Disclaimer: This work contains mature and explicit themes including but not limited to violence, drug and alcohol abuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation and many more. Please consider your own triggers prior to reading this work. Please take care of yourself and skip this one if you need to.

A/N: Two-year jump for this one.

"When I was with you was when I felt whole. When you were with me it wasn't just two people together in a room, it was two souls swimming in eternity. Every moment with you felt timeless."

December 1999

Harry awoke with a start, the image of Voldemort fading from his mind along with the last vestiges of sleep. He felt the cold December air nip at his skin which was peppered with perspiration from the latest nightmare.

Nearly two years had passed since the Battle of Hogwarts. Since he and his friends had won the war, but only after paying a price that was too great. 55 souls of innocent men women and children had died fighting for the light, and unlike him they didn't get a second chance at life. They didn't get to decide whether they wanted to board the train or not.

19 months had come and gone since Harry had taken the life of his oppressor in their famed final duel. Since he had freed himself from the enslavement of the tyrannical prophecy that he had never wanted to be a part of in the first place. Yet, despite his soul being irradicated from this plane of existence, Voldemort lived on. He continued to haunt Harry in the night when his eyes were closed and he yearned for sleep, and during the days when he was alone in the empty house his godfather had left him.

Hary rose from his bed, his feet touching the cold floor and sending a chill through him. He held his hands out in front of himself and saw that they were shaking. He began to count as he drew in a deep breath, held it, and then let it out. And then he did so again, and again, and again, until his heart rate slowed back to a normal rhythm in his chest, just like his ministry appointed mind healer had taught him in those months following the war.

He could still hear her words as if she were here with him now. "Post-traumatic stress is to be expected after all you've endured Harry. We might never be able to push it away completely, but we can manage it. Make it so you can live with it."

Harry scowled, bringing his hands up to his face and rubbing his eyes. If this is what management looked like, if this is what his life was going to entail going forward then he would have preferred to have stayed dead in the forest.

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Harry felt a torrent of guilt immediately course through him. How could he think that when so many others wished they could have just one more day with their loved ones. He was just frustrated, he reasoned. After all, sleep only found him late in the night and stayed with him for short bursts, lasting only until the nightmares began, which usually meant not long after his eyes closed.

Harry checked his watch, a gift from Daphne last year for his birthday, and saw that it was just after three in the morning. Then he noticed that the date window showed the number 25 and realized belatedly that today was Christmas.

He rubbed his face once more and shook his head, attempting to rid his mind of all the negative emotions he just couldn't seem to get out. When that didn't work, he did what he usually did to make himself feel better. He thought of Daphne. His rock.

After the war had ended, the first thing he had done was apparate to Greengrass Manor to see her. He hugged her and told her that he loved her and that it was over, that they could be together. To this day that memory served as his dedicated patronus memory. The way she had held him, told him she loved him, and began to speak of their life together; it was enough to make Harry forget all the troubles he had endured.

When the time came later that summer for him to decide between joining the Auror Corps or going back for another year at Hogwarts, it was ultimately her decision that he had followed which led him back to school, to his first home, and it had been the best year of his life.

He wasn't sure if it was the ambient magic of the castle, or the fact he saw Daphne daily, but while he was there the nightmares bothered him less. He had them a few times a week, but most of the time he was able to rest comfortably.

They got to study for NEWT's together, go on dates, and just behave like normal teenagers. In the middle of it all he could almost forget everything he had just lived through, could almost imagine it was nothing more than one of the dreams his mind conjured up for him.

He felt as the fear, anxiety, and guilt leaked out of him slowly, until all that remained in its place was Daphne Greengrass. He opened his eyes and sighed. She didn't know how much she did for him; how much she meant to him. He could never find the words to express it, but he wanted to spend the rest of his life searching for them anyway.

He loved her so unbearably much. She made him better. He reached into his nightstand dresser and pulled out the small velvet box, opening it and looking at the ring inside, his mothers ring. He had never been so certain of a decision in his life.

"Harry, there's no way it can be responsible to give a child who isn't quite two a gift like that," Hermione said, exasperation in her voice.

"But look how much fun he's having 'Mione," Ron shot back before Harry could respond.

Just then the toddler in question zoomed in on his new broom at speeds that honestly were a bit worrying, but he was giggling all the while. His features, which usually defaulted to the brown hair and black eyes of his grandmother, had shifted to the messy black curls and green eyes that he often wore around his godfather.

"I adjusted the broom with help from George," Harry placated. "It has anti-collision charms, cushioning charms should he fall, and it won't fly a foot over the ground."

"You forgot to mention how you took off the speed limiter," Daphne replied coyly from next to him and Harry shot her a betrayed look.

Hermione sighed. "And why would you do that?"

"If he's going to be the winning seeker for England in the 2018 world cup he needs to start practicing now," Harry said stubbornly, and Ron grunted in agreement.

"Don't worry, Hermione," Andromeda broke in, an amused look on her face. "As far as gifts from Harry go, this one's quite mild, and we got Nymphadora her first broom around this age as well."

Hermione seemed to concede defeat at that point and instead stood gathering dishes as she made her way to the kitchen.

Today really had been a perfect day aside from the rocky start. Harry had spent all day at Andromeda's house with those dearest to him, opening presents in the morning and then lazing around the television watching movies and eating cookies until it was time for dinner and the roast that they had all helped to prepare.

Teddy had been over the moon, refusing to nap and clinging to Harry like a Plimpy cub to its mother, leaving his side only to fly around on the broom Harry had gotten him. The only thing that could possibly make the day better would be Daphne saying yes to his question.

Hermione returned a moment later. "So, Daphne, Harry tells me you've decided to pursue law?" She asked and Daphne perked up next to him."

"Well, the truth is I really don't need to work, but as the eldest Greengrass I will at some point inherit my fathers seats. I want to have the requisite knowledge to make an impactful change."

Hermione smiled. "You do it from the Wizengamot and I'll do it from the Ministry and just maybe we can meet in the middle and actually get it done."

Harry looked at the pair of them as they discussed changing the world for the better. His best friend and his girlfriend, two of the most determined and stubborn people he knew. He had no doubt in his mind they would succeed.

As the girls continued to plan their revolution, he and Ron began to discuss the Cannon's chances of winning the league, and Andromeda left to put Teddy down for the night, returning a quarter hour later with a bottle of wine and the wireless. She gave Harry a nod and he finished his conversation with Ron.

She turned on the wireless shifting the dial until she came upon a slow beautiful song. Harry walked over to Hermione and Daphne. "I hate to break up your scheming," he said with a smile, "But would you mind if I stole Daphne for a dance?"

Daphne smiled apologetically to Hermione as she took Harry's hand and let him lead her towards the open area by the fireplace. Not long after Ron was on his feet as well and soon both couples were swaying to the music near the elegant tree Harry had helped Andromeda and Teddy decorate.

The large flames crackled and danced, warming them and casting a soft light on Daphne's face. Her eyes shone nearly green in the firelight, and her hair looked gold. "Today was wonderful," she told him softly.

Harry squeezed her in response. "It really was, wasn't it."

"You know…" She took a moment to compose her thoughts. "Being here with you, the fire in the hearth, the tree with all the lights, the decorations, I can't help but to remember the first time we met."

Harry leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her temple. "I still thank Hogwarts everyday for introducing me to you," he replied softly. "Alone together. I promise you; I'll always be there."

Daphne smiled at him tenderly and then her face turned mischievous. "Mistletoe," she said. "Now it really is like that first meeting."

"I think maybe we can improve on it slightly," Harry replied and then his lips were on hers. When he pulled back, he was slightly breathless and exceedingly in love.

"Happy Christmas, Harry," she breathed.

"I actually have one more gift for you," Harry whispered.

Daphne's eyes narrowed. "Harry, the necklace was stunning and more than enough, I don't need anything else."

Harry smiled. She was wearing the necklace now, a delicate chain of white gold with a beautiful sapphire sitting elegantly in the hollow of her throat that matched the one she had on her ring.

"It's actually more a gift for me, that is if you'll accept it of course." Daphne looked at him, trying to decipher the meaning of his words, but said nothing.

Harry reached into his pocket, thanking magic for allowing him to hide such a large box so conspicuously. As Harry fell to a single knee, Daphne's hands shot up to her mouth and a gasp escaped her lips.

"Daphne Greengrass, you make me happier than I ever thought possible. I love everything about you, and I still find more and more reasons that I love you every day. Would you make me the happiest man alive and marry me, so I can keep discovering these reasons every day for the rest of my life?"

Daphne nodded, tears falling from her eyes. "Yes Harry, nothing would make me happier." Harry took her shaking hand and removed the ring with the sapphire he had gotten her two years passed, replacing it with the diamond ring instead.

He stood then and kissed her deeply while those closest to him applauded around him. He no longer felt alone in any sense of the word, just together.

After their kiss ended Daphne took her sapphire ring back and placed it on the ring finger to her right hand. "I love you so much." She told him

"I love you, too. Happy Christmas, Daphne."