Just Once More

AN: Hello all. This is an old story of mine that I just found again. In fact, I think it’s the very first Harry Potter fanfic I ever wrote. I re-read it but I didn’t change anything. I hope it’s not too cheesy or sappy or whatever. It’s  very emotional and it’s something that I truly hope Harry gets to experience at sometime in his life.

And before everyone starts asking the hows and whys of this happening, let me just say that the hows and whys aren’t what’s important in this story. I don’t have any idea how this would happen (although in the magical world who knows, right?) What’s important is what happens and how it makes Harry feel. I just wanted to give him a little peace for once in his life.

Anyway, I wanted to throw this out there to tide you all over until I get Chapter 5 of Valentine’s Day Disaster done. I hope you enjoy it. Oh, you might want to keep a tissue nearby.

Disclaimer: It’s all hers…

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Just Once More

Hermione held onto her son’s hands as they walked down the dark corridor. Their father was up ahead with his wand lighting the way.

For his part, Harry was extremely nervous. He was only going to be able to talk to this parents. And leave it to his loving wife to find a way to do it. He smiled as he looked back at his family. His beautiful wife, and their two beautiful twin boys. He sighed as he and Hermione shared a knowing smile. This must be what Heaven is like.

They came up to an old, beat-up door. If Professor McGonagall was right (and there no reason to think she wouldn’t be), the Mirror of Erised was behind this door…waiting for him.

Harry took a deep breath and tried opened the door. Surprise…it was locked. “Alohomora,” he said, tapping his wand on the door handle. It clicked open and the rusty hinges creaked as the heavy wooden door slowly swung open.

They boys were squirming with excitement after seeing their father’s magic trick. It made them giggle with anticipation knowing that they, too, would be able to do that someday. “Shh,” Hermione whispered down to them. Harry turned to look at her and she nodded, then he disappeared inside.

Hermione bit her lip to fight back the tears, As much as she wanted to be there and share this with him, she also wanted him to have some time alone with the parents he never knew. He had waited his whole life for something this. This was his moment.

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Harry walked into the darkened room that was quickly illuminated by his wand. In the corner, against the wall was the mirror. He swallowed then walked up to it slowly. He looked at himself for a moment. He was a man now. Not a scrawny teenager. What would his parents think?

He took a deep breath and concentrating hard on the image of his parents, he tapped his wand on the mirror’s edge and whispered, “projecto historum.”

Nothing happened and Harry’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Perhaps he didn’t do it right? He was about to turn back to get Hermione, when suddenly he heard what sounded like a light breeze pass through the room. Turning back to the mirror, his image slowly gave way to the figures of two people standing side by side. It was Lily and James Potter…his parents.

Harry blinked a few times and let out a slow, shaky breath. “Mum? Dad?” Harry called, sounding like he was 11 years old again.

“Hello, son,” his father said, grinning broadly at the man standing before him.

Harry closed his eyes and put his hand over his mouth. He was going to scream! This was really happening! “Harry.” He heard his mother’s soft, gentle voice calling him.

He opened his eyes and blinked the tears from them. “Mum?” He said, barely audible.

She smiled, her own eyes filled with tears. Eyes that were exactly like Harry’s. “Look how handsome you are.” She breathed.

Harry felt himself blushing at his mother’s words. “I, um, I….”

“Don’t speak, Harry.” James said. “Just let us look at you.”

Harry looked at him. “But there’s so much I want to say.”

“We know,” James said kindly. “We have been watching over you ever since we went away.”

“You’ve felt us close, haven’t you?” Lily asked.

Harry smiled. “Yes. Always.”

“We are so very proud of you, Harry.” James said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Harry finally couldn’t stand it any longer. He let the tears flow down his cheeks. He felt his legs giving out beneath him and he sank to the ground, burying his face in his hands and sobbing. He had so wished to know that his father was proud of him. Now, to hear those very words from his father’s lips filled him with such an overwhelming joy that he thought he was going to burst. He had never known a happiness like this could exist. 

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He thought it was Hermione, but when he looked up, he gasped. It was not his wife, but his mother. And his father was standing beside her. They were out of the mirror! How could this be? Harry stumbled to his feet and stood before them, unsure of what to do. Could he actually touch them?

Hesitantly, he reached forward to touch his mother’s cheek…and he felt it. “Mum?” He asked through his sobs, his hands shaking wildly. “How can this be happening?”

Lily was crying too, but they were tears of joy. She didn’t answer him, but instead pulled her son into a fierce embrace. Harry clung to her, like he was falling and she was his only lifeline. He sobbed openly against her shoulder, his tears cleaning his soul.

James stood aside quietly and smiled, giving mother and son a moment. Then he wrapped his arms around both of them. Harry looked up and hugged his father, losing himself in his embrace. He felt his mother rest her head against his back as the three of them cried. Harry had so longed for a moment like this, even if it was only in his dreams. But this wasn’t a dream. This was real.

After a few minutes, James stepped back and looked at his son. “You’re tall,” he said.

Harry laughed though his tears, wiping his face off with his sleeve. His mother took his hand and held it to her breast. “And he’s so very handsome,” she said admiringly.

“He’s got your eyes, luv,” James said.

“But the rest is you,” Lily said, wiping tears from Harry’s face, then brushing some lose hair from his eyes. “Especially the hair,” she said gently. As she brushed his bangs from his forehead, she saw the scar. Pulling his head down gently, she kissed it, then released him.

Harry grinned and looked down. His sobs had subsided but tears still leaded from his eyes. “How is this possible?” He asked. “Hermione said I would be able to talk to you, but she didn’t say anything about this.”

Lily smiled. “She loves you so very much, Harry,” she said proudly. “She knew of this, but she wanted to surprise you.”

Harry looked at them incredulously. “You mean, she’s already been here?”

James smiled. “Yes, we have already spoken to her.”

Harry was shocked. He looked back at the door, then back at them. “Then, you wouldn’t mind if she came in?”

Lily laughed and hugged her son again. “Of course not.”

Harry smiled and turned for the door. But he stopped. Turning back to his parents he frowned. “You’re not going to disappear again are you?” He asked, remembering how years ago when he had first seen them, he had gone to get Ron, but when they returned they were gone and had never reappeared.

“We’ll be right here,” James promised.

Harry smiled and ran into the hallway where Hermione and his two boys were waiting. He ran up to her and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. “Harry?”

He pulled her away and kissed her deeply. “I love you for this,” he whispered, resting his forehead against hers, “more than you’ll ever know.”

She reached up and put her hand on his face, wiping tears from his cheeks with her thumb. “They’re waiting,” she said quietly. Harry smiled and reached down and picked up James. Hermione picked up Alexander and the family walked into the room together.

Lily and James smiled and tears burst from their eyes when they saw Harry and Hermione with their children. “Mum, dad,” Harry said, walking up to them, “this is my family,” he said proudly.

Lily was speechless. She held onto James’ arm for support as Harry stepped closer. “This is James Lupin Potter,” he said, looking at his father. “James, this is your grandfather and grandmother,” Harry told his son.

“Hello,” James aid shyly, then burned his face in his father’s neck.

Lily put her hand over her mouth while tears spilled from James’ eyes. “Hello, James,” he said quietly, reaching out touch the boy’s arm.

“And this,” Hermione said, stepping up to them, “is Alexander Sirius Potter.”

“Twins,” Lily breathed, her eyes wide with wonder.

“Alexander, these are your grandparents,” his mother told him.

Alexander wanted to get down and when Hermione set his little feet on the ground, he ran to them and James caught him and lifted him up, spinning him around. Harry handed James to Lily who hugged him to her, lettering her tears spill over her grandson.

Harry put his arm around his wife as they watched Harry’s parents with their children. This was a moment in time he wished he could freeze. He would never forget this day as long as he lived. He kissed the side of Hermione’s head and pulled her closer. “Thank you,” she heard him whisper. She responded with a simple squeeze around his middle. He had her to thank for this…they all had.

After a few minutes, Lily came up to her son and handed Alexander back to him. “They are truly beautiful, Harry,” she said as James returned his namesake to his mother.

“You should be very proud,” he told Harry.

Harry smiled. “I am.”

Lily’s smile suddenly turned sad. “We have to leave you now,” she said quietly.

Harry frowned. “What? Why?” He looked at Hermione. “Can’t we stay here all day?”

Hermione shared a knowing look with the Potters, then shook her head. “No, Harry. We were only given a certain amount of time…and now it’s over.”

Harry looked absolutely horrified. “No!” He shouted, handing Alexander back to Hermione and then reached for his mother. “No,” he muffled against her.

“Harry, it has to be,” she said comfortingly, holding him tightly.

James patted his son’s back, then rubbed it slowly. “We were given this gift, but it was not without conditions.”

Harry looked at his parents as a realization hit him. “Will I ever get to see you again?”

Lily and James looked at each other, then back at their only son. “No,” James said, putting his arm around his wife.

Harry looked down, fighting back tears. “It’s not fair.”

“No, it isn’t,” Hermione said, crying herself. The boys stood quietly at their mother’s side, clutching her legs. “It wasn’t fair that they were taken from you, either. This was all we could manage, Harry.”

Harry looked at her, then them again. “I love you,” he said, looking at each of them hard.

Lily smiled and pulled her son against her for the last time. “And I love you. Don’t you ever doubt that,” she whispered as she stroked his hair. “I will always be with you. I will always be in your heart.”

Harry stepped back and kissed her cheek, letting his lips linger. This was his mother and he was about to say goodbye to her for the last time. “Goodbye, mum,” he said quietly, the words getting choked up in his throat. She smiled at him then stepped back into the mirror.

Harry and his father looked at each other, then flung themselves into each other’s arms. “Dad….”

“Shhh,” James whispered, holding his son, feeling him tremble. “Just be thankful for the short time we had.”

“I am,” Harry mumbled, sounding like the frightened little boy Hermione had met on the train years ago. She lowered her head to hide her own tears. She knew Harry would be elated to have this special time with his mother and father who were so cruelly taken away from him before he even had a chance to feel their love. But she also knew that this moment had to come, when he would have to say goodbye to them forever.

Hermione inhaled a deep breath, then took her two son’s hands and quietly started backing out of the room, giving Harry some privacy for these last few tender moments with his parents. She afforded one more glance at Lily who was still in the mirror and Hermione saw her mouth the words “thank you, luv.” Hermione smiled and nodded response, then led her children from the room.

James pulled away from his son and put his hand on his cheek. “Don’t weep for us any more, Harry,” he said. “We’ll always be with you. We’ll always be watching over you.”

Harry just nodded. “But….”

“It’s time you get on with your life, son. Put the past behind you and live.” Harry looked at him sadly. “You have a beautiful family now. Enjoy them. Let them make you whole and complete. Let them fill the void that has lived within you for so long. Let them love you.”

A rattling sob shook Harry’s body as he considered his father’s words. He just nodded. James slowly let go of his son and backed away towards the mirror. “Goodbye, Harry,” he said.

“Goodbye, dad,” he said quietly as James stepped into the mirror. Harry looked at his mother once more, a smile spreading across his handsome face. “Mum.”

She smiled. “Goodbye,” she said as James put his arm around her.

“I love you,” Harry said, for what he knew was the last time. He saw them smile, then their reflections faded away. They were gone.

Harry stood there shaking, staring at himself in the mirror. What had just happened he would never forget. He started to back away from the mirror, hoping beyond hope that they would show up again, but they didn’t. With a deep breath and final look at the mirror, he turned his back to it and left the room, the huge wooden door slamming shut behind him.

In the hallway, Hermione sat on a stone bench with their sons on either side of her. As Harry approached them, she stood up. He took her in his arms and squeezed her to him, taking in her scent, closing his eyes against the flood of emotion he felt rising to the surface again. “Thank you for this,” he whispered.

She squeezed him back, laying her head on his chest. “I’m sorry it couldn’t have been longer for you.”

“No,” Harry said, pulling her away, “don’t be sorry. I was 30 minutes longer than I ever thought I would have.” He smiled. “It was perfect.”

She reached up and kissed him. “How do you feel?”

Harry let out a deep breath. “Free,” he said simply.