A Force of Magic [HP Jamione fanfic]

Chapter 15: A Visit

27th March 1999
2pm
Potter Manor - Barnstone, Nottingham
Residence of Hermione Granger, Sirius Black, Harry, and James Potter, Remus, Nymphadora, and Teddy Lupin

James hadn't wanted to make a big fuss out of his birthday. He was technically supposed to be turning 39, but he'd disappeared from 1981 at the age of 21, and reappeared in 1998 the same age. So he'd decided to treat this as his 22nd birthday. It still felt weird being so much younger than his best friends, whom he'd grown up with, but it would've felt weirder to celebrate a 39th birthday when he didn't look or feel that old, and he hadn't lived that many years.

He'd demanded from his friends to only have a small dinner or something with them and though Sirius and Remus had agreed he knew them too well, so he'd gone to Hermione and begged her to not let them make a spectacle. She had laughed lightly, but agreed in the end.

Thankfully Hermione had come through for him. When he'd woken that morning it had been a relief to have a small breakfast with just those in the house, and then he'd felt like a child ripping through his presents still dressed in his pyjamas.

After a small lunch, Harry had come over and put a light hand on his father's shoulder, "Dad?" He said softly. James turned 'round with a smile, always happy to see his son.

"What's up Harry?" James suddenly noticed that everyone else had left the room.

"I-" Harry hesitated, looking uncertain, "I don't want to make you unhappy on your birthday, but I thought you might want to come and see mum's grave with me? I know you haven't been yet, and I think it might be good for us both?"

James gaped for a moment at his son, his heart rose to his throat and tears sprung to eyes unbidden. He thought about her everyday still, and with everyday the pain lessened a little more, and the guilt about living whilst she hadn't grew a little more. He swallowed thickly, but nodded when Harry sent him a questioning look, "Yeah. Yeah I think that would be nice."

Harry smiled at his father, and together they apparated to Godric's Hollow. Harry shivered as they walked down the large street in the middle of the small Wizarding village, James looked over at him questioningly. "You okay, Harry?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah, just, didn't have a great experience last time I was here." He glanced over at James, who was staring ahead in mute horror at the destroyed shell of Potter cottage, "Dad? Are you okay?"

James startled, and turned to Harry with wide eyes, "Uh, yeah. I-" He looked back at the cottage for a moment, "Yeah, it's just, I hadn't seen it from the outside before." He took a deep breath. "Come on, let's go." He said, turning away from the destroyed house he'd woken in nearly six months ago, and heading towards the cemetery. Harry reached out and squeezed James' shoulder tightly, as they walked through the gates. James swallowed, and turned back to Harry, "Where do we go?"

Harry led the way through to the back of the cemetery, towards the graves for his parents he'd first seen just over a year ago. He was thankful they'd come during the day and at a different time of year, if there'd been snow he thought it probably would've been a lot harder to do this.

They finally got to the graves, and they both stared down at the two graves side-by-side. Last time Harry had been here he'd been lacking two parents, and this time he had one back by his side. It was surreal, but Harry couldn't help but be happy with it. James, unable to cope with his grief confronting him in such a way, collapsed to his knees, horror clawing up his throat and tears streaming from his eyes as he held in the loud sobs that wanted to escape. Harry dropped to his knees beside him and together the Potters grieved their lost member.