Vater

"Where could the brooch possibly be?" Ron asked, biting into his toast.

"Snape's house, or somewhere near it, probably," Hermione said, "Voldemort puts these things near their sources."

"Let's go there." Harry stood up.

"Harry..."

"What, Hermione?"

"Wouldn't it be better if we waited for a time when he isn't home?"

Harry slumped down on his chair.

"Yeah," he conceded, "it's just that..."

"...you're kind of hoping to see him?" Ron suggested gently, looking carefully at his friend.

Harry nodded unhappily, not looking at his friends.

"He was worried about you, you know," Hermione said softly. "He was afraid...and there was genuine regret in his voice when he admitted that he didn't have any phoenix tears to give me."

Harry didn't say anything.

"But he refused to come here, didn't he?" Ron asked.

Hermione nodded unhappily.

"He couldn't have come here," Harry said quietly.

"Why?" Ron asked. Hermione gave a startled cry and looked at Harry with wide eyes.

"Oh! How could I have overlooked that? Ron, Harry is the Secret-Keeper, and Harry hasn't told him the location, and unless he does that, Snape can't come here!"

Ron stared and Harry smiled slightly. They sat silently for a while.

"Shouldn't we at least inform him that Harry's safe?" Ron asked Hermione after sometime.

"I already did, as soon as Harry began recovering. I sent him some leftover phoenix tears as well."

Harry's head snapped up, his eyes blazing.

"You did what?"

"Harry, your potion required very little of it, and I had half of it left over...I...I thought it would be nice if I sent him some of it...to show our gratitude. I'm sorry, I should have asked you." She looked flustered.

"I still hate him, Hermione." There was a pained expression on his face.

Ron and Hermione shared a look. Harry stood up.

"I'm going to visit my parents' graves," he said, and Disapparated. Ron and Hermione followed wordlessly.

They found their best friend striding through the graveyard, on the edge of which they'd appeared. He stopped in front of a grave and fell on his knees.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other, the question unspoken, but understood. Hermione nodded. Ron shot Harry an unhappy glance. The two of them started walking towards Harry, but they walked very slowly and very quietly, so that Harry had some time alone before they reached him.

Harry didn't notice the arrival of his friends. He was unaware of everything except his parents' graves. There was a single, large headstone covering both.

In Memory Of

Lily Rose Potter and James Keith Potter

(1960-1981)

Loving Parents, Unforgettable Friends and Inestimable Aurors

Rest in Peace

"Mum," Harry whispered, falling to his knees, "Dad..."

Silence. Harry felt his eyes sting.

"I love you Mum...Dad...I love you...I miss you. I wish you could see me - there are - there are things I have done, which I'd like you to know..."

Harry looked up at the cold headstone, his face wet with tears.

"I got your letter...doesn't matter to me whose blood I hold in my veins...you'll always be my father, Dad...you'll always be my Dad..."

He did not notice Ron and Hermione stop twenty feet away from him. Hermione had tears running down her cheeks and Ron's eyes were bright with unshed tears.

"I have to kill Voldemort, you know...I swear I'll do my best...I'll be as brave to the last as you were...I'll do you proud..."

He touched the headstone lightly.

"Thank you for loving me," he whispered.

Phoenix song filled the air. Harry didn't know if it was inside him or outside, but the melodious notes warmed him. The warmth from his hands was spreading fast through his entire being, and he realized with a start that the headstone was glowing, and so was he, with a soft, white light. Then, as quick as it had come, the music stopped and the light faded. He wiped his face on his sleeve and stood up.

He felt two gentle yet strong hands on his shoulders and looked up at his best friends. He gave them a smile of gratitude and was pulled into an embrace.

Harry's heart was bursting with warmth and affection when they broke apart. If the glow on his friends' faces was any indication, they were experiencing similar emotions as well. His eyes unfocussed for a moment before he smiled again.

"I have a plan," he said, "to get the brooch tonight."