Author's note: The epilogue is told from the perspective of Harry's grandson (who was named after Harry). It is my attempt to give Harry the happy ending I think he deserves. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for reading my story.
The cold ground crackled under Harry's feet as he slowly made his way through the cemetery. Since it was a Muggle graveyard Apparating to his destination was out of the question. The sight of someone appearing out of thin air would be distressing enough to a Muggle. But having it happen in a graveyard? His mind shuddered to think of the response he would have garnered.
He didn't mind the walk though. It gave him time to replay the conversation he had just had with his son over in his mind. Nathaniel had just returned home for the Christmas holiday during his first year at Hogwarts and as expected was full of questions. "How come you never told me about that stuff Dad? I mean…I knew our family was famous but I had no idea. Honestly I think everyone else knew more about my family than I did."
His son had owled him during his first week at school with these very questions and he had written back telling him they would talk about it when he was home. Well today was the day and the father had attempted to give the same speech he had heard on his first trip home after starting at Hogwarts. He knew he hadn't done quite as well as the person that talked to him but he could tell the message had been delivered.
As the gravestone came into view his heart sank slightly at the vivid reminder that one of his heroes, the person that had given that speech to him, the person he was named after, was really gone forever. It had been almost a year since he'd left them and not a day had passed when he didn't think about him and the message he delivered that day. His steps involuntarily slowed as he came ever closer to the final resting place, as if by refusing to see the gravestone it would mean he wasn't really gone. But as slow as he walked he still eventually ended up at his destination. The simplicity of the gravestone was stunning considering who it was for.
Harry James Potter
Beloved husband, father and friend
"Never have five words said so little and so much at the same time," he thought to himself as he crouched down to remove a small bit of crabgrass that had begun to grow. That was it…five words. Nothing about how he had saved them all on several occasions. Nothing about the suffering he had to endure as a child or how he managed to rise above it all again and again. People passed by this marker every day with absolutely no idea of the impact he had on their lives.
It was at his grandfather's insistence that he was buried in a Muggle cemetery with such a simple marker. The grandson chuckled as he remembered his words when he had informed the family of his wishes. "I did plenty for them when I was alive. I'm going to do what I want when I'm dead." He could still picture the smile and wink his granddad had delivered along with those words. His grandmother had always said she could never refuse her husband when he flashed that smile her way and when he saw the grin that day the grandson knew why.
She was the one who came up with those words for the gravestone. "Leave it to Hermione to decide," he had said when he knew he didn't have much time left. "She knows me better than I ever could." And he was right. In five words she summarized everything his grandfather had held close to his heart. In five words she told about his life in more detail than any historical textbook ever could.
"Nate came back from school today, Granddad," he said hesitantly, eyes fixed to the name engraved on that tombstone. "He was full of the same questions I had when I came back the first time. I did my best to explain it the way you did and I think he got the point. I hope so anyway…"
"Your father said you've been asking a lot of questions since you got back Harry and he asked me to talk to you. What do you want to know?"
Young Harry looked at his grandfather with a somewhat pained expression on his face and spoke. "Why didn't you tell me about everything you did Granddad? What you did was so important I don't understand why you never talk about it."
His grandfather smiled and answered the question. "You are correct Harry. The things that happened to me when I was younger were important…but not for the reasons everyone else thinks. Would you like to know why it was important to me?"
A tentative nod was all the grandson could muster as his grandfather motioned for him to sit. He watched as his grandfather stood up from his seat and started removing pictures that had been placed on the mantle above the fireplace. "What's he on about?" was all he could think as his grandfather sat back down, his arms now full with framed pictures.
The grandfather flashed a warm smile as he began to speak. "The only reason those things I did are important to me Harry is because they allowed me to have what was really important."
"I don't understand…what are you talking about that was more important?"
"I'm talking about this," was all that was said as he handed the first picture to his grandson. It was a picture of his grandparents along with Uncle Ron (that's what his father had always called him at least) on the day of their graduation from Hogwarts. They were arm and arm, releasing the grip periodically to wave at the camera with broad smiles on their faces. He gazed at the smiling faces until his attention was interrupted by his grandfather's voice.
"And this," he said as he handed the next picture to Harry. His grandparents wedding day...there was Uncle Ron again as well as a girl with red hair standing next to his grandmother. The grins were even larger than the previous picture but instead of waving to the camera his grandparents kept stealing glances at each other as if they were confirming that what had happened was real and not a dream. Harry turned his eyes back to his grandfather who seemed to be admiring the remaining picture in his hands. It almost looked like he was about ready to cry.
"Aaahhh…and this one I think is my favorite of the lot," his grandfather said as he grinned and handed the picture to his grandson. In an instant Harry felt a smile cross his face as he took in the picture. It was taken the prior summer before he had started at Hogwarts. His grandfather had decided he was ready to receive an early flying lesson and was explaining how to mount the broom when he realized that his wife was taking their picture. He waved to the camera and grabbed Harry around the shoulders so he would wave as well. As he continued to look at the picture his mind drifted back to that day and how funny his grandparents were.
- - - - - - - - -
"I don't think this is such a good idea. There's a reason they aren't to begin flying until they go to school you know. It's just too dangerous."
"Aw come on, Mione look at him," his grandfather had said as he motioned to his grandson. "He's dying to try. And besides I need to know if he inherited his flying skills from your side of the family. If he did he needs all the practice he can get."
His grandmother wasn't angry at his teasing, she actually seemed to be enjoying it. She placed her hands on her hips and spoke to her grandson. "He's incorrigible you know. I'm not sure why I put up with him." Her expression turned serious as she continued looking at young Harry. "I'll let you do this on one condition. You keep an eye on your grandfather for me all right? At his age he's likely to break a hip up there," was all she said as a devilish smile grew on her face.
Harry turned his eyes to his grandfather who was smiling. "Hey I'm not that old!" was the only response he could spit out as he winked at his grandson.
"You keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better love," his grandmother replied as she turned to go back inside. "I'm going to get out my medical textbooks out just in case. There's no telling what you'll do to yourself up there in your advanced condition."
As she walked inside he watched as his grandfather shook his head and smiled. "I've known that women for almost fifty years and I have yet to get the last word. Ah well... too late to trade her in now. Don't know if she could survive without me anyway. Come on Harry let's get started before she changes her mind."
- - - - - - - -
Harry was broken out of his thoughts as he felt his grandfather's hand on his shoulder. He had gotten up from where he was sitting and sat next to Harry while he stared at the picture. As he looked up his grandfather spoke.
"Harry, now that you've been at school and learned more about what your grandmother and I did when we were younger do you love us more?"
Harry didn't have to think long on his answer…he didn't think it was possible to be more fond of his grandparents than he already was. He quickly shook his head no.
"Why do you think that is?" was his grandfather's next question.
Harry bit his lip as he pondered the question in his mind. "Well I guess I don't love you for all that stuff. You two are my family and are always so nice. Whenever we come over I always have such a good time and you always seem to be so happy. I guess that other stuff isn't that impor-"
He caught himself as he revealed the answer he had been searching for and looked up at his grandfather. "Right in one," was all his grandfather said as he tousled his grandson's hair before continuing.
"When your father told me he was going to name you after me your grandmother and I were adamantly against it. We didn't think it was fair for you to grow up with such a famous name…thought there would be too much pressure. Do you know what changed our minds?"
His grandfather waited for Harry to shake his head "no" before continuing.
"He said he wasn't naming you Harry because of what made me so famous. He said…" his voice stopped as the words seemed to become more difficult to say. "He said he wanted to name you Harry because I had been such a good father."
His grandfather paused again, still clearly touched after all these years by his son's words. "When I was younger and Voldemort was finally defeated it seemed like I attended a million celebrations in my honor…all praising me for what I had done. What your father said that day meant more to me than all those other speeches combined. You see Harry, that's what is really important. You are what's really important"
The rest of that day consisted of his grandfather telling him endless stories of his days at Hogwarts. Tales of boggarts and hippogriffs…broken wands and flying cars…fire breathing dragons and kisses on the cheek…story after story, each one more exciting than the next. Harry imagined these were probably the same stories Nathaniel was being told by his great-grandmother at that very moment.
"Thanks Granddad," was all Harry could say as he crouched down again and slowly began tracing the outline of those words.
Beloved husband, father and friend
"That about covers it," he said with a smile as he stood up and began walking out of the cemetery, his heart warmed by the memories that had just washed over him. He made his way out of the cemetery quickly, wanting to get home as soon as possible. Despite the cold air Harry suddenly had the urge to go flying with his son.