a hand in her own, leaning back against the pew.

"I know people die every single day, Gin." Said Harry sadly.

"Then you know that you cannot change the choices you made three months ago, last winter, last fall, two years ago, three years ago…" She let tears fall steadily now." Cedric, Sirius, Albus, Fred, Remus, Tonks, your parent's human lives, and so many others are gone for good…" She leaned her head on his shoulder, silent as tears continued to fall."

"I know that they are gone; I just wish I could change it." Said Harry, still blinking tears back.

Ginny turned, resting her forehead on Harry's. "I wish that too." She said in a longing whisper. Then she held his cheek and regained her conviction. "But even if twenty years from now there are Time Turner's that could travel years into the past, it would create even worse circumstances. I'm sure of that."

"I am too." He had his hands in her hair now. Harry sighed heavily. "The constant pain of everyone we've lost I don't know how to escape it, Gin. I'm trying, but the harder I try, the more I feel it, and the more I feel it, the more I feel like I failed them all." The wounded tone of his words was apparent.

Ginny answered quietly. "It's this one that is the hardest for you, though, because it's another child who lost his parents before he would ever know them."

"I don't know what to do to let it go, Gin," Harry said anxiously.

"You need to replace pain and loss with happiness and love and have many plans to help with that." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed Harry tenderly for several minutes playing absentmindedly with his hair.

A silver streak came through the church entrance and formed into a dove speaking with Mrs. Weasley's voice. "The burial is over. Andromeda wanted to get Teddy home, it's just us now, but Neville opted to stay too; come when you're ready."

They broke apart as the Patronus vanished. Ginny whispered. "Are you ready?"

"No, but putting off saying that final goodbye is not going to make it any easier, so let's go," Harry said sadly.

They got up, and with Ginny on his arm, Harry Apparated to the graveyard in Godric's Hollow. The small group of people was easy to spot even from the entrance.

Harry pulled out his wand." I want Mum and dad to be here too." He conjured his Stag.

"Makes sense." Said Ginny, pulling out her wand and conjuring her Doe.

Harry and Ginny's Patronuses lit up the night and drew the attention of those in the group that faced the entrance, causing those facing away from it to turn around. There were two audible gasps among them, undoubtedly Neville and Luna, who didn't know about this magical phenomenon yet.

As Harry and Ginny joined everyone, Neville was in awe of what he was seeing." I've never seen Patronuses gold like that, and yours changed Ginny. I didn't know they can change."

"Oh, it's uncommon, but it does happen though I have never seen that kind of aura. Now I understand the white of Harry and Ginny's auras." She was looking at them with enlarged eyes.

"I figured you would want your parents here, Harry." Said Hermione with a small smile.

Neville looked between them with confusion. "You're parents? But they are…" He stopped short of reminding Harry that his parents were dead.

"Our physical life is over, but we live on through magical reincarnation," Said Lilly calmly.

"That's quite rare. I'm very happy for you, Harry." Luna said kindly.

Harry smiled appreciatively, but he was still quite removed from everything and not in the mood to talk much, if at all.

"Thanks for passing along the stuff about a ceremony at Hogwarts, Harry, Luna," Neville said as they both nodded in acknowledgment, but their attention was on the joint gravestone. Neville's eyes drifted to it too." I had to stay; Lupin was the first person that helped me believe in my magical ability." Somber solace was in those words.

"Remus had a habit bringing out the potential of those he was around. I was resistant, but he and Lily eventually tamed my ego." Said James quietly.

"I knew he was a Werewolf the moment I saw him because I can see Auras, but I learned that he was a very kind and patient man," Luna said in her emphatically airy voice.

"Tonks loved Remus when he believed he was not good enough to love her because of his circumstances," Ginny said quietly. Harry met her gaze and saw her eyes burning with conviction." After they married and Teddy was born, even then, she never left her husband's side." She let silent tears fall before continuing." I know they would have been good parents." She squeezed Harry's hand encouragingly, but he slowly shook his head. Hermione abruptly burst into sobs and was hugged by Ron, and both older couples followed suit.

Neville and Luna walked up to Harry and Ginny. He put a hand on his shoulder." I'll see you, Harry, don't like leaving Gran alone too long. I'm glad you're Mum and Dad are alive in some way. Luna told me you are going back for your seventh year. I'm not; that Auror job offer is my chance to prove myself and make Gran proud, can't pass up that. I'll be at the ceremony honoring the battle for Hogwarts."

"See you then, Neville, and thanks for killing the snake." He nodded, smiled at Ginny, and Disapparated.

Mrs. Weasley addressed Harry kindly. "We all agreed before you got here, we're going to leave so you can be alone, Harry. We know you're staying Ginny." She added to her daughter.

Harry hugged Molly." It is not that I don't appreciate you or anyone else." He said apologetically.

"We all deal with grief and loss differently; it's quite alright." She assured him quietly.

"Thank you." He said before breaking the hug and giving a small smile.

The others Disapparated moments later, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief that he was alone with Ginny and his parents, which was all he'd wanted from the second he set foot in Godric's Hollow again.

Ginny watched Harry in front of Lupin and Tonks's grave and then turned to Lilly, "Their deaths hit too close for him, another child without their parents." She said quietly. "Remus was the first person that gave him a personal connection to you both."

"He feels an incredibly overwhelming sense of loss this time," Lily said sadly.

"Moony had a kid; I don't think he thought he deserved anything like that. We just inserted ourselves into his life, and he eventually accepted it." James said quietly.

"I understand that." Harry spoke for the first time in a while." I'm ready to go."

"It's disrespectful not to visit your Mum and Dad's graves." Ginny reminded him bluntly.

"Don't worry about it." They said together. "We should return to you both before the light gets other villagers' attention." Added Lilly.

"Yes, the cemetery is in the middle of the village, visible from many houses." James' last word was to his friend." Goodnight Moony, and his Mrs." He was gone in the next instant.

"Don't blame yourself, Harry; your father and I are allowed on both sides now. Remus told us to pass that along." Said Lilly calmly before she was gone too.,

"Let's go." Ginny said, taking his hand as they walked through the cemetery, "You are very quiet, and that always means you're overthinking."

"Do you know where you are going?" Harry asked uncertainly.

"Mum took the family to Godric's Hollow when I was seven to pay our respects to you and your parents, remember?" Ginny reminded him; Harry nodded as he recalled this information. "I fell in love with you then without even realizing it."

"I will never be worthy of your love. I don't even think I'm worth my mother's sacrifice." Harry said in evident self-hatred.

"Sod off with that bloody rubbish; I'm not sure if it's you or Ron who has the bigger issue with accepting your worth to those of us who love you," Ginny said impatiently. "Like me, including seven-year-old me, and I left evidence here in Godric's Hollow. 10-year-old proof that you can't get rid of me just because you constantly fall back into thinking you should be alone." They'd arrived at his parent's graves. She sighed. "Now, it's your Mum's turn." There was a brief silence as Lilly took over.

"Sit down, Harry." Said Lilly calmly. He did automatically. "Did you know that I picked the quote on our grave?"

Harry fixed his eyes on the phrase he'd seen once before and repeated it aloud. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

"Do you know why I picked those words?" Lilly asked.

"Living beyond death," Harry answered, thinking of what Hermione had told him at the time.

"That's one interpretation, but it's not why I picked them. You, Harry, were the reason I picked those words." Lilly emotionally told her Son.

"What do you mean?" He asked in confusion.

"Death is not the greatest loss in life; the greatest loss in life is what dies inside of us while we live." When Harry merely shrugged, Lilly continued. "I knew somehow what you would suffer from the moment your father and I heard the prophecy. The hardest thing about death is the pain it causes those the dead leave behind." Lilly put an arm around her Son.

Harry was shaking now; the end of her words punched a seismic hole in the wall around his heart." It hurts Mum; it always hurts!" He shouted in sad anger before slumping sideways against Lilly like a small child, once again not caring even a little that she was only acting through Ginny.

" I know, sweetheart." She said calmly in his ear.

" No, you don't." He said weakly.

" Harry, I do know. You are my baby boy, now a man. You are drowning in so much pain. Every single time Ginny or any of your friends pulls you out, you slip under again."

" I can't handle the pain, Mum; I'm too weak." Harry said anxiously.

"Yet you have survived nearly twenty years of the cruelty of various degrees; the last thing I would call you is weak sweetheart," Lilly told him, gently stroking his hair. "But I picked those words for a reason, Harry." She spoke with much more conviction now." I picked them because the last enemy you must destroy is the pain of death. You are facing your darkness hours right now."

" Why now? Everything is over." He said as he turned on his back, staring up at the sky melancholy.

" You just answered your question; everything is over. You have had someone to direct all your anger, guilt, and loss towards your entire life, Voldemort."

" What are you saying, Mom?" Harry asked, turning his head, looking directly into the light that accompanied Ginny's eyes when Lilly actively shared her body.

" There's a saying that usually follows times of evil and its accompanying tragedy and loss. Who will survive, and what will be left of them?" She frowned at Harry now." You never expected to stay your death walk." It was a delicate but paining statement.

"I'd made peace with dying, right at that moment," Harry admitted quietly.

"I felt very much the same when Voldemort killed me, and I know your father did too," Lilly said quietly back. "And that, I think, is what is what is troubling you so much now, Harry."

Harry sat up and wrapped himself against her very childishly. "What do you mean?"

" I can see the trace of regret in your eyes, sweetheart. After all, you've suffered. After all the confusion and hurt, the loss and despair, the pain of watching friends and people who were the only connection you had to us and what was our physical lives, get killed. It must have felt so freeing thinking you were leaving all that pain behind."

"Do you think I wanted to die?" Harry asked, slightly offended.

"Did you?" Lilly asked delicately.

"It would have been easier," Harry said quietly.

"Lilly sighed, hugging her Son comfortingly. "That's true, Harry; death is easier than the pain of watching those we care about die and dealing with the grief of loss. Just as hate is safer than love, yet you choose the harder of them both every day."

"I think I'm at my limit Mum," Harry said, extremely tiresomely.

"That's what your mind is telling you," Lilly agreed sympathetically." But your soul never crossed into limbo, and your heart; you love Ginny so much that the last thoughts you assumed you would ever have been of the two of you together." She reminded him gently.

" I wish I could get over everything, for Ginny's sake…" Harry sighed. They stood up now.

" I don't think Ginny expects that, it's the negative self-talk that saddens her a great deal, and me too." She added. "How could you ever think that you were not my worth my life, sweetheart?" Lilly asked somberly.

"I'm sorry, Mum, don't cry. I don't mean that… I just wish you and dad too were fully alive. Magic preserves dead bodies. Are you sure you can't just take them back?" He asked his mother, hopefully.

She sighed deeply. "It doesn't work like that, Harry. We cannot inhabit a dead body; your soul and Ginny's are what tethers ours to earthly existence."

"But it's not fair, I want to hug you, and dad, I can't even…" Harry said longingly.

"I know Harry, I know." Lilly hugged him tightly, stroking the back of his head while tears fell from his eyes, and he sobbed silently.

" I love you both." He said, pulling back from the hug.

" We love you too; your father would have been out here also, but it is only late evening, and the light from his spirit infused magical energy could attract a mess of attention." Lilly said quietly.

Harry nodded, feeling subdued." Mum, I never thought I would get the chance to say…" He choked back another sob." Your life, you sacrificed your entire life for me."

" Always, Harry, my wonderfully brave boy." She kissed his forehead. "It's in your very blood how much I love you." Lilly said gently.

Harry suddenly fell apart emotionally and hugged her again, this time extra tightly, his sobbing renewed so much more heavily. It was only now that they had a shell of their human existence that Harry realized how much he wanted them genuinely alive again.

" I'd give anything to have real memories of you, it's so hard to go through life with nothing." Harry said anxiously.

Lilly found herself appealing to whatever more extraordinary beings' magic, or muggle existed.

Please let me give my only Son the fifteen months' worth of memories I have with him before that night… Lilly thought desperately.

She embraced her Son returning his hug with the arms that were not hers; quite suddenly, Harry stopped crying as if stilled by memories. Memories of his mother and his father happily doting on him as he smiled and laughed with them. They flooded his heart and mind with an overwhelming feeling of innocence and contentment he had never felt in his life. These included himself zooming recklessly around on a toy broomstick. The same memory undoubtedly, attached to the torn photograph he'd found last year. It was wonderful feeling memories of being with his mother and father for those 15 months, a lifelong void in his heart finally filled.

Lilly knew from Harry's sudden stillness that the universe answered her prayers. She pulled back a little, smiling sweetly at Harry, and placed a hand on his cheek. "Now you have happy memories of us to carry with you and not just the terrible ones."

" That's all I ever wanted when I was a kid, but I couldn't remember." Harry closed his eyes.

" Now, you can." It was once again, Ginny's voice.

Harry sighed." You are a saint, Ginny; I know it doesn't make sense for me to care so much about having memories of parents I never knew." He finished emotionally." I don't think I realized how much not having them made me angry until I felt it go away when my Mum did whatever she did just now and shared those early memories. How is it that I'm this attached to parents I never knew."

" Emotional attachment is kind of the point. I don't think every mother could turn love into such powerful protection. They made sure that you lived. Your Mum loves you so much that she left a magical imprint in your very blood, protecting you from evil. That's the same way Tonks and Remus felt about Teddy, just without the magic." Ginny reminded him, her hands found their way along Harry's body… One against his chest and calmly beating heart, the other draped lazily around his neck. "Your Mum's right Harry, your greatest enemy, was never Voldemort, it's coping with the pain of death."

Harry sighed heavily. "I've watched people die, many just in the wrong place at the wrong time or because of my mistakes." He closed his eyes with a pained face.

Ginny sighed. "Oh Harry," She nestled her head in his chest. "I know the guilt from so many deaths, and a lot of pain is a huge struggle for you; I can see it in your eyes." She gazed affectionately at him." That's why I'm glad you at least have memories of your parents being with you that you can feel connected to now."

" Me too, and speaking of memories. You said that you left something here that you wanted me to see." Asked Harry, reminded her curiously.

Ginny withdrew her head and smiled up at him." I did, come with me, and you'll see." Said Ginny quietly, taking his hand as she led Harry back through the graveyard.

They paid respects at Lupin and Tonks grave on their way out. Ginny took Harry to the ruins of his parent's home.

He was confused. "What could you have left here in the house?"

"Not in the house, come on you." Ginny told him gently. She led him on until the graffiti-covered gate and sign became visible in front of them." I wrote a long message here."

" Where and hopefully not poetry." Harry said with an innocent grin.

"Very funny Potter, and no, it's a letter." She blushed with a grin.

"You wrote me a letter when you were five?" Harry asked, blushing himself now.

"I'm only showing you, so you understand just how long I've been in love with you." Ginny said bluntly. She led him to the lengthiest section of writing, blushing more as she watched Harry read silently what her seven-year-old self had written.

Harry, I don't think you will ever read this, but I hope you're okay. Mum says you're with Muggles, hidden away from You-Know-Who; he has a name, but I don't like to say it, and I can't spell it anyway. Thank you for stopping him, his Death Eaters killed both of my Uncles, so I know what it's like not to know family too. You must be so confused and sad about your Mum and Dad and living away from your kind. I don't know how, but I can tell you are with lousy people; my family thinks I'm mad, but if you were in a good place in the Muggle world, I don't think I would be so worried. I can't explain it, but I know you need me. I know that's odd, but I just want to protect you, my Mum says that's what love is, and I'm that's how I feel! If you do see this, I hope it isn't until after we are together, it will make a lot more sense by then, and even if I'm not that lucky, I feel like we'll be in each other's lives. No matter what, your fame won't matter to me. I'm thinking of you wherever you are, Harry, and I love you!

Harry turned back to Ginny with an emotional smile, embracing her again. "You are a much better writer when you speak from the heart; this makes me feel special." He stroked her hair, holding her tightly." Now, I have something happy to tie to this place."

Ginny ran both her hands slowly through his messy black hair." That's why I shared it with you. I wanted you to know that someone livingloved you when you were a child because I was somehow sure that you didn't have anyone."

"I didn't." Harry admitted in a slow, pained exhale.

Ginny nodded and continued in a soft encouraging whisper. "That makes you all the more special, Harry. Honestly, you could just as easily not give a damn about anything or anyone, but you're the exact opposite." She scanned the destroyed cottage sympathetically. "You'll be okay, Harry."

He looked at the point where the house had been blasted apart by the rebounding killing curse some 16 years earlier.

Harry took Ginny's hand, lacing their fingers. There was a steady resolve now. "I'm doing better leaving here now than I was the last time I came back here, or even when we got here tonight." He met her eyes. "That's because of my Mum and you; as long as you don't give up on me, I'll eventually be less of an unpredictable mess."

Ginny wore an emotional smile now. "Give up on you? I'll carry you through all this if I have to Harry Potter. The important thing is you don't give up on yourself." Her hand found its way onto his cheek.

He smiled utterly transfixed by the bright brown of his eyes." I have had a mother whose love is so powerful that it repelled the spell of death. Bad luck bordering on a curse, and I've had an entire evening of perfect luck. But the luckiest I have ever been, that's you and your love for me, Ginny Weasley. There's no other woman that would shoulder the mess of everything that my life is."

" As long as you know who you've got." She gave him a playful smile.

Harry kissed her deeply, their lips eventually parted, though they didn't increase the kiss's pace, it was instead calm and purposeful. They lightly pulled at each other for a short time until Ginny broke the kiss, but just barely.

" Let's go home, Harry." Ginny whispered tenderly.

"Home is wherever I'm with you, Gin." She grinned.

The two of them Disapparated moments later with Ginny Harry's arm, and he, even though it would still be a long journey, felt for the first time like he was on the road to moving past the pain caused by both wars against Voldemort.

A/N: Rough emotional chapter here, I'm not great at writing funerals. Yes, I could have made a bunch of speeches, but I didn't want to do the same sort of thing I did for Fred. Godric's Hollow seemed like the perfect place to lay Lupin and Tonks to rest, but it is also the beginning of Harry's suffering, and that is what I wanted to focus on here; the worst of Harry's post war emotional state is likely behind him now.