The End of the End, the Beginning of the Beginning

Authors' Notes: We wrote this for a Harry Potter class, and thought what fun it would be to share with the world and see what other people thought of it! So do be kind, we are but novices to writing fanfics, but we welcome any and all comments! Let the angsty-yet-fun-filled storytelling commence!

Fingers trailed along the spine of the worn leather. Breath wavered between nearly nonexistent to labored, emotions battling for control over Harry, as he stared out the window upon the floating candles, circling butterflies, and a yard strewn with blossoming violets. It was hard not to smile at the happy couple below, but it was equally hard not to feel the pointlessness, the futility of it all.

At first Harry hadn't even recognized the gloom settling over him on that brilliantly warm day - but as the vows were recited, the rings exchanged, the sincere joy of marital bliss shared between not just two individuals, but two boisterous families, Harry couldn't stifle the growing pain in his chest any longer. He quickly excused himself after the ceremony and fled upstairs, back to Ron's room, so he could watch from afar as Bill and Fleur and everyone in between enjoyed a moment that would essentially mean nothing by the end, the end of it all.

Ron... Hermione... even Ginny... they all tried to awaken him, but this gloom wasn't a dream, it was a true nightmare. Members of the Order came too... Tonks... Hagrid... He deflected all their concern of course, to exhaustion, to meditation, and they listened, because everyone was in glee and could not (or would not) understand that pain could still exist in this moment of joy. Even Remus was all smiles, Remus who should have understood, should have recognized what the others didn't, should have known why this was all pointless. How can he be so blind? Has he forgotten them so quickly? Doesn't HE at least realize what's bound to happen? But Remus did finally come to him, he who sat upstairs all alone, watching from above like a lonely god knowing what lay in store for his ignorant creations. It was Remus who spoke not a single word, but placed the journal in Harry's lap, lay a hand on his shoulders and stared down in a moment of shared solemnity, before heading back down. Harry wanted to ask why, why are you giving me this now?, but Remus was already gone.

Now Harry struggled between retreating into a shell to let the others smile while he carried the weight of doom alone, or opening this journal - the letters "LE" etched into the cover ("LP" scribbled underneath) - and letting the pain burst completely inside him as he read his mother's words from a lifetime ago. The very reason for his melancholy lay in his lap - the nightmare materializing into words right there. What good could come of knowing his mother's thoughts when it would only further his outlook on the futility of joy during war?? No, these words were not the nightmare, HE was the nightmare. He was the cause of death, destruction, a young couple's right to a full life! And now he again would probably be the cause, or at least the impetus to another generation of destruction, already starting with that couple below. Bill already had to struggle with his werewolf scars and what they cursed him with, and who knew what more lay ahead. So why read? Why now...

Because he deserved to know what he robbed his parents of, that's why. He had no right NOT to know. So, containing the despair bubbling up in his gut, Harry ran his hand along the edge of the journal, his fingers getting caught on something sticking out from within the pages. There was a bookmark inside... no, not a bookmark, a pouch on a chain. Breaths shortening rapidly, he peered inside, where a small orb glowed faintly, despite the thick layer of dust coating it. He recognized it immediately as a reminisphere - a simple spell could activate whatever memory was captured within! Curious as he was, he'd deal with that later because the page that the pouch opened up to caught his eye... Valentine's Day, 1975...

~~~~~~~~~~

February 14, 1975

Dear Journal,

Potter is driving me insane. What did I ever do to deserve being punished by that arrogant, despicable, ego-head Potter, bringing destruction to my life, especially on Valentines Day! I woke up this morning with a scream because my wavy red hair was now pale yellow! Oh, the many ways I thought of hurting that Potter with curses, I think I might have invented new ones. My screams woke Alice and Laura up, but they were no help whatsoever, since they couldn't stop laughing. I'm afraid to say that I felt a little better when they fell out of their beds. Don't judge me; I have had a really tough day today. I tried many spells but none worked. I didn't want to be late for breakfast, so I hurriedly dressed in the uniform, while Alice and Laura were still trying to repress their bursting giggles that their faces were turning a deep shade of red.

When I climbed down stairs from the girls' dorm, I met who else but the infamous Marauders! I admit I like Remus, but I still don't know how he ended up in their group. Right when I entered the common room, Sirius fell to the floor laughing. He was bursting with giggles that for a moment I thought maybe he should go to the hospital wing. Peter was looking at Sirius and giggling, and Remus was trying to hide his embarrassment. I then looked at Potter who of course had a smirk on his face. He ran a hand through his messy hair and walked closer to me. With his mischievous eyes and smirk on his face, he leaned down to me and whispered, "My lily flower, I must say that the new yellow color of your beautiful locks goes very well with your eyes... arrr... Padfoot, what do you think, mate?" He turned behind to glance at Sirius who was rolling on the ground clutching his stomach. I never understood their nicknames (mental note: must find out more about that).

I did not say anything but just silently glared at him and suddenly he changed his direction of gaze and started to look at his shoes. I wanted to, but for reason I was not able to scream at him or curse him like I had planned before. He slowly tilted his head up, expecting me to blow at him any moment, and Remus came to stand behind him as if to prepare for the worst to hit his mate. Even Peter stepped (a few feet) behind with a nervous look, yet nothing came from my mouth. I was surprised myself that I just stared at him for a moment at his messy black hair and deep hazel eyes, and then suddenly I realized that I was staring at Potter.

I still can't believe I was standing there frozen before Potter. Sirius went still on the floor with a look of horror on his face. For Merlin's sake, they acted like I always blow up at him or something! Ok, well it's true - what can I say, he always deserves it. Sirius's face suddenly turned into a frown as if disappointed that no hex had hit his mate. It almost seemed that he glared at me for ruining his fun. Peter was gaping at me and then at James...I mean Potter, and Remus was staring with surprised face that slowly turned into a secretive smile. I needed to think quickly before I gave any misimpression that I (I cannot even put these words together in a sentence) liked Potter. Before another smirk could appear on Potter's face, I hexed him. Suddenly Potter was on the floor with his mate Sirius (Remus had suddenly stepped back), whose frown now had disappeared into a smile. Before I went away, Remus' words broke the silence as he asked what spell Potter had used last night. I knew him bumping into me the night before was not an accident!! He looked too quiet and too innocent and even his grin did not have his usual Potter arrogance. But before I could hear what spell they were talking about, I heard Alice and Laura coming downstairs. I did not want to see their laughing faces again in front of Potter, so I quickly left, the boys still frozen on their feet, well except Sirius and Potter who were frozen to the ground. That was really a big mistake, letting Potter go so easily. If only I knew what was to come.

When I opened the door of the Great Hall, I was horror struck to see the whole hall decorated with lilies!! Everyone's gaze was on me, and I felt so embarrassed. I could see even Professor Dumbledore's twinkling eyes on me for few moments. I quietly and very uncomfortably took the seat in front, and I was very glad when Alice and Laura joined me. I totally forgot about my hair, and I am still surprised that no one else made a comment either... as if they knew already what had happened. The stupid Marauders came in the hall also, and Potter looked at me as if he was measuring my response. He had a big grin on his face and his mischievous eyes twinkled. When he saw me looking at him, he raised his eyebrows in anticipation. I just glared at him, and he stopped looking at me. Before I took a bagel and left, I saw Sirius and Remus patting him on his back as he dejectedly filled his mouth with pumpkin juice. His eyes looked sad and disappointed... not that I was looking at him or anything. Of course not. Never.

I was no longer lucky as now people started staring at me. First I thought they were staring at my yellow hair, which I quickly covered with my cloak. But no, Alice and Laura reluctantly showed me the 'oh so special' lily-sprouting footprints I was leaving behind me. Potter must have placed so many spells on me last night! As I embarrassedly walked to my potions class, I tried to touch the ground as little as possible to stop lilies from popping up. Oh how I wish that was the worst part though! Half way through class, there was a knock on the door. I was not surprised because I knew people were sending Valentine cards, but I thought wrong, very wrong.

I cannot believe that I actually wished James had sent me a card. No, instead he sent me singing lilies. A pot of lilies entered the room and jumped on my desk, while the other students laughed. I turned to glare at Potter. He again led his right hand through his hair that they looked even messier. It annoys me so much when he does that like he has just gotten off from his broom. That git is such a showoff! Still glaring, my cheeks turned red from the embarrassment, and his smirk slowly turned to a reluctant smile, but his left thumb was still up. Sirius coughed out his hysterical laughs that the Professor asked him if he was having an attack of some kind. While I sat in my nightmare, the pot of lilies continued to dance and sing:

Lily, Lily, Lily,

You have stolen my heart.

Lily, Lily, Lily,

You're like an old work of art

Lily, Lily, Lily,

No bludger can keep me from you.

Lily, Lily, Lily,

To lovin' you girl, I'll always be true.

Oh the horror! It's going to be a while before I get over this incident. I just wanted to hex Potter right then. While I was contemplating whether I should hex and lose my chance at being head girl next year, the lily pot stopped dancing, coughed and in a loud off key scream shouted: "Lily, WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?!?" The proposal seemed to go on for an eternity. No he did not. He did not just do that. I pinched my self, and soon realized that it was no dream when some of the glass flasks in the class shattered. The class went silent. I twitched in anger. Potter will not see the next sunrise, I promised my self. This time, Sirius himself went to the hospital wing because he seemed to have problems breathing and Peter accompanied him. I ran out of classroom. I just could not think what else to do. I just could not take the snickering behind me by the Slytherins. The Slytherins', especially Snape's, dream must have come true by looking at their overjoyed faces. Before I ran out of the classroom, Potter's smirk had disappeared and replaced with the look I had never seen before. May be I am wrong because I think I just saw sincere remorse on his face... or maybe my repressed tears of embarrassment blurred my view.

Until the end of the day, the pot pranced around and followed me each and every class. I felt James wanted to do the same thing to himself that I wanted to do to him when the lily pot would not stop singing in McGonagall's Transfiguration class. I felt she was very angry because she snapped at students for answering questions too quickly, too slowly, too loudly, or too silently. Before leaving dinner tonight, Remus told me that it had taken James over three weeks to come up with that poem and that he did not think my reaction was going to be this. Well, that explains why he was in the library for past couple weeks. He would secretly steal a glance at me and then turn quickly to scribble something on his parchment. I knew it was abnormal for him. Remus continued to defend James during rest of the dinner. "Lily, I know James, and he had no intention to embarrass you in front of the class. Although he might not say in front of his mates, he is really sorry." I did not see James for the rest of the evening. I was expecting something or him to pop in any moment, but James never showed up. I felt a little guilty of the daggering glares I had given him each class.

When I entered the common room, I saw him sitting in front of the fire place contemplating. Yes, I was surprised, too. He looked at me with his amazing eyes, God I hope that he never finds out that I actually thought that. He stood up and gave me a note, and quickly ran upstairs. The note read, "Sorry. I just wanted to make this day special for you. I don't know if you know that you drive me insane. Every time I even think of you, I just can't seem to think straight. Sorry for turning your hair yellow."

I'm thinking now about how James drives me insane. Huh, I never knew we felt the same for each other. Oh no, the lily pot is jumping on my bed. At least I was successful in putting the silencing charm on it. Ok, so I didn't throw away the annoying pot. I don't know why, but the pot of lilies kind of grew on me. It has nothing to do with Potter, but it kind of brings touch of outside (I love nature by the way) into the dorm, you know. It's kind of cute and it is a lily flower. I don't need to explain, it makes the room cheerful and it annoys Alice and Laura with its off key singing. Just to make it clear, it is not a keepsake. Must make that clear because James - I mean Potter! - is such a stupid git.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry had no idea what to think, what to feel. What he just read had so much life in it; he could easily have been there himself. That was his mother, those were her thoughts, she was alive in her words! No, no she isn't. She most definitely isn't. She isn't actually speaking to you. She isn't sixteen and alive and dealing with teenage melodrama! The room was suddenly stifling, air refused to enter his lungs, and Harry couldn't decide whether he was going to pass out or scream.

This is exactly what he wanted to avoid! Whatever joy his parents were to experience would be cut completely short by Voldemort. Once Voldemort had entered the picture, they probably didn't have a moment's peace, didn't have a chance to bask in the joy that life is supposed to bring. He couldn't see how anyone could avoid such a curse during wartime; he could not fathom it at all, so instead he stormed out of his chair, dropping the journal, and nearly leapt from the window in frustration. The worst part of it all was that his existence was the cause of all this ruin. Always was, always would be.

A now tearful gaze stared down at the seemingly innocuous journal that tormented him with more and more guilt and despair. A tired hand ran through messy hair with defeat while fading green eyes settled like dust upon the pouch that now lay at his feet. A memory...another step into the past...another view of the things that war destroys. Harry wished he could escape these thoughts, but he couldn't help but question the presence of happiness in times like these. He just could not accept its existence, and so considered the pouch as another remnant of futility.

Resistance was futile as well though - he had picked it up and dropped the orb in his palm, whispering the spell that would awaken this next memory from the dead. Shock transfigured into attentiveness as Harry saw an entirely different scene play out like a projector in front of him, from his father's perspective...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trying not to smile, and failing miserably, James stood at Lily's front door. Knowing what was about to happen, anticipating the way Lily's eyes always sparkled when she was surprised, it was impossible not to smile. The inconvenience, the slight burning sensation he knew he was about to feel, were nothing now. He'd felt them hundreds of times before. Finally, he was ready.

Knock, knock.

He could hear her running down the stairs. Just the thought of her rushing toward him could still make his heart skip a beat. In a flash, the door was open. Lily's smile spread wide, then faded, as she looked around without finding a sign of James.

"Ah-hem," something squeaked on the doorstep. Lily looked down and her eyes sparkled just the way he knew they would.

"Now, what do we have here?" Lily asked teasingly. Once again that gorgeous smile crossed her lips as she looked down at an animated flower pot, filled with lilies.

"Mr. James Potter would like to dedicate this song to his true love, Miss Lily Evans. Ah-hem!

Lily, Lily, Lily,

You have stolen my heart.

Lily, Lily, Lily,

You're like an old work of art..."

Lily blushed, remembering the humiliation this stupid flower pot had given her just a few years ago. Once again, the smile faded from her face as she noticed something was different about this flower pot from the one she remembered. That voice... she knew that voice. Picking up the flower pot to take a closer look, she noticed these lilies looked a little more disheveled than they had last time. It reminded her of... could it be? Looking at the singing flower pot quizzically, Lily gasped! It was him!

"James! Is that really you?"

Answering her question, the flower pot she was holding began to transform. Suddenly, she wasn't holding a flower pot anymore. Now her arms were around James Potter.

"What gave it away?" James asked, smiling again.

"I recognized your voice silly. But what really gave it away was how messy the lilies were! They reminded me of your ridiculous hair," she said while running her fingers through his signature 'do which always made him look like he'd just jumped off his broomstick.

"Were you surprised?"

"Of course I was! It's not every day your boyfriend transfigures into a singing flower pot!"

"What can I say, I'm pretty much amazing. You're lucky to have a man who's so incredibly gifted." He knew he was being arrogant, but he also knew she loved to hate him when he acted that way. She gasped again, and hit him on the arm. God, she was sexy when she was flustered.

"We'll see how lucky I am. Where're we going tonight?" Her checks were flushed, the way they always were when she was being playful and pretending she was annoyed with him.

While she spoke, she turned to grab her purse from the doorstep. But before she could pull away, James pressed her closer to him. His lips brushed against hers, softly at first. A moment later, he pulled away to look into her dazzling green eyes and said, "Happy anniversary, Lily."

Breathless now, Lily had to force herself to reply, "Happy anniversary to you too." Gaining control over herself once again, Lily coyly added, "But that doesn't answer my question. Where're we off to?"

"It's a surprise. You just wait - tonight's going to be full of them."

"Hogsmeade? That was the big surprise?" Lily asked, opening her eyes. They had apparated into the town together, Lily closing her eyes and holding James, James leading the way.

"We haven't been here in a while, and I thought a trip down memory lane would be appropriate for our anniversary. But if you'd rather go somewhere else..." he asked, already knowing what she'd say before she even did.

"No, no! I wouldn't want to spoil your plans. Hogsmeade sounds terrific. Besides, it's been ages since I had a butterbeer."

"Right then. How does a drink at Madame Rosmerta's sound?"

"Perfect."

As they walked down the path leading to The Three Broomsticks, Lily and James started to laugh remembering their days at Hogwarts and weekends in Hogsmeade. Nearly every shop and corner awakened memories of a moment they'd shared there. However, most of these moments involved James trying to woo Lily, and Lily hexing him in return.

"Remember in our fourth year, that's where you used the Jelly Legs Jinx on me after I tried to kiss you under the mistletoe..." James recalled fondly.

"Actually, I hexed you because Frank Longbottom was about to kiss me, until you set his pant leg on fire! Then you had to nerve to try to kiss me yourself after doing it!" Lily snapped back.

"And aren't you glad I did? Frank and Alice got back together the next week! That bugger was just using you. My intentions were pure. Well, sort of..." James flashed his wonderfully arrogant smile before lunging at Lily, tickling her in all the places he knew would make her laugh.

After establishing a tentative tickling truce, they continued walking down the road, occasionally pointing out other memorable spots. For instance, the time Lily kicked James in the shins in front of Zonko's for whistling at her when she walked by, or the time James bewitched all the sugar quills in Honeydukes to write "Lily loves James," and then spent the next day nursing an engorged tongue in the hospital wing.

Laughing there with Lily, holding her hand in his, James realized he couldn't wait another second. He hadn't meant for it to happen now, but he couldn't help it. Something in his gut told him it was time. Reaching into his pocket, James stopped walking, turned to Lily, and said, "Lily, there's something I've been meaning to ask you..."

"STUPEFY!" Lily shouted the spell before he could even finish the question. The next second she was pulling him into the alley behind Madame Puddifoot's tea shop.

"Oh bloody hell! Not now!" he cried.

Death Eaters. At least ten of them were striding menacingly down the path; nine now that Lily had stupefied one of them. Reaching into his other pocket, James pulled out a small mirror and whispered, "Sirius, Sirius! Pick up you daft fool!"

After a moment's pause, the mirror shifted into the face of Sirius Black. "Where are you!? Where's Lily?! Did you ask her...?"

"Shhh! Sirius, shut it! We're on our way to the Three Broomsticks, but there are at least ten Death Eaters on the path right now. Lily and I'll keep them distracted, but get the rest of the Order together and come help us. NOW!"

Without another word, James thrust the mirror back into his pocket and looked up at Lily. While he had been calling Sirius for reinforcements, she'd begun the battle, hurling hexes from behind the wall every few seconds.

"When this is over you better tell me what in Merlin's name Sirius was talking about," Lily yelled between attacks.

"Right, nothing. Let's just focus on getting out of here in one piece," he said, brushing the question aside as a jet of red sparks grazed the side of the building. After firing a few curses of his own, James looked behind the wall to Madame Puddifoot's. He could only see three Death Eaters left standing; much more manageable.

Suddenly, the firing stopped, and James felt his muscles clench as he heard a loud crack, and a Death Eater say, "My Lord, Potter and the Mudblood are hiding over there. They stunned Lestrange and hexed most of the others. How would you like us deal with... the situation?"

"Leave them to me, Malfoy," Voldemort hissed. Within an instant he had apparated directly in front of Lily and James.

"Well, well, well. So we meet again, Potter, Evans. We didn't spoil your date, now did we? What a shame... I'm really a romantic at heart." While he spoke, the red slits that should've been his eyes flashed brightly and the terse flesh on his face contorted into what should have been a smile.

"My mistake," Lily boldly protested. "I thought you had to have a soul to have a heart."

"You don't know the half of it, little girl. I do have a soul... and so much more..."

With each word Voldemort spoke, all James could think was, "How do I get Lily out of here?" By now, the remaining Death Eaters had revived the others, and were quickly approaching the alley. It was now, or never: "EXPELLIARMUS!" Voldemort's wand flew out of his hand as the force of the spell threw his body back several feet. Without stopping to see if the spell had even worked, James grabbed Lily's hand and ran in the opposite direction. As they ran, they heard several more loud pops; The Order had finally arrived.

With reinforcements here, James pulled Lily to the side once more. "Lily, I have to ask you this now, while I can. I love you. I've always loved you. Will you marry me?" Kneeling before her, James took the ring from his pocket the way he meant to only a half hour ago.

"Now!? You ask me this now!?" Lily exclaimed, flabbergasted.

"If not now, when? I've wanted to ask you this since I was eleven years old. If something happens to one of us tonight - aaaAAHHHH!"

He'd never felt such pain in his life. It was as if every bone in his body were on fire, searing through the marrow toward his flesh. Voldemort stood behind him, wand outstretched.

"The Cruciatus Curse. A personal favorite of mine. Silly Mudblood, you should've said yes when you had the chance. Now I'm going to make you a widow before you even had the chance to be a bride. What a shame..."

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Sirius and Mad-Eye Moody shouted the disarming spell at the same time as Lily. While the force of the spell was much greater than it was when James used it alone, Voldemort was still able to summon his wand back to him and disapparate before he'd even hit the ground.

"James, JAMES! Are you alright!?" Lily rushed to his side and held him in her arms. "Oh James, say something!"

Pale faced and shaking, James looked into Lily's eyes once again, opened his hand that was still clutching the engagement ring, Lily's engagement ring, and weakly asked, "So, how 'bout it Lily? Will you marry me?"

"You never give up for a second, do you, Prongs," Sirius retorted from a few feet back.

"Shut up Sirius," Lily cried. "You're ruining the moment." Turning back to James, Lily's tone changed. It was sweeter now - sweeter, but still heartfelt and genuine. "Yes. Yes! I love you too James, there's no one else I'd rather spend the rest of my life with than you."

In a matter of minutes James had gone from the most painful experience of his entire life, to the happiest. He pulled Lily toward himself, kissing her in celebration for all to see. The other members of the Order were crowded around them now and were clapping and shouting their congratulations. The Death Eaters vanished shortly after their leader, all except the two Mundungus Fletcher and Sturgis Podmore had taken prisoner and were now delivering to Azkaban.

Shouting above the celebration, Sirius yelled, "When these two come up for air, (cough, cough) who's up for a drink at The Three Broomsticks? Two captured Death Eaters and two engaged members of the Order seem like a good-enough reason to party, if I do say so, myself."

"You do still owe me a butterbeer," Lily coyly told James.

"Anything for you, Mrs. Potter," James replied.

"In that case, make it two."

Sirius helped James up and the members of the Order were laughing and cheering as they walked down the road. In that moment, all that mattered was the future and what wonderful surprises life had in store for them. The war, the battles, they were all forgotten. In that moment all that mattered was love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Several hours later, a knock at the door startled Harry into awareness. A tentative voice from behind the door crept in. "Harry, mate, 'you all right in there?" Ron poked his head in, assessing the situation before entering. Harry was lying on the ground, journal splayed open before him. He couldn't muster words just yet, but a tiny smile donned his face and his gaze caught Ron's, who immediately sighed in relief. "Thank Merlin, Mum's been havin' a fit in the kitchen, wond'ring if you were ok." Harry could tell by his averting gaze that Ron's mom wasn't the only one who was worrying, and was quick to tell his friend everything was fine.

"I'm okay Ron. I'm... I'm sorry if I worried you all. I just needed to think. And read, apparently."

By now, Ron was kneeling beside Harry, glancing at the journal. "Hermione would have a field day if she heard you say that, mate." A few minutes later, a much assured Ron left Harry to ponder some more, promising to bring up some wedding cake to him, provided he didn't eat it on the way up of course.

Harry sighed and stared at the words below. He had drunk it all in, every last drop of ink, but always came back to first entry he had read. It revealed the first hints of his mom's feelings. And the orb revealed the intensity and devotion of his father's. How many times had he replayed the memory of his parents getting engaged? Harry had no idea, but he now had every word, every action memorized. He saw them joke, he saw them laugh, he even saw them kiss, and it quelled the pain he was feeling. Voldemort existed in their lives, even before him, but the madman didn't stop their happiness, he merely interceded it. They still managed to smile, to celebrate, to love. It did not seem as futile as it did before... maybe it wasn't.

Not long after, Harry rejoined the intimate gathering below, with a lighter heart.

It would still take a long time for Harry to fully grasp what Remus had intended him to understand that day. Weeks later when he stood on the hallowed grounds of his family's past, he would reflect on it more deeply than he did on a daily basis. As Harry explored the remains of Godric's Hollow, he would refuse to imagine what that final standoff was like. Instead, he would summon a stunning redhead and a mischievous messy-head to his thoughts, realizing that he wasn't the only one to have defeated Voldemort. By allowing their hearts to lead the way, and their souls to intertwine, Lily and James had defied the dark monster not thrice, but infinitely. Love in any shape had that effect, in the face of adversity. It wasn't always easy to believe, but Harry was getting there. He would finger the pouch that hung around his neck and muse upon the one thing he was certain about : why those two memories had been placed together. One marked the beginning of love, the other the beginning of marriage. Harry would stand for one last moment, before setting out, two friends firmly by his side, on his mission. This time, there would be no end in sight - only a series of beginnings.

1