Ginny had gone to her parent's house that morning. She had told Harry that she was not going to risk him seeing her on their wedding day until they were to be married. Harry didn't quite understand why she had to go one whole day ahead of time, but he gave up trying to figure out girls a long time ago.
Hermione apparently was being just as sensible and had kicked Ron out of their flat that afternoon. Ron had come to Grimmauld Place shortly afterward wondering if Harry wanted to go get a few pints, but Harry refused. Ginny would kill him if he showed up to their wedding hung over.
Now, Harry sat in his kitchen with Winky and Kreacher. His two house-elves were playing poker. Hermione and Harry had taught them one night. Harry sat off to the side listening to their banter about who would clean the bathroom. He was also trying to figure out his vows.
He had in front of him one blank piece of legal paper and the pen Hermione had given him for his 18th birthday. The pen went everywhere with him, and got him teased by some of his fellow aurors.
Make that former fellow aurors, Harry thought. For this morning he had told his boss, Kingsley, the Minister of Magic that he quit. Kingsley just nodded at this and then showed Harry the letter Professor McGonagall wrote. After a hasty explanation from Harry, which was laughed off by his boss, he went and packed up his office. Neville Longbottom, his partner and friend, had been the only one to see him off.
That, Harry realized, was exactly how he wanted to leave. It wasn't that he didn't love the job it was that he didn't want any fuss. Neville just patted him on the shoulder and told him that he would see Harry tomorrow.
Harry realized he was drifting and pulled his thoughts back to the pen. The pen Hermione had charmed to never run out of ink, and it also held the protean charm. It became warm whenever Hermione wanted him to know something. The engraving which normally read Number 1 Best Friend! changed to whatever the important news was.
"I win," Winky let out with a squeal, and Harry glanced over at his two little friends.
He was glad that they got along. Harry smirked and then glanced down at the piece of paper. It was no longer blank, he noted. Instead of holding his vows it was now a picture of Hermione. For a second Harry thought he forgot to draw her eyes, but then he noticed he had drawn her asleep.
Getting up from his stool he stretched. The two house-elves stopped for a second and Harry smiled. "I'll be back in a little bit." He said, "Winky don't take all of Kreacher's money."
Harry grabbed his coat and walked out of the house. He went to the park across the street and found the apparition post. Closing his eyes he concentrated on his destination and with a small pop he was gone.
Opening his eyes Harry found himself before a kissing gate. He pushed it open and edged on through. He walked quickly through the graveyard. It looked nothing like the first time he entered it. That time it was covered in snow and a lot of the stones were buried. This time every stone would be easy to read but Harry was only looking for one.
The stone was white marble and beautiful in the starry night sky. Harry read the inscription for the millionth time and let out a shaky breath: The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
"Mom, dad," Harry breathed harshly.
Every time he visited his parents graves it got a tiny bit easier, but this time felt like the first time all over again. He felt like something extremely heavy was pressing on his chest, and he let out a sob as he once more acknowledged that his parents were gone.
Silently, he waved his wand and a handful of lilies blossomed in the air. He gathered them into his hand and placed them on top of the stone. Turning he left the graveyard by the same path he took to get in. As he reached the kissing gate he noticed a man standing beside the church.
"Hello, son," the man called out to Harry.
"Hello, sir," Harry said cautiously. He fingered his wand thoughtfully for a moment before the man smiled.
"We get a lot of people visiting the graveyard but you are the only one that has ever left anything on that grave. Wait…" he paused for a second and it was then that Harry noticed he was the priest of the church. "Once there was a couple. They had placed a Christmas wreath on that grave about four years ago. Did you know them?"
"Sort of," Harry said after a second not sure if he was talking about the couple or his parents.
"Ah, well, I always wondered what happened to the Potters. I came about a month after their untimely deaths. It was all anybody was talking about, but I never could gleam the whole truth from one of the villagers. Of course their son was the real mystery. Went off to live with relatives, or so they said, and was never seen again."
Harry had to smile at this, "Well, never say never." He let out a chuckle as the man looked shrewdly at him for a moment before dawning came over the man.
"Well, that explains your visits."
"Sir," Harry spoke suddenly. "Can I ask you a question?"
"You just did," the priest let out a small chuckle. "But ask one more for the fun of it."
"When you say vows during a wedding ceremony how significant are they?"
"Hmm," the man looked at Harry for a moment as he pondered the question. "I would say they are pretty significant. This is because you are promising another person your whole heart. One must choose their words carefully."
"I'm getting married tomorrow and I want them to be something special and I can't find the right words."
"Ah…Well I have something that might help."
"What?"
"What would you say to her if you were dying?"
"I'd…" Harry shifted his feet for a second. He was at a loss what to say. He had died, but hadn't told Ginny anything before entering the woods to go face Voldemort. Closing his eyes he saw Ginny's face swim in the front of his mind, but the image was quickly replaced with an image of Ron and Hermione.
"I've got to get going," Harry opened his eyes, and the priest nodded at him. Minutes later Harry found himself at the edge of town near where Hermione and he had come in around four years ago.
"I miss you," his voice carried on the wind, and Harry knew it would reach his parents wherever they were.
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