The Letter

A multitude of things that happened shouldn't have happened. Harry shouldn't have seen his parents that fateful night when Cedric Diggory died. He shouldn't have had to endure the torture of seeing his parents come out of the wand that brought them to their demise. Harry shouldn't have seen that, but he did. He even was granted the special bequest of being told what to do by his parents. The parents he didn't have.

Forever being branded by the pain that Voldemort bestowed upon him, a deep hatred was forever branded in Harry Potter, the boy who lived. His parents, their love so great, couldn't stand to have that hatred in their son, and knowing that there was something, albeit a very little something, that they could do, they did it.

On the Christmas morning of Harry's Fifth year, he received something that would change his life forever, but lessen his hatred for Voldemort. Because, Harry held something akin to a communal understanding with him. An understanding that neither of them could fathom. As saying, Harry received a letter. A letter addressed to no one, but he knew who it was for. He could feel it. It was meant for him.

This letter, this piece of parchment would forever know that there was something higher above, waiting for his on downfall, yet it would be a great experience. Because then, the boy who lived would get his parents, the ones who didn't. He wouldn't be famous anymore, he'd be plain Harry with his wonderful parents.

He had stared at this parchment, not letting anyone know, not letting anyone see. Tears were stinging his eyes, because this was the reason he was alive, and this was the reason he wished that he could be dead with them. Or even better, alive with him.

'Dearest Harry,

We got to live one year of our lives with you. A year that we will both cherish and love. Because our son, our only son, was there. You lived your first life with us, and we lived our last with you. You are the son we had, the only child that we could ask for. You were the child that we could both live through, because we so much of us in you.

Life has been unfair and cruel to you. Ruining your chances of living normally. Had we lived, would things be so different? We both know that if we had lived, you'd still have that fire, that spirit, that courage. Harry, you were chosen to be ours, and we were chosen to leave you so soon. You've been through so much. You're living the life that we both lived, but you do it so solemnly. Our son, our dearest Harry, you need to live, and to understand! You were brought here for a reason, we left you for that reason.

Don't go around living life revolving around hate. You should love, and love anyone that you can. Everyone is misunderstood, and you, dearest, the most misunderstood of all. Even now, as we watch over you, and watch as you grow and mature, we are proud of you. We couldn't have asked for a finer son.

Life shouldn't be so cruel to make the twists and turns in your roads bend to unforgivable lengths and strides. You weren't given any shortcuts. We admire you, because if we were given the same road, we would've complained, but you, our son, walks through without so much as whimper. You were the light of our lives, and you still are the shining beacon of hope for so many people. Don't revolve your life around hate, our son.

Life is so short, and we were ones to experience a short life, shortened by the fact we didn't get to spend it with you. We can only do so much and so little. All that we want you to know is, that we love with you, with every fiber of our beings. We couldn't have asked for a better son. One request, smile more often, dearest, because you need more than just gloom in your life.

With all of our love,

James and Lily Potter--Your Parents.'

And Harry was still staring at the letter at lunch. From many days onwards, Harry Potter smiled more. His contempt grew less, because life wasn't long for anyone, and he wanted to have a life with love. Even if his parents weren't here. Maybe if life weren't so cruel, he'd have parents to love him, but with his parents words. It made his life better. He didn't question the fact that the letter may have not been from his parents. He knew. He knew it did. And if it didn't, it still served its purpose.

From that day onward, Lily and James were able to stare down at their son, and watch as his life progressed, and smiles were a daily occurrence. They watched as their son, Harry Potter, finally became the boy who lived.