I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS FROM THAT SERIES BECAUSE THEY ALL BELONG TO JOANNE KATHLEEN (J.K.) ROWLING!

-Chapter Twenty-Seven-

Mr. Potter gave the owl the letter and it flew away. Lily was in tears as she watched her father do so. Mrs. Potter was staring at her husband as she stood beside him, her face wanting to show anger, but instead she had a tear run down her eyes. Albus was frozen, his stomach turning and he was worried that he was going to vomit. Alice was only staring at him, sorrow filling her. Even Teddy looked pale, but he was brave to hold in his fear as he stood up and asked, “when will you be leaving?”

“Tonight at nine. The sooner that James is safe, the better.” Mr. Potter answered him.

“Tonight! But…dad.” Albus whispered.

“I know it’s short in timing to be together, but I need to save James. I don’t want him to die before I get there. I don’t know who these people are besides Pansy, but even she is short on patience.” Mr. Potter told them.

Lily got up and mechanically walked to him, her blanket still wrapped around her. After they had watched the video, everyone was frozen as Mr. Potter went to the kitchen to get parchment and a quill to make his letter.

She wrapped her arms silently around his middle and though surprised, Mr. Potter held his daughter with one arm around her waist and another cradling her head to his chest. He set his chin on her head and held her tightly, but Lily was holding him tighter.

“I’ll…I’ll come with you, Harry.” Teddy told him.

“No, absolutely not.” Mr. Potter told him immediately after.

“It’s to that I can take James home.” Teddy said.

“No, Teddy I’ll do that.” Mrs. Potter said.

Teddy shook his head. Both of them knew that Mrs. Potter didn’t have the emotional ability to go and let go of her husband. If Teddy was going to have a hard time doing it, he knew that Mr. Potter wouldn’t be able to do it at all.

Mr. Potter stared at his godson for a couple of minutes before he nodded. The house was silent and Mr. Potter felt his daughter’s tears begin to soak his shirt. He gently rubbed her back.

“Don’t go, dad. Mum said that Astoria knew who took James.” Albus said, “the police can track him.”

“I don’t know when Astoria is getting up and judging on how she was attacked, she might not even remember.” Mr. Potter told his son.

“Don’t go.” Lily begged, her voice shaking rapidly.

Mr. Potter gently ‘shh’ed her. She held him tighter and kept whispering, “don’t go.”

Mrs. Potter stared at her daughter and Teddy said, “I’ll…I’ll make some tea.”

Teddy left the room and quickly wiped his eyes so that no one would see them. Alice was still silent and Albus took her hand. She then looked at him and saw a tear run down his face. Albus quickly wiped it away so that she wouldn’t see, though she had. She didn’t comment though.

*

Harry sat on his bed where Ginny already was. He knew his fate. He knew that he wouldn’t see his family alive again. All day he had spent time with his family each. Two hours together with each one in their room and Lily and Teddy came to his.

Teddy was now making them supper. It was going to be their last meal together. It was now him and Ginny for two hours. The two hours mostly consisted of them spilling their secrets, hugging, and a lot of tears.

Lily mostly just wanted to be hugged and Harry read all of her favourite childhood fairytales, muggle or not. She had begged to be the first one and the others didn’t resent that. Harry went to his room and waited for her, but when she came in with the large pile of books, Harry already knew what she wanted. She wanted to be that little kid again where she had never left him. He knew that she felt guilty about the time lost and before anything could be read, Harry hugged her again and told her, “I’m sorry that I drove you away, Lilybear and I’m sorry for yelling at you. I love you and I always will Lilybear.” Though Harry didn’t cry, he saw that Lily had silent, angry tears running down her face.

Teddy asked the story of his parents. Harry only told him a couple of times, but he was happy to tell his godson again. When the story and facts were over, Teddy thanked him for, only as Harry could describe, as everything. He was sorry for ever lying to him, for ever being angry.

Alice only thanked Mr. Potter for taking care of her and taking her in when her parents died. After that, they reminded each other of funny stories that they remembered in their past and by the end, Alice was also in tears.

His time with Albus was father, son time. Albus admitted his feelings for Alice and they had a talk about how he should act, how he should ask her out. Things like that and Albus then said at the end of the two-hours, “I hope I can be as brave as you, dad.” Harry just placed his hands on his son’s shoulders and told him, “you are brave like me. You’re saying goodbye. I love you and I want you to know that in my eyes you are and always will be perfect.” Albus nodded and said, “I don’t think that I could have a better father. I’ll miss you, dad and I’ll admit that I was angry that you made this decision, but you’ll be with nana and papa and Sirius, and Teddy’s parents, and Dumbledore and Fred….they’ll take care of you dad.” Harry stared at his son for a long time before he kissed his son’s forehead and said, “Yes. They will protect me, but they have even if they aren’t here. And I will always help you. I will always love you and I will never forget you.”

Harry didn’t realize that he was crying until he left the room and went to the washroom and caught his reflection in the mirror.

He sighed when he saw Ginny on the bed already crying. She was lying down looking at their wedding pictures. Harry shut the door and said, his voice already cracking, “Ginny, please don’t cry.”

Ginny looked up at him, her eyes red. She then shut the book and stood up. She set the book on the nightstand before she wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck and looked at him. She saw a couple of tears run down Harry’s face. She knew that he hated it when she cried. He said that in some situations, it would be what would break him.

“I want to come with you. I want to be together. Forever was our promise. I want to always be with you, Harry.” Ginny whispered.

Harry immediately shook his head.

“You can’t come and die!” Harry said.

“When we got married, Harry, we made a promise. We promised to be together to be together, for better or for worse. I am to be with you forever. I don’t want to stop now, Harry. Oh God, please not now.” Ginny said.

Harry gently picked her up and set her on their bed. They both laid on their sides and looked at each other. Ginny pursed her lips together tightly as Harry told her, “If both of us go then there will be no one to care for Lily, Albus, and Alice.”

Ginny closed her eyes and Harry then said, “Ginny, you know that I love you.”

“I know.” Ginny said opening her eyes again.

“Then you know why I am doing this.” Harry said.

She nodded and Harry then leaned closer to her. Ginny leaned against him and said, “I don’t want to say goodbye, Harry.”

“Then don’t. We won’t be apart forever.” Harry said.

Ginny then said, “maybe they won’t kill you. Maybe if you escape from them…”

“Ginny please don’t torture yourself.” Harry interrupted her.

She looked up at him and then began kissing him. Harry kissed her too. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and Harry wrapped his arms around her waist after he took off his glasses and placed them on his nightstand. He then turned the two so that he was on top of her, still kissing her.

“I love you Harry.” Ginny whispered when they took air.

“I do too. I love you so much Ginny.” Harry told her as his fingers fumbled with her shirt.