Chapter 6: 30 July 2017

Theo stood with his arm wrapped around Hermione's waist as his eyes were locked on the unmarked grave at the cemetery on the Nott Estate. Even though Harry had never been to this cursed property, this was the only place that Theo and Hermione could find peace to rest his memory.

Theo and Hermione were joined at the empty grave by their four children, Blaise, Ginny, Luna, and surprisingly Draco. They hadn't thought to invite anyone else, as over the course of the past seven years other friendships and even some family ties had been severed. The conspiracies, the 'inside stories', it'd all come to a head and for their sanity, they'd had to let people go.

As a body had never been retrieved, Theo and Hermione had been forced to ask the now Minister of Magic, Cormac McLaggen, to have Harry legally declared deceased. The request had been denied and they were informed that they were not to put a headstone with his name for anyone to visit. His reasoning being there can't be a headstone for the living.

Instead of being next to his parents as he'd wished, they'd instead been forced to put Harry's stone here.

Potter Family

That's all it said. Because if they were to print Harry's name or birthday on the stone, McLaggen had made clear he would have them prosecuted. Attention they didn't need with James coming into his final year at Hogwarts. He was having enough trouble with his peers as it was, the added pressure would only make things worse.

"I'm so sorry," Hermione muttered, stepping forward and away from Theo. He knew his wife wasn't speaking to him, she was talking to Harry. "Since I was eleven it was my job to keep you safe, and I failed you." She murmured, so softly that Theo could just hear her words. Tears fell freely from her eyes as she dropped to her knees and pressed her forehead against the stone. "I'm so sorry, Harry."

"You didn't fail him," Ginny said, sinking into the ground next to her friend, throwing an arm around Hermione's shoulders. "The Ministry did. They still are." The other witch said, keeping her voice low since Harry's four children stood nearby.

Theo looked away from the witches to not intrude on the moment, and instead to his children. James, now seventeen, looked remarkably like Harry. Though he had his mother's red hair and her hazel eyes, everything else about him was Harry. The way his hair stuck up, the fierce determination he had in his eye. It was all his father, and that had made his years at Hogwarts more difficult than anyone wanted to admit. The boy had suffered, and just as Harry had, he did it in silence. If it hadn't been for Professor Longbottom, Theo wasn't convinced that James would have stayed in school.

Portia was next to her brother, clutching his hand as if he were her lifeline. At fourteen and going into her fourth year, she had struggled the most with Harry's disappearance. She'd been a daddy's girl, having him wrapped snugly around her little finger since the day she was born. Her blue eyes were vacant and her face slack, having mostly forgotten her father in the years since he'd disappeared. However, her heart ached for him and how he'd made her feel.

Remus and Lilian were together, slightly behind their siblings. Both having inherited their father's black hair and his emerald eyes; they were forced to walk through a life hearing whispers of what a pity it was that Harry had left them. As Lilian had grown older, she'd clung to her brother for support, and he'd happily taken on responsibility.

Remus, being thirteen and in school, had begun acting out when not with Lilian, mimicking his older brother's behaviours. Being the sons of Harry Potter had been an enormous pressure on both boys, and it showed through their years at school.

"So that's it then?" James asked, speaking for the first time that day. "The Ministry says he's not dead and we're supposed to just accept their story that he walked out on us?" His face burned red as he looked at the adults gathered around.

"He would have never left us." Portia replied, her eyes locked on the stone. "He loved us."

"No," Theo said, looking at his children. "We know that he'd never leave us voluntarily, and we have to hold onto his memory. That's all we have left," Theo finished a tear sliding down his face.

"Well, that's utter shit," James shouted before storming away. His mother called after him, but he ignored her, leaving his family behind.

After he'd disapparated, the group turned back to the empty grave, just looking at the blank stone. Eventually, one by one they started to leave. Draco being the first, shortly followed by Ginny, Blaise, and Luna.

When it was only Theo, Hermione, and their children left, Portia quietly made her excuses and left with her siblings. Theo was grateful to the insightful girl, allowing him and Hermione to mourn their husband alone for a moment. Even though she shared no biological ties with Harry, she'd inherited his understanding of emotional support.

Theo turned his full attention to the stone, with the perfectly manicured lawn in front of it. Seven years of searching. Seven years of praying to the Gods. And all they were given was this.

"I love you," Theo whispered, reaching out for his wife's hand.

"I know," she replied, her body going rigid at his touch. They stood hand in hand for just a moment, before Hermione pulled away to dab at the tears at her eyes. "I'll see you at home," she said, reaching out to touch Harry's grave one last time before she followed Portia, Remus, and Lilian's forms in the distance.

Now alone, Theo stood, not paying any mind to the time passing by. It could have been a few moments or hours, his only companion the leaves rustling in the trees.

"It should have been me," Theo said, touching the headstone. Turning and following where his family had gone to the mansion, Theo knew that a part of him was forever staying in that graveyard.

A/N: Theo's story continues in Where the Stars Pierce the Darkness

Summary: Eleven years after the disappearance of their husband, Harry Potter, Hermione has had enough of Theo's self-destructive behaviours and is ready to call it quits. Respecting her wishes, Theo leaves, and goes to the only person he thinks he can turn to, Draco Malfoy. With his relationships with his ex-wife and children strained, Theo leans on a broken Draco and together they begin to piece their lives back together.