Team
Falmouth Falcons
Position
Chaser 1/Captain
Main Prompt
Geb 'God of the Earth' [Egyptian]: Write about the patriarch of a family.
Optional Prompts
[relationship type] best friends
Word Count
1,015
Story contains mentions of canon character death
It was just past midnight on the 31st of July, 2018, and Harry James Potter is already very much awake, not that he could have slept if he wanted. Today was his 38th birthday and he dreaded the celebrations that he knew his family was planning.
He watched the day arrive as the moon crossed the sky, it still looked full and he couldn't bring himself to stare for more than a few minutes as it started to stir up old memories. Memories of still bodies whose hearts had stopped beating far too soon. Memories of the kind werewolf who finally got everything he deserved after a lifetime of torture, just before his life was torn away.
Harry was now the same age Remus had been, the oldest he would ever be. He realized too that Remus had been the oldest, the last to die, and for each birthday from now on he would be celebrating for all of them, living for them.
He went over to the corner of his room where he kept an old trunk, it held the few good things he had from his childhood, though to most it probably looked like junk.
Kneeling down he moved aside the broken 2 way mirror that no longer worked and the old invisibility cloak he hadn't taken out in years. He pulled from the chest the worn photo album he had been given as he boarded the train, just after his first year at Hogwarts, hesitating slightly as he saw the blank piece of parchment, these things had once helped him so much and now they lay dormant.
He brought the book to the living room so he wouldn't wake his wife and sat down to flip through it. He had added pages to it after the war, having found more pictures and wanting to remember all of those they had lost.
Today he once again stopped on his favourite picture, it had been taken just as his parents moved into their house, the only picture he had of them with Remus and Sirius that didn't include the traitor. He had had pettigrew removed from the other pictures but in them was still a blank space.
The four of them were laughing, no furniture in site and surrounded by boxes as they ate pizza on the floor. When he gave him that photo Sirius had told him that night was almost exactly nine months before he was born.
He wasn't sure when he fell asleep but he was woken some hours later by his ten year old daughter as she climbed into his lap. "What are you doing, papa?"
"Just looking at some pictures." He smiled and straightened his glasses before showing them to her. "I've shown you pictures of your grandparents before."
She nodded as she leaned against him and flipped through the book.
Ginny soon came down and smiled as she kissed them both on the cheek. "Go upstairs and get dressed, grandma is expecting us after breakfast." She said as Lily obediently hopped down and went to get changed.
Ginny sat on the arm of the chair and looked at the pictures as she ran her fingers through her husband's hair. "Are you okay? We can call it off if you want."
Harry shook his head and closed the book. "No, I'm fine, your mums already gone through so much trouble to put together a party."
Ginny smiled and kissed him. "In that case, happy birthday."
—
When they arrived at the burrow later that morning it was already bustling with people. He thought briefly that he might have preferred something more intimate with just his wife and kids but this is how it had always been, and they were his family too.
His first stop was the kitchen as always, he smiled as he saw Molly, already busy at work, every pot seemed to be used as they stirred themselves. She turned around and hugged him tightly before pulling away to look at him.
"Happy birthday Harry dear, it's been too long between visits, and you look skinny." She cupped his cheek. "Don't worry, we'll get that fixed." She said before hugging the rest of the potters in turn. "I think that's everyone arrived now, go through to the backyard and see the others."
The kids ran off ahead to see their cousins as Harry was greeted warmly by the rest of the Weasley's, they had always treated him like family.
—
After dinner they sat around a fire and laughed, telling old stories and jokes, and in that moment Harry felt like the loved ones they lost were with them again.
He could see Remus and Tonks in their son, who loved to entertain others by changing his features, but also sat so quietly sometimes when he was deep in thought.
Fred II had more of his uncles mischievous spirit as he chased his female cousins with a worm.
And his own children, together they had all the best parts of their grandparents. James could often be found at gatherings plotting with Fred II, but their pranks were mostly harmless. Albus loved school, he was always working on something. And Lily was their sweet child, but she could also take care of herself.
There was one who wasn't represented in the faces he saw, but he often felt that his godfather was watching over him still. He would stop and stare whenever he saw a shadow that resembled the large black dog.
As the party was wrapping up and everyone was retiring to their makeshift beds Harry stood on the porch, staring up at the brightest star in the sky as it sat next to the moon that night.
He felt someone join him on either side and looked from one of his best friends to the other, he didn't have to say a word as Ron placed a hand on his shoulder and Hermione hugged his arm.
Though the war had been won 2 decades ago Harry often felt like he was 17 again, like he was still fighting.