A Christmas Miracle

Notes:

Hey, guys. Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking - "Why's she posting this when she still has three unfinished stories to complete?" Well, let's just say I've completely lacked inspiration these last few weeks, and I needed something to get myself back into it. I just had this idea, so I used it. I know similar things have been done in the past, but I wanted to make my own "Jily Lives" story. I have also tweaked a few small details of what happened in the previous books, so this is not strictly 100% canon. It's probably around 98% (maybe less), to be honest.

Also, I haven't actually read Deathly Hallows (or any of the other books really) for a while now, so if I make a few mistakes with the details, please forgive me.

The romantic pairings are James-x-Lily (Jily) and Harry-x-Hermione (Harmony). Oh! And Remus-x-Tonks (Ronks) because Teddy needs to exist!

I was planning to post this on Wednesday November 17th for two reasons:
1. It would have been exactly a month since I started writing this
2. It's my birthday 🥳
But, I really wanted to get it out to you guys, and I just couldn't wait!

So, without further ado...

A Christmas Miracle

Harry looked at the names forever engraved in the smooth, marble stone.

IN LOVING MEMORY

JAMES POTTER

BORN 27 MARCH 1960 - DIED 31 OCTOBER 1981

LILY POTTER

BORN 30 JANUARY 1960 - DIED 31 OCTOBER 1981

THE LAST ENEMY THAT SHALL BE DESTROYED IS DEATH

He stared for what seemed like hours, but was in reality only a few minutes, knowing, subconsciously, that his parents'... bodies... lay beneath his feet. The idea disturbed him, and he took a step backwards. Hermione put a steadying hand on his shoulder, sensing his thoughts.

"I-" he began, swallowing the lump in his throat, "I wish they were here. That- that they hadn't..." he trailed off, unable to finish due to the constricting of his throat.

Hermione wrapped her arm around his shoulders as the tears threatened to spill.

"I know," she said, quietly, her voice, too, filled with emotion, "I know you do, Harry. And I'm sure that, wherever your parents are, they're wishing they were here with you as well. It's so unfair, that they were taken from you like that, long before their time, but they loved you, they died to save you, and I'm sure that if they were here now, they'd be very proud of you, of all that you've been through and done..."

Harry sniffed, the tears streaming freely down his cheeks, the floodgates open.

"Thank you, Hermione. I needed to hear that."

He gave her a sad smile, and knelt down before the final resting place of those who had died to save him, and Hermione stepped back, out of hearing range, to give her best friend the privacy he deserved.

"Hey, Mum, Dad..." Harry began, his voice sounding strained with the effort to prevent himself from sobbing, "Merry Christmas. I'm sorry I haven't been to see you before, but no one ever told me where your graves were. I know it's not much of an excuse, but I..." he took a deep breath, steadying himself.

"All I've ever longed for is a family," he continued, "Some nights, I used to lie there in that stupid cupboard and dream that my whole life was a nightmare, that I'd wake up and you'd be there to comfort me. Of course, that wasn't possible." He shook his head sadly, "Then, when Hagrid came to rescue me, I thought I'd finally found where I'd belonged, somewhere where I was not a 'freak', where I would fit-in and just be... normal. But that could never happen. I was praised one year and shunned the next. Without Ron and Hermione by my side, I'm sure I would have given up a long time ago." He paused again, contemplating, before continuing, "Then, when Sirius died and I heard that stupid prophecy, everything suddenly made sense. I was never going to have a normal life - I was destined to be special, extraordinary, and ever since then, I've managed to live with it. And I know I'll never truly get to know you, as you will never really know me, but I'd like to think that, wherever you are, you'd be proud of me, and for you to know that I love you."