Work Text:
Sharing Moments at Christmas
It was dark when Harry woke with a start, in the early hours of Christmas morning. This night was always a hard one for him since the war. Most of the night terrors and nightmares had disappeared, but his encounter with Nagini had not. He cast a tempus charm and saw that it was 1am in the morning. Harry tried to go back to sleep, with no luck, as he kept tossing and turning.
Harry looked beside himself and saw that Ginny was still fast asleep beside him. He decided to get up so that he did not risk waking Ginny. Harry usually went in the early hours of the morning to go to his parent’s grave, so getting up a little earlier than normal is ok.
Harry and Ginny lived in a cottage with their three children; 11-year-old Lily, 12-year-old Albus and 14-year-old James. Although James and Albus spent most of their years at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, they were home for the holidays from Hogwarts 4th and 2nd year respectively. His daughter Lily was going to Hogwarts in September.
Harry looked through the first bedroom door he came across and saw that Albus was fast asleep. The next door was James and he was fast asleep in his bed. Harry then checked on Lilly in her room and got a shock when he realised that she was not in her bed.
Harry thought to check to see if Lily was downstairs. As he started to walk down, he noticed a glow from the fire that he and Ginny had put out when they had gone to bed. As Harry neared the bottom of the stair case, he noticed the figure by the mantle with the fire going. Harry then walked to the fireplace and saw that Lilly was looking at a photo of his mum and dad on their wedding day that Ginny had insisted should be in a frame on the mantel.
“Hi, baby girl what are you doing up?” Harry asked his daughter.
“Can’t sleep” Lily replied “You always get sad on Christmas eve and Christmas Day, except you always try to hide it from us so that we enjoy Christmas”
Harry hadn’t realised that the kids had started to notice. Teddy knew the most as he had questions over his parents’ death and he was older now. Then again, Lily was the most switched on of his kids. Lily was so much like Ginny. She was feisty and smart and never let anyone walk over her, especially her brothers. She rode laps around them when they flew together.
“How long have you known?” asked Harry.
“Last year, I got up at about 5:30 and came down to get some water and you were coming in the front door. You looked like you were crying, so I asked mum and she said that you were sad over your mum and dad. That Christmas was the first time you saw their graves and every year you go back to visit them. I just wonder why you’ve never taken us with you?” Lily replied.
“I just decided to go before any of you kids woke up so that Christmas could be a joyous day, without the realities of real life” Harry said.
“But what if we wanted to go with you?” Lily exclaimed.
“I didn’t want you kids to be sad on Christmas. Plus, we go every year on the anniversary of their death, Halloween, before we go trick or treating,” Harry said.
“We haven’t gone as a family since James started going to Hogwarts and now albus is going to Hogwarts. Then next year, I won’t be able to go. Plus, you always say a problem shared is a problem divided,” Lily said.
“That was for your kids’ problems, not adult issues. But I suppose you are right. It would be nice to go as a family as a Christmas tradition.” Harry replied.
“Why are you so sad on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day though dad?” Lily asked.
“That is a story for a later date. You are a bit young for it. I will one day tell you about it when you are a bit older as this is one of the bad ones” Harry said.
“It makes me wonder whether they would have liked me and my brothers as their grandchildren.” Lilly Wondered.
“I can’t really answer that question. I was only 15 months old when they passed away, but I did read a letter that my mother wrote when I was a year old that mentioned me and it sounded like she was happy to have me. I am sure she would have been very happy to have the three of you as grandchildren.” Harry said
“Can you tell me some things about them that you know?” Lily asked.
“Did you know you look like your grandma Lily at her age?” Harry said
“Really?!” Lily asked.
“Yes, and your brother Albus looks like your grandpa James. James got his looks from the Weasley side. I have a photo album with their pictures. Would you like to look through it with me?” Harry said to Lily
Lily nodded her head, so Harry moved over to the bookshelf that contained several photo albums. After the war, Harry had gone to the house in Godrics Hollow, inspected everything and found a section protected from any kind of magic. Harry had found a whole collection of photos of his mum and dad. Harry walked over to the couch that him and Ginny always cuddled on and Lily sat beside him. Harry and Lily looked through the album together.
Later that day
Snow fell from the sky as a family stood, huddled together. This would have been a picturesque scene if this had been any other place than the cemetery. Harry looked down at the graves of his mum and dad, realising that they should have come here as a family on Christmas before and that it made the pain less sharp. Harry was beginning to realise that his children were getting older and could deal with things like this more. They stood there for a while and then decided it was time to leave as they would then get ready to go to the burrow for Christmas dinner and see the family.
Harry bent down and put some flowers on both graves. One day he would sit down and tell his kids an edited version of the night he first saw his parents grave, because of course he would never tell his children that he and their Aunt Hermione almost lost their life that night.
Harry said to the graves before the family walked away.
“Goodbye mum and dad. See you next year.”