Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

He stood at the edge of the lake, shivering in spite of himself. Stuffing his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans, he sighed as he stared down at his watery reflection.

The man that stared back up at him didn't look much different from the boy he was only six years ago. He had grown taller, of course, but his hair was still an unruly mess, he still wore his wire-rimmed glasses, and bore the lighting bolt scar upon his forehead. He had the youthful appearance of the Harry Potter that was a student at Hogwarts, yet a few faint lines outlined his face, giving him a wiser, more experienced look.

He let out a bitter laugh as he thought of what all the so-called "experience" had brought him. After Dumbledore's death in his six year, he, Ron, Hermione and to his initial refusal, Ginny, accompanied him in the search for the last four Horcruxes. It took them nearly two years to find them all, but they did, and Harry once again found himself face to face with Lord Voldemort.

Their final fight almost cost the life of Harry, but he pulled through in the end, and once and for all, defeated the Dark Lord. Though he finally completed the task he had so wished to accomplish, Harry felt a void inside of him that he only knew one thing would fill.

Now, he found himself back again at Hogwarts, though he said he'd never return. The school had never reopened, but the abandoned grounds held one thing worth returning for- the memories of those he lost.

You were once my one companion
You were all that mattered
You were once a friend and father
Then my world was shattered

He stood at the place where Dumbledore's body was buried. He could still remember the day of his death very vividly in his mind. He often had dreams where he could go back and stop Snape from killing the headmaster, but he knew of course, it was impossible. He thought often, of their last night together, when they went to uncover a Horcrux, only later to discover that it was a fake. Harry couldn't help feeling that Dumbledore's death was in vain, but again...he couldn't change the past. One thing was certain; he missed Dumbledore so much, more than time could heal. Of course, there was someone he missed almost as much....

Wishing you were somehow here again
Wishing you were somehow near
Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed
Somehow you would be here

He looked out over the water again, remembering the day that he sat there, thinking of his godfather, Sirius Black. Witnessing his death was yet another horrible, mark upon his life that he'd never forget. Though Sirius was gone, Harry thought of him always, always wondering in the back of his mind how life would be if Sirius was still around. Would the fight against Voldemort have been easier if Sirius was there to help him? Surely, Sirius would've been all for helping him in a fight against the one who killed his best friends and Harry's parents.

Wishing I could hear your voice again
Knowing that I never would
Dreaming of you won't help me to do
All that you dreamed I could

Tears threatened to escape from his eyes as he thought of his parents, whom he had never met. After killing Voldemort, he thought he would somehow feel better about the death of Lily and James Potter; that somehow his vengeance would make up for everything. It did, only temporarily, though. He still, in fact, had never met them- still never knew the people that brought him into the world.

Too many years fighting back tears
Why can't the past just die?

This truth hurt Harry more than anything. If only he could bring them back, even for one day. Just to talk to them...

Wishing you were somehow here again
Knowing we must say goodbye
Try to forgive, teach me to live
Give me the strength to try

He closed his eyes and breathed in the cool air. His life seemed, at times, nothing but a continuing spiral of sadness and despair. If only he could somehow bring them all back....

No more memories, no more silent tears
No more gazing across the wasted years

He walked slowly along the path, thinking of how much he'd accomplished and how much he'd grown over the years. Would they be proud of the man he'd become? Would Dumbledore still look at him with admiration? Would his parents be pleased to know that he had killed of Voldemort and ended his reign? Would Sirius be happy to know that Harry had grown up into a man that stood up for what he believed in- who took the chance against death to stand up for what's right?

Just as he finished contemplating these thoughts, a beautiful woman with flaming red hair came running towards him.

Help me say goodbye

"Harry," Ginny said, sounding breathless. "Are you ready to go?"

She took in his pale complexion, and held his hand. "Oh, Harry...they would be so proud of you. You've done so much. I know you miss them, but you can't live in the past. You have to think about your future too."

Harry turned to look at Ginny, hearing her words and taking them to heart. She was right, he would have to move on at some point. He couldn't live in the past of those he missed...he would have to move on to new memories, to a promising future.

"You're right," he said softly. "I do have to think about my future. About our future."

He looked down at his fiancé, and enveloped her in an embrace. They slowly walked off the deserted Hogwarts grounds, leaving behind the past and silently vowing to live in the present.

Help me say goodbye